When the oncologist identified the biopsy as a granulosa theca tumor - a rare form of ovarian cancer - during what was a routine hysterectomy in 2006, he did not send Grace for any therapies. He just sent her on her merry way. Within 4-5 years, the tumor was back and grew silently and undetected for five more years until one afternoon in September 2015. Grace had been losing weight inexplicably, was in a lot of discomfort, and could not keep her food down. Her PCP accused her of being a hypochondriac. When she showed up at her grandchildren's soccer game that Labor Day morning, she looked like a shadow of herself. I told her as much. She joined us for lunch, but couldn't eat. She was planning to go to the ER after the holiday. We agreed that she couldn't wait. For the next nine years, Grace put her life as a nurse on hold and went through the trials and tribulations of chemotherapy, remission and a return to nursing, and relapse with all kinds of cancer therapies. She received care from doctors who saw and responded to her humanity, and endured others who did not think she was in as much pain as she expressed. We can't help but wonder what would have been different had the very first oncologist sent her for a follow-up.
Join Team Grace and help us raise money to support the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance’s mission in raising awareness about Ovarian Cancer and providing support services to women and their families.
With gratitude,
Ange, Matt, Lou, and Noah
