This is the story of Rachel Bradbury. A young ovarian cancer Survivor, Thriver and OVARCOMER. At age 40 Rachel’s first ever mammogram was normal. By age 41, she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in April of 2016. Upon her diagnosis, Rachel decided to seek second opinion. Within the week from first opinion to second opinion she began to experience severe bloating and diarrhea when she was immediately sent to an OB-GYN oncologist to be also diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Rachel tested positive for BRCA1. Rachel says we always thought my Grandmother had stomach cancer, but when I got her death certificate it said metastatic ovarian cancer. I knew all about BRCA and Angelina Jolie I just didn’t know I had a family history therefore never got tested because I thought it didn’t apply to me.”
Rachel went through the rigorous treatment of neoadjuvant ovarian chemo, oopherectomy surgery, more ovarian chemo, breast chemo, mastectomy, breast radiation, preventative mastectomy, and then reconstruction. She was declared to be in remission from ovarian cancer in November of 2016 (and NED from breast in January of 2016) but recurred for ovarian in July of 2018. Rachel keeps her spirit alive to Ovarcome while in active treatment. We sat down with Rachel to get to know her inner sparkle.
Q: Tell us about you.
A: People would likely say I’m happy and organized.
Q: You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
A: I’d be teal of course! I don’t know if there is a teal crayon, but I’d love for teal to be automatically recognized as Ovarian Cancer’s ribbon and for it to be as mainstream as pink is for Breast Cancer.
Q: What inspires your inner sparkle?
A: Hope, my family, and gratitude.
Q: Tell us about a significant challenge you’ve Ovarcome? Share your 2 words of wisdom!
A: I’ve had many challenges I’ve had to Ovarcome from moving to TX alone for a job opportunity at 23, losing my Dad at a younger age, working in a male-dominated industry, raising three children without any family locally, living overseas for my husband’s career, etc. Of all these challenges obviously breast and ovarian cancer have been the biggest. I think every experience teaches us something about ourselves, our community and the world and give us wisdom to draw from. My advice would be Keep Going!
