Kristin's Story of Hope

When I was diagnosed with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer in 2009 at the age of 47, I knew nothing about it. I had never met anyone who’d had it. Suddenly, I had a lot to learn and fast and none of it was very encouraging. I underwent major gynaecological surgery followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. It was intense and completely took over my life.

With a background in healthcare, I was determined to get onto a clinical trial, hoping it might help prevent a recurrence – something that’s all too common with this disease. The extra care and attention I received during my first maintenance treatment trial made a huge difference. It turned me into a passionate advocate for clinical trials as a way to improve care and save lives.

After a remission of two to three years, my cancer returned in 2014, this time scattered throughout my abdomen. More surgery and chemotherapy followed. Thankfully, I had a better understanding of the system by then, which made navigating it a little easier. I then joined a second clinical trial for maintenance treatment and that trial has literally saved my life.

I’m what’s known as a Super Responder to a new type of targeted therapy. Even though I was once considered “incurable,” I’ve now been living disease-free for eleven years. It feels like a miracle.

But maybe it’s not a miracle – maybe it’s the result of the dedication, curiosity, and compassion of the doctors and scientists who work tirelessly to develop new treatments and bring them to people like me. Because of them, I can be a symbol of hope for other women with ovarian cancer, showing that there is progress, and there is hope. We may not have a cure yet, but we’re getting closer every day.