Battling Ovarian Cancer: A Survivor's Story

Previously an oncology nurse, Lorrie celebrates her survival after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer 13 years ago.

Over a decade ago, 50-year-old Lorrie Fox noticed that she was starting to feel more bloated, and eating much less than she did before. At the time though, she never thought that there was anything seriously wrong with her health. When she had just turned 50, friends and family told her that sometimes, you get tighter around the middle as part of the aging process. Lorrie wrote of her new symptoms as a sign of her getting old. The possibility that it was cancer was definitely off her radar.

Things started to get worse

As Lorrie ignored these subtle changes in her body, they progressively began to get worse. At first, it was a little bit of bloating. Then, it turned into feeling full after only eating small bites of food. She was losing her appetite and feeling full even if she hadn't had any real meals to eat. Still, she decided that it was probably not a big deal.

Finally, Lorrie's symptoms took a turn for the worst. She actually started to feel pain in her stomach. On top of that, the bloating and early fullness after eating was not better, but rather worse than it had ever been. Lorrie began to get concerned, and so she decided to go to her doctor for advice.

Doctors found a tumor

When Lorrie sought medical attention, the doctors ordered tests including an ultrasound to see what was happening inside Lorrie's body. Unfortunately, what they found was anything but comforting. Lorrie had a tumor, and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Having worked on an oncology floor as a nurse many years ago, Lorrie was knowledgeable about cancer treatment and prognosis. During her career, she had never cared for a patient who was able to live through ovarian cancer. When she learned of the real reason behind her bloating and pain, she prepared herself for the very worst outcome. Lorrie knew that this could be the end.

Shortly after the diagnosis, Lorrie went in for surgery so the surgeons could take out as much of the mass as they could. After that, she was started on 18 weeks of chemotherapy treatments. The battle was hard, and Lorrie actually kept a journal of her entire experience. What helped Lorrie cope with it all was the immense love and support from her family. Her husband, relatives, friends, and even coworkers stepped up to show Lorrie how much they cared for her and helped her through the arduous battle against her disease. To Lorrie, they are also survivors of the disease just like she is.

Read on to learn more about Lorrie's fight against ovarian cancer and how she supports an important cause.

Photo source: ABC Eyewitness News