Ovarian Cancer: How Early Detection Saved This Woman’s Life

As a busy mother of two and working a full-time job as a primary schoolteacher, Paula Cann had plenty of reasons to ignore the subtle changes happening inside her body. 

She first noticed she had to urinate very often and with greater urgency. It eventually got to the point where she couldn’t even enjoy her evening walks without desperately needing to visit the bathroom. Whenever she lay down, too, she felt a subtle lump inside her stomach. However, since it was painless, she didn’t worry much; she blamed her stress and tiredness as the cause of her symptoms.

Finally, though, she decided to visit a doctor, and he also did not think the situation to be alarming. He thought it was just an ovarian cyst, but recommended Paula undergo surgery because he felt it was too large. After two weeks, Paula discovered she had stage two ovarian cancer. Immediately, she started treatment. For a long time, Cann had brushed off her symptoms of ovarian cancer, but what actually saved her life was her ultimate decision to go to the doctor.

From her experience, she urges all women who notice even small changes in their bodies to address them since they can result in larger consequences. She advises all women to pay close attention to their bodies. If Cann had not decided to remove her cyst, then even waiting a month could have made a significant difference in her life; Cann caught her disease just in the nick of time and so was able to get a favorable prognosis.

The elusive nature of ovarian cancer makes it difficult to diagnose. Women may feel unusually full even after a small meal or snack since it can obstruct other organs due to its large size. Some may even lose their appetite entirely. Working women and those busy with household chores may easily ignore these issues.

By the time the symptoms become noticeable, the tumors are already enlarged and may spread to other locations. This makes it more difficult to treat and thus deadlier. Because of this, early diagnosis is crucial for survival, so Cann suggests seeing a doctor if any of these symptoms that she herself experienced are noticed in others.

Fortunately, Cann was successfully treated and she is now free of cancer after chemotherapy. Her early diagnosis saved her life, but she still regularly visits the doctor every three months for two years to prevent recurrence. The doctors do not want to risk missing a dangerous relapse.

Sadly, Paula’s story is not a common one; many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer don’t do well. According to the Ovarian Cancer Action, ovarian cancer is diagnosed too late in almost one third of women, and so the survival expectancy drops. There is a 90% chance of survival if the woman is diagnosed in stage one, and a 4% chance if diagnosed in stage four. Women are urged to pay close attention to their bodies and make note of even the subtlest of changes. Cann was lucky that her cancer was detected at a treatable stage, and she hopes to set an example for those with similar experiences.