The Physical Facts
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – Surgery #1 I had an ELECTIVE surgery to remove my ovaries. I had no symptoms; I simply wanted them out. We were not anticipating anything bad. The initial pathology report that was done during the time of surgery came back as “borderline” or precancerous. My bloodwork the next day reflected the same.
Monday, May 4, 2026 – Pathology report came back as stage 2. (temporarily)
Wednesday, May 5, 2026 – At my first appointment with my oncologist at UAB, she told me I have a high-grade serous ovarian cancer. It is the most common kind and responds well to chemo. It is also aggressive (which is why it responds well to the meds) and the recurrence rate is high. My doctor assured me that what I have is treatable and curable. My pathology/staging number is incomplete until I have a scan and another surgery to take a closer look at what is going on inside.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – CT Scan Results were not super clear, but it did show disease in a several areas. We will know more tomorrow when my oncologist scopes me.
Thursday, May 14, 2026 – Surgery #2 I had another surgery to insert a port for chemotherapy and to scope my abdomen. Because of where the disease was found, the results were that my staging is now stage 3c/possibly 4. There was disease seen on the abdominal wall, the diaphragm, and the omentum. In the scan, there was a trace of something in my lung, but the doctor said it may just be a very small amount of fluid - no way to know without a biopsy. This little unknown trace is what bumps me to a possible stage 4. Again, I am not dwelling on this. Regardless of the number they put on it, my treatment will be the same. My doctor decided not to put me through any more than a look at this point, and we will move straight to chemo. I will have another surgery later. Now we know more specifically what we are dealing with in terms of what we can see. There will be additional molecular and genetic testing to help drill down to even more specific information that will help with treatment and maintenance. The “not knowing” is the hardest part, so I am thankful at this point to know what we are dealing with.
*NOTE: This diagnosis does not remain.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – Chemotherapy Treatment #1 I received two chemotherapy drugs: Paclitaxel (Taxol) and Carboplatin (Carbo).
I was at UAB in the Women’s and Infants Center from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Fortunately, I had no bad reactions at all in the process. The nurses were amazing. Johnny was with me the whole time, and Addie came for a while as well. It was much better than I anticipated.
I am doing something called “cool capping” to help slow hair loss. It is literally a cap that I wear hooked up to a machine that keeps cold water flowing through it. The idea is to keep those blood vessels constricted in the hopes that the chemo does not reach the hair follicles. In order for it to work, I begin 30 minutes before the Taxol, continue the 3.5 hours that I get the Taxol, plus an additional 90 minutes after the Taxol. During the time I receive the Taxol, I also wear mitts on my hands and socks on my feet with ice packs for the same concept of keeping the drug from my extremities in order to avoid the side effect of peripheral neuropathy. That is one side effect that can be lasting.
May 19 – June 8, 2026 – This is my time between Chemo #1 and Chemo #2. I have had very little side effects this round with the exception of just a bit of what they call “bone pain," which was controlled easily with a little Tylenol. Hair loss began in week 3.
Week 1 Post Treatment – Typically when symptoms occur. Possible ones are fatigue, nausea, neuropathy, bone pain, and hair loss.
Week 2 Post Treatment – Decreased white blood cells cause a greater risk of infection. Must be careful to avoid those who might be sick. I did not get sick.
Week 3 Post Treatment – Body is in recovery. I am feeling great. Hair loss begins.
Monday, June 8, 2026 – Blood Work to Prep for Next Treatment All of my levels looked really good. My CA-125 went from 149 to 119.
My white blood cell count was the only thing that was a little low, but they will move forward with my treatment anyway and give me some Neulasta to boost my count after treatment.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – Chemo Treatment #2 Since treatment #1, I received the news that I am eligible for an immunotherapy trial. Starting today, they will be adding a drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to my regimen. This is a drug that has been used for treatment and maintenance for many other cancers; however, for ovarian cancer, it has only been used for maintenance to this point. It was approved by the FDA in February to be used along with chemotherapy. I am happy to add another weapon to my arsenal. The only bad news was that now I will have a total of 7 treatments because I must have 6 with the Keytruda. So my first round is considered a bonus.
June 9 – June 29, 2026 – My time between Chemo #2 and #3. The first three days after treatment I felt a little less than myself. Nothing terrible. Just lack of appetite and very tired one day. I did have a couple side effects from the Keytruda, a rash on my body for a short time and some night vision issues that will resolve. By Saturday after treatment on Tuesday, I felt great. That feeling lasted the entire time up to my next treatment.
Hair loss update: I did continue to shed a great deal until the beginning of the last week in the cycle. Most of it is gone but I still have a short, thin coverage that seems to be holding steady.
June 26, 2026 – Update on Diagnosis On the day of my last treatment just before we began, my oncologist told me that my molecular testing had come back the day before and something was odd. Those test results reflected that my cancer looks more like a low grade cancer (rather than my current diagnosis of a high grade). She requested my lab slides from the company (Black Box) that did my original pathology so that the pathologists at UAB could run those tests again.
Today, she was calling me with an update. The UAB pathologist have completed all of the usual tests except for one. They are still waiting for Black Box to send a slide they need to conduct the test. However, the rest of the test results show that I have a low grade cancer. This should be confirmed as soon as that last test is complete. For now, I am considering this wonderful news and praising the Lord for it!
As far as my treatment goes, this new diagnosis means that I am no longer in the immunotherapy trial; I will only receive 6 chemo treatments instead of 7; and I will not be receiving a treatment during surgery called HIPEC (Google it. I’m happy not to have to do this.) And my maintenance plan will also be different.
June 30, 2026 – Chemo Treatment #3
Now that I am moving forward under the assumption (until that last test is complete) that I have a low grade cancer, I am no longer part of the immunotherapy trial. Today I received the Taxol and Carboplatin only – no Keytruda. My CA 125 count is 117 (normal is around 30) and moving in the right direction.
July 2, 2026 - Diagnosis Confirmed: LOW GRADE Serous, Stage 3c
June 30 - July 4 - Time Between Chemo Treatment #3 and Surgery My side effects were a little worse this round for the first few days post treatment. I had less of an appetite, a little more bone pain and general fatigue. But by the first Saturday (July 4th) I was feeling much better physically and mentally considering the new diagnosis.
Now I need to prepare for surgery with food and exercise. They want me walking as much as possible.
July 15 - CT Scan My doctor said the scans look "encouraging." That basically means there are no surprises, nothing new. Now she will use these scans as a start to guide her in surgery.
July 29 - Debulking Surgery I has a 7-hour debulking surgery to remove any cancer that they could see in my abdomen. They did a midline incision from my breastbone to my pubic bone. There were three doctors involved in the surgery, and all three considered it a success. I remained in the hospital for 5 days with no complications.
August 24 - Post-Op Appointment I met with my oncologist today and learned that she is recommending no more chemotherapy for me. My type of low-grade cancer does not typically respond well to chemo. That proved to be true in my case. The pathology report from my surgery showed minimal effectiveness from the chemo that I have already received. It was determined that the risks of more chemo outweigh the potential positive effects. I will immediately begin taking a daily hormone-blocker called Letrozole. I will continue to be closely monitored with scans and bloodwork going forward, but today was a very good day!