In June of 2015, I had abdominal surgery to remove a large mass attached to my right ovary. During the course of that surgery my doctors needed to remove the right ovary and fallopian tube. After the biopsy of the tumor was completed, cancerous cells consistent with mucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma were determined to be present. After much discussion with my doctors, it was decided to not do any further treatment, as there were no proven therapies to treat this rare form of ovarian cancer.The hope was the removal of the tumor would be sufficient, as well as regular blood testing to check for markers to indicate the any further presence of these cells.

Rewind back about 6 months from that diagnosis.I was overweight and not happy with my health. I started eating healthier, working out and running. I gave myself an initial goal of completing a 5k. When I hit that goal, I started training for a half marathon. As the weight came off, I noticed a mass in my abdomen that just wouldn’t respond to my running, diet and exercise. Running literally saved my life. If I had not started on that journey, who knows if or when I would have figured out I had cancer.

Approaching 2025, I am feeling positive about being cancer free for 10 years. I thought what better way to celebrate than to run my 4th marathon for an organization dedicated to raising funds in support of cancer research and awareness.