Ovarian cancer symptoms dismissed as signs of aging, Minnesota woman warns

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A Minnesota woman whose best friend died from ovarian cancer was stunned when she was diagnosed with the same disease less than a year later.Becky Drexler was there to support her best friend, Connie Dahl, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in April 2015 at age 51. After a courageous battle, Dahl passed away in September 2017.During her friend’s cancer fight, Drexler began volunteering with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA).CANCER SURVIVORS MAY SEE SURPRISING BENEFITS FROM ONE SPECIFIC EXERCISE, STUDY SAYSAfter retiring in 2017, Drexler was making plans to travel, garden, volunteer and spend more time with family and friends – but those plans were interrupted by her own diagnosis in July 2018.”I was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer,” Drexler, now 65, told Fox News Digital. Becky Drexler (right) was there to support her best friend, Connie Dahl (far left), when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in April 2015 at age 51.  (Becky Drexler)Like her best friend, Drexler dismissed her own symptoms – including frequent urination, constipation, bloating and hip pain – as common signs of aging. She put off seeing a doctor at first.”By early summer, I felt I was getting signs from Connie to nudge me along,” she wrote in an essay sent to Fox News Digital. “Dragonflies represent Connie to me since she passed, and I saw them everywhere. I recall one afternoon being on my patio thinking, ‘Should I go see the doctor?’ when a couple dragonflies in my flower garden just wouldn’t leave me alone. I said out loud, ‘OK, Connie, I’ll go in and talk to the doctor.’”ALCOHOL TIED TO SURPRISING CANCER DEATH PATTERN IN ADULTS UNDER 55, RESEARCHERS FINDOn Drexler’s 57th birthday, her doctor called to say a CT scan had detected masses on both ovaries. After meeting with an oncologist, she had surgery four days later.Drexler underwent six chemotherapy treatments (carboplatin and taxol) from September 2018 to January 2019.”Those months were difficult but also filled with the support, love and laughter of family, friends, care team and MOCA,” she said. “I knew Connie was part of my team as well – just in a different way.” After retiring in 2017, Drexler was making plans to travel, garden, volunteer and spend more time with family and friends – but those plans were interrupted by her own diagnosis in July 2018. (Becky Drexler)Throughout Drexler’s cancer fight, she drew inspiration from her friend’s vow to “be positive, and to live, laugh and love to the fullest every day.””This helped me greatly, as did attending MOCA support group meetings and talking to women who had or were experiencing the same things I was,” she said. “There were times I wished Connie was still here so I could talk to her about what I was feeling physically and emotionally.”CURE FOR CERTAIN CANCERS IS ‘REALISTIC’ GOAL IN NEXT DECADE, PHARMA LEAD SAYSIn August 2020, Drexler’s cancer returned. She had surgery to remove the new tumor from her pelvic area.”We discussed treatment options with my oncologist – she provided the pros and cons of standard chemotherapy, radiation, and no treatment, only monitoring,” she shared.”I was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer.” Ultimately, Drexler decided on targeted radiation, with chemotherapy as a backup option if radiation did not work or if there was another recurrence. After radiation was completed in January 2021, Drexler was again considered to have “no evidence of disease” (NED).”I then began taking Lynparza, a PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment – something that was not even available for ovarian cancer patients when Connie was dealing with her cancer,” she said.From January 2021 until February 2026, while taking Lynparza, Drexler remained in NED status – “although there was always the concern in the back of my mind about when I would recur again.”VISION PROBLEM LEADS TO MAN’S STAGE 4 LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS, NEW DRUG EXTENDS SURVIVALIn winter 2026, after experiencing gastric symptoms, Drexler underwent a PET scan. The scan revealed a tumor around her small intestine that had grown large enough to require surgery.”Once the tumor was removed, it was confirmed to be a recurrence of my ovarian cancer,” she said. “After recovering from surgery, I had another PET scan, which indicated a couple of spots were still present.” Becky Drexler (center) is pictured with other survivors presenting to medical students at Mayo Clinic in 2025. (Becky Drexler)In May 2026, Drexler began an 18-week treatment cycle including carboplatin, taxol and avastin, which is expected to be completed at the end of September.”I had a PET scan halfway through (late July), which indicated the treatment is working,” she shared. “We were happy to learn that the spots were no longer visible and no new spots had appeared.”FDA APPROVES ONCE-DAILY PILL FOR DEADLY CANCER AFTER PATIENTS’ SURVIVAL RATES NEARLY DOUBLEDepending on the results of her next PET scan, Drexler said her next treatment will likely be an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) maintenance plan, a recently-approved targeted cancer therapy that has shown “exceptional results.”Throughout her cancer journey, Drexler has continued volunteering with MOCA, serving on its board of directors, participating on committees and reviewing grants for ovarian cancer research.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER”It does make me think back to when Connie was dealing with her cancer and the treatments that were not available to her but are now available for me and other women,” Drexler said.”I believe I am still here because of the advancements in treatments. Developing a reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer remains one of the most critical research goals.”Symptoms to watch forOvarian cancer was once known as the “silent killer,” meaning that women would get it and not know anything until the disease was in advanced, more aggressive stages, according to Brian M. Slomovitz, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida.About 75% of women are diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 disease, according to the doctor. Dahl, Drexler, Drexler’s husband and Dahl’s husband (left to right) are pictured at the Drexlers’ wedding in 2002. (Becky Drexler)In recent years, researchers have identified that ovarian cancer actually does have symptoms, noted Slomovitz, who is also deputy director of the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center.”The problem is they are sort of non-specific symptoms, things that could occur in everyday life – stomach pains, abdominal bloating, things like that.”TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ”There may be an increase in abdominal girth, meaning patients complain that their pants are too tight or they’re noticing something different in the way their body’s shaped,” the doctor said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESThose symptoms can also come with weight loss and decreased appetite, he noted: “They could oftentimes mimic gastroenteritis or eating a bad meal.”Any symptoms that persist or worsen over a period of one or two weeks should be checked out, the doctor advised.‘Advocate for yourself’To other women who may be experiencing worrisome symptoms, Drexler urges them to listen to their bodies.”The early symptoms both Connie and I had were vague, like they are for most women,” she said. “They seem like normal things that we can excuse away – we are aging, we are just stressed, we just need to eat better or lose weight.””If something isn’t feeling right or a seemingly minor issue persists, and you think you might be concerned, see your doctor. Advocate for yourself.””They seem like normal things that we can excuse away – we are aging, we are just stressed, we just need to eat better or lose weight.” For those who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Drexler emphasized that it’s important to see a gynecologic oncologist, as they have additional training in diagnosing and treating cancers.Researchers have spent decades studying early detection and screening for ovarian cancer, Slomovitz said – “but unfortunately, no reliable method has been identified to diagnose women at an earlier stage.”CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPThere is currently no recommended routine screening test for ovarian cancer in women at average risk, because available tests have not been shown to reliably detect the disease early enough to improve outcomes.When ovarian cancer is detected at stage 1, the cure rate approaches 90%, Slomovitz said, underscoring the need for continued research into earlier detection. Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

Credit: Source link