Hello friends,

For my birthday, I find myself reflecting on the past year and I’m hoping to celebrate in a different way.

On election day 2024, after a few weeks of not feeling well, I experienced intense pain that led me to the emergency room.  It was there that the doctor first raised the possibility of cancer related to a mass on my ovary. This was surprising, as a hysterectomy the previous April had come back clear. My gynecologist also thought the likelihood was low, perhaps connected to my earlier surgery, but he wisely referred me to a specialist, Dr. Randall West, a GYN oncologist. While he initially suspected a link to my previous health issues, he decided quickly that the mass needed to be removed within a couple of days.  Deep down, I knew something was terribly wrong.

You often hear about cancer, but it feels distant until it touches your own life. When you are 43, happy in life, you don't think the next day you will be diagnosed: Endometrioid Carcinoma of the Ovary. What I've learned since is that cancers are categorized by how treatable they are, into what doctors might call "good" and "bad" types. Thankfully, mine fell into the "good" category, though the treatment itself was still a significant experience.  My family’s life trajectory changed immediately. 

Every day, over 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer.  Due to cancer research, my cancer story was a success.  I rang the bell and although, yes, there is a chance of recurrence, that chance is low.  Surviving cancer also means that you live with guilt.  I'm happy to be alive, but others aren't as fortunate.  Our hope is that my journey is just a blip and although my life has forever changed, my family can move on with our lives. My neighbor next door, in which we were diagnosed around the same time, is still in his pancreatic cancer journey, with no immediate end in sight.  He has entered two clinical trials to improve his chances and is alive due to cancer research.  Why is his journey any different than mine?  All patients deserve a blip.

We are grateful for the village that helped our family. I am also grateful for modern science and for Dr. Randall West and his nurses and staff, Lisa, Adriana, Casey and Bailey.  Their constant support was irreplaceable, and I have immense respect for the work they do every day. Their work is built on the foundation of research and the experiences of patients who came before me.  

We live in a time where important decisions about research funding are made, often outside of our direct influence. Conquer Cancer supports research across various cancer types, directly funding the work of researchers, and this investment feels particularly vital right now. It's also the organization where I am privileged to work.

So for my birthday this year, I am raising money to support Conquer Cancer and the progress in treatment and care that they help make possible. If you can contribute, I am grateful.  Either way, thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your support during my treatment and ongoing support for me and my family.

Chrissy