In 2014, at just 17 years of age, Abigail underwent surgery to remove her left ovary due to consistent complications with cysts. 

 

Abigail got married early, at 19. She told us she kept feeling a bump in her lower abdomen, but she ignored it thinking she was just over eating or putting on additional weight. She remembers going to church with her husband on a Sunday. After church services they decided to have some fun and go paddle boating. Abigail says once on the boat, she realized she was having a difficult time paddling as her abdomen and her back were cramping with pan. Next day she couldn’t stand up, sit down, or lie down – the pain was so intense. Then she started vomiting. At this point she was rushed to the ER where the Doctors ran an ultra sound to find a tumor that required immediate surgery. 

 

She was scheduled for surgery within the next few days- her remaining ovary was taken out that put this young woman into instant menopause. Upon surgery Abigail was diagnosed with low grade serous ovarian cancer – her chemotherapy treatment was also initiated. 

 

Abigail’s Aunt passed away from ovarian cancer – so there is a family history she is already familiar with. Abigail plans to undertake genetic testing to find out if she is a gene carrier and take appropriate measures accordingly. 

 

As a young woman barely 20, the ovarian cancer diagnosis has been a life changing and humbling experience for Abigail. She says due to cancer, she now has so much more understanding of other people and of family. She has learned to live for the day, one day at a time – tomorrow is another day, but tomorrow brings a lot of hope. As with every day, you take one step closer to feeling much better. Abigail prays to God daily, to seek strength – to put all her feelings into prayers. To eradicate the noise and the anxieties from her head. 

 

Abigail shared with us that being younger and being diagnosed with cancer is harder. To be a young person with no hair brings surprised looks of sympathy from more people than she could imagine. It is difficult to be in the waiting room surrounded by much older patients who tell her..”oh, but you are so young!”. Surprised looks on the Doctor’s face is often times hurtful. “It is almost a constant reminder that my whole life is ahead of me, yet, I am struggling with something serious like cancer.” – Abigail says. As a young married woman, she also struggles to keep a straight face and smile back when someone says..”oh, but you don’t have any kids yet!”. She says it is all well meaning, but often leaves her with a sense of profound disappointment, and even guilt for being diagnosed so early in her life. 

 

But it is not always grim. Abigail says cancer has also made many people around her take her more seriously – she has been helped by friends, family and strangers more than she could ever imagine. Everyone has always looked for ways to help her out. Her financial aid assistance team have also been extremely helpful in providing solutions and easing her financial worries with treatment and maintenance. 

 

Abigail shared that she is immensely grateful to Ovarcome for providing her with the financial and emotional assistance she needed at a very challenging time in her life. She is young and hopeful that she will Ovarcome. Abigail says when you are young and diagnosed with cancer, it is normal to feel lost. However, she is pulling on all her strength to Ovarcome, leaning on her loving family and support to provide her with encouragement and reassurance, and keeping her faith that she will conquer this disease some day soon. Abigail is determined to Ovarcome! 

 

Please send Abigail all your prayers and best wishes as she continues to fight ovarian cancer and keeps her hopes alive for a bright, healthy and beautiful future. TOGETHER, we can Ovarcome!