Nancy Davis

June 2024

Hello, my name is Nancy, and my ovarian cancer journey began after being diagnosed post-surgery in December 2021. However, I guess my journey really began about 13 years before when I started having postmenopausal bleeding every couple of years. During that time, my gynecologist (GYN) did testing, but all the results were always normal, including PAPs, biopsies, ultrasounds, and CA125 levels. Thus, I declined to have a hysterectomy every time. However, in 2019, my GYN doctor suggested dual surgery along with my GI surgery, but my general surgeon vetoed that due to the high possibility of infection. 

After GI surgery, we moved from Florida to Washington to be closer to our children and grandchildren. We were packing for our cross-country trip when I again had postmenopausal bleeding. My GYN doctor did another round of tests, including a CT scan, which showed a pretty big right ovarian cyst. Of significance, I did not have any symptoms except for the postmenopausal bleeding. My GYN referred me to a GYN oncologist, who did my surgery on December 14, 2021. At my post-surgery follow-up, I learned I had stage 1 ovarian cancer with no lymph node involvement, and it was recommended that I do six cycles of chemotherapy.

Since we were moving, I was referred for chemotherapy to begin in Portland, Oregon. In mid-January 2022, my husband, my little fur baby, and I began our 15-day cross-country trip from Florida to Washington, pulling our travel trailer and seeing the southern United States. Some of our fondest memories during the trip were spending time with my brother and his wife, especially standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, to pay homage to the rock band, the Eagles, and their song “Take It Easy”; seeing our youngest son and his family in Los Angeles; and camping on a hill above the Pacific Ocean. 

We arrived in Vancouver, WA, at the end of January, renting a house from our oldest son. I began seeing my new GYN oncologist in early February and started my six cycles of IV chemotherapy. During that time, the radiologist in Portland reviewed my CT scan from Florida and told my doctor that there appeared to be a spot on my left omentum (my left omentum was left in during my 2021 surgery). During treatment, I underwent additional CT scans because my CA125 levels had always been normal, even when I had a large right ovarian cyst. While the spot on my left omentum shrunk, it started growing after I had finished chemotherapy. Therefore, in April 2023, I underwent another surgery to remove the spot, which was found to be cancer. Since my doctor was not sure if the spot had been there in 2021 or if my cancer had actually spread, she said I now had stage 3 ovarian cancer. She recommended another six cycles of chemotherapy, which I underwent from June to September 2023. 

In November 2023, I began maintenance therapy with oral Lynparza. While I mainly have fatigue from the Lynparza, for which the dosage was  reduced, I have permanent neuropathy in my hands and feet from the 12 cycles of IV chemotherapy. I have suffered a few falls but still enjoy making scrubbies, which my sister-in-law taught me to make in January 2022. While I suffered from some pretty harsh side effects after each cycle of IV chemotherapy, I got through them all with the care of my wonderful GYN oncologist, physician assistant, and the love and support of my family, especially my husband of 44 years (our 45th anniversary will be in September)—he is my rock. My youngest grandchildren are amazed by my hair loss and regrowth; my young granddaughter even rubs and kisses my head. However, my hair has been extremely slow to come back after the last six cycles of IV chemotherapy. 

Along with my faith, my family keeps me positive, although negative thoughts sometimes creep in. My dearest friends and my cancer mentors also keep me positive, along with attending some events. I also like to give back by crocheting teal (the color for ovarian cancer) scrubbies for the Alliance’s By Your Side chemotherapy kits for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients, along with all different colors of scrubbies for family, friends, neighbors, and doctors/care teams. 

We are going on a road trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, plan to go to Hawaii, and on a cruise to Alaska in the next year and a half. All-in-all, I feel very blessed.