How Long Does It Take to Get Diagnosed?

Hi I’m a 67 year old woman who thought I was living a pretty healthy lifestyle. I was proven wrong in November 2024 when I was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer. I had surgery in December and chemo from January through April. My type of cancer doesn’t respond to Parp inhibitors so now I wait. This is a stressful thing to hear! The doctor didn’t suggested it but I have learned that diet can be very important and that plant based can have a huge positive impact on delay of symptoms returning. I suggested it to the doctor and she suggested the Mediterranean diet instead. What is everyone else doing that has helped?

I started having gastrointestinal issues in the fall of 2022. I consulted with my PCP and gastroenterologist. I was prescribed Linzess for my IBS-C. The gastroenterologist didn’t think it was colon cancer because I had a colonoscopy four years prior. Since she didn’t think it was colon cancer, I expressed my concern about ovarian cancer. So in February of 2023 I had a transvaginal ultrasound which showed nothing. May 2023 I went through with a colonoscopy which was clear. After these two tests along with an abdominal ultrasound, I tried to accept that it was stress and my IBS—I couldn’t have been more wrong. By fall 2023, I had very painful bloating I never had before along with the ongoing constipation. Finally in December 2023, I was diagnosed at stage 4. Stay vigilant. Don’t become complaisant like I did. Make sure to consult with a gynecologist for gastrointestinal issues and have the CA-125 taken. Ovarian cancer is very difficult to diagnose. No one should be diagnosed so late when the symptoms were there all along.

Sheri, I think your story will resonate with many. At first my doctor treated me for constipation. When the bloating and pain didn’t subside and I had diarrhea, she sent me for a CT scan. My symptoms came in quickly and thankfully my doctor chose the correct next step for diagnosis. I was expecting to hear that I had appendicitis or something else but never suspected cancer. So where are you in your treatment? I hope they acted quickly to do something once they found what it was!

Hello, I'll be 70 in July. I was diagnosed in March of 2024. Stage 3 ovarian cancer. I had it on my ovaries, uterus, appendix, and the fatty tissue that protects you organs. I went through chemo from April to September, and surgery was in May. The first treatment of chemo was really rough. Also, the first one after surgery. But I endured and went back to work full time at my job in August of 2024. I take a pill every day as a preventive. Get blood work done every 2 months, CT scans about the same. CA125 just got done yesterday. They keep track of that also. I'm sure that everyone here knows about all of this. I'm glad to meet everyone.

Hi Holly, I had four treatments, surgery last May, followed by two more treatments. Avastin infusion every three weeks until recently something showed up on a PET scan even though the CT scan which was completed first was clear. I start treatments again next week. I thought I was living a healthy lifestyle too before I was diagnosed. Because that didn’t prevent it, I’ve decided to eat whatever I want in moderation. The Mediterranean diet is a healthy diet, but haven’t heard anything about it in relation to cancer. I do try to stay active and exercise. Do what makes you happy! Try to forget about a recurrence and enjoy!

Hi, I’m stage 3c. I started having sharp shooting pain in my groin area in December. It wasn’t terrible. I decided to wait until after we went to Fla for 6 weeks in Jan. In Fla. I started to bloat and have pain in my stomach around my bowel movements. I knew something wasn’t right. So when I got home, I set up Appt. With my GI Dr. she sent me for a CT scan and they found it then. This was April. Once I went to the GI dr everything happened quickly. I had an exploratory surgery, my port put in and started treatment 3 weeks after diagnosis

Be vigilant and persistent. GI Dr. Just sent me home to take Miro Lax. Wasn't til I went to urgent care for abdominal pain that CT scan showed a mass. I was dx. with stage 3 ovarian cancer cancer. Just completed Chemo 6/5 and surgery in March Trying to decide on immunotherapy. Anyone that is or has tried immunotherapy have any thing to share

Tina Nelson, would you share which immunotherapy pill you are talking and any side effects? I have up coming appt. to discuss immunotherapy and trying to get as much is info as I can.

Hi. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer in April 2024. Had chemo then surgery. Was in remission in February 2025, but cancer returned in May/June. Will begin new treatment of Her 2+ on Friday.

Marlan, my test results for Her just came back and my appt. to discuss is 6/30. Praying the new treatment treatment is successful. Will you let me know which treatment you will be on and side effects. Prayers for you. God is good

In the spring on 2024, I wasn’t feeling quite right. I couldn’t put my finger in it, just ‘not right’. I’m really healthy and fit, aged 71 at the time. My abdomen had begun to feel bloated along with not feeling great. On July 16, 2024 I called my GP to get in to see what’s what. He was on vacation, so I saw a NP. Waste of money and time. Told me I was constipated and wrote a prescription 😫. Three days later I went to the emergency room. After 7 hours of tests of every kind I was told I had ovarian cancer. By the time I was able to be scheduled to see a gynecological oncologist, she took one look at me and admitted me. I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer on July 20th. C-125 at the time was over 3000. My abdominal cavity had 3 liters of fluid drained as well as a liter of fluid in my left lung (repeated 3 weeks later). I had 3 chemo sessions, then surgery, and 3 more chemo sessions. Surgery found tumors in left and right ovaries as well as colon and intestines. Tumors were MMMT, highly aggressive and rare. Last chemo was January 3rd of 2025, last C-125 was 13. I’m 11 months out from diagnosis and feeling more like myself and able to do the things I used to do. And, I have hair!

Hi Tina, I take Lynparza, there are side effects. I was taking a high dose,and didn’t feel good. So my amazing Doctor, lower the dose and I’m doing better. Good Luck And God Bless💕🩷🙏

Holly..we oc twins your dates are the same

I use lymparza as well…feel pretty good, but you have to try and stay on time!!

9 days in the hospital having tests after test. Started with ascites and ended with stage 3 ovarian cancer - July, 2023. 1st Dr appointment 7/21/23 and started chemo 7/24/23. 3 rounds, 1 major issue and went back to hospital for 9 more days, too much chemo too soon. Low everything and horrible chemo diarreah. Went back to work 10/3, total hysterectomy 10/23, back to work 2 days later, 3 more rounds of chemo and Avastin since 2/2024. So far all PET scans and CT scans are clear. Do everything you can to survive. The first thing I told my doctor was that I was NOT going to die. Best wishes to everyone going through this. We are stronger than we think we are

Nancy, I have stage 3 as well!! I just had my 4th chemo, then will have major surgery in 4 weeks. I’ll be in the hospital for several days. I don’t know how you went to work 2 days after. Awful, that you had to be hospitalized for 9 days for too much chemo. We can do this!! I met a woman who has been Clear for 15 years. I’ve heard about so many long term survivors. Start eating really healthy and exercise and we will be here too. 🙏

I have a friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 advanced. Her family was told she had 8 months to live and her family decided not to tell her about the 8 months. That was 23 years ago and she is still alive and well. For most of those years no one even knew she had been sick. She did have a reoccurrence once and got through that too. And she’s still running our county’s Special Olympics. I was diagnosed at 76 1/2 and still working now at 78 1/2, although I really feel like retiring some days. My daughter will be 43 next month (she’s special needs) and does not want me to retire. I have until 8/11 to figure it out. I think working does help me get through this too. Frustrating some days, tiring too but I see a lot of people and don’t have time to dwell on cancer.

Getting a diagnosis can be a challenging journey that varies greatly from person to person - some receive answers quickly while others may wait months or even years as symptoms are investigated and different possibilities are ruled out. For those still seeking answers, it's important to advocate for yourself, keep detailed records of symptoms, and don't hesitate to seek second opinions or ask for referrals to specialists who have experience with ovarian cancer when you feel something isn't right.