Home / Health / Ovarian Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story
Ovarian Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story
14 Sep
Summary
- Woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer after her best friend died from it.
- Dismissed symptoms like bloating and hip pain as signs of aging.
- Advocates for early detection and listening to one's body.
Becky Drexler, now 65, was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer in July 2018. Her diagnosis came less than two years after her best friend, Connie Dahl, passed away from the same disease in September 2017. Drexler initially ignored symptoms such as frequent urination, constipation, and bloating, attributing them to aging.
Feeling nudged by signs from her late friend, Drexler consulted a doctor. A CT scan on her 57th birthday revealed masses on her ovaries, leading to surgery and six chemotherapy treatments from September 2018 to January 2019. Despite a recurrence in August 2020 requiring further surgery and radiation, followed by treatment with Lynparza, Drexler has remained in "no evidence of disease" status.
In winter 2026, her cancer recurred again, necessitating surgery for a tumor on her small intestine. She is currently undergoing an 18-week chemotherapy regimen that began in May 2026 and is showing positive results. Drexler emphasizes the critical need for reliable early detection methods for ovarian cancer, a disease often diagnosed in its advanced stages.
