Hi there! My name is Rachel, I am 35 years old and I was recently diagnosed with and treated with back-to-back surgeries (12/29 and 2/4) for stage PT2a ovarian cancer. This was following an assault/battery caused by a patient in July 2025. I was kicked multiple times in my abdomen, causing two ovarian cysts on my right side to rupture and one cyst on the left side to rupture and hemorrhage. It was found incidentally that I had a mural nodule on one of the right cysts, a paraovarian cyst (it was hanging off of my right fallopian tube). I spent these past seven months seeing multiple gynecologists, oncology, primary care, and having countless scans done before finally just begging my latest gynecologist to remove the paraovarian cyst, as I was still having a ton of pain and couldn’t even lay or sit in any comfortable position.

12/29/25 was my first surgery. Only the cyst was removed, and upon pathology, it was diagnosed as PT1a, but with a super aggressive type of cancer because there were no peritoneal washings submitted. There was a conference held to discuss my tumor due to its prevalence in someone my age (35) and its rarity. My surgeon called me the same day once she and my oncologist spoke, and it was determined that to save my life (two members of my dad's family died young from the same type of ovarian cancer), I would need to have both fallopian tubes and my right ovary removed.

2/4/26 - second surgery. My incision on the left had to be extended to get my ovary out, and I was stitched internally to my fascia to prevent herniation. I woke up in 10/10 pain, maxed out every pain med available to me, and needed a bedside nerve block (TAP block) on my left side. I was left to get myself to the bathroom and dress myself as a major fall risk and sent home with my boyfriend and some pain medications. Later pathology confirmed it had spread to my fallopian tubes and ovary - making my new staging PT2a.

I am currently doing okay, but my bills I’ve accumulated over the past seven months aren’t. I’ve had to often choose between food or paying for my car/insurance/phone. I was only paid a small percent from temporary disability because I hadn’t worked at my job long enough. Workers' comp ended back in October (no, I wasn’t collecting both at the same time).

I’m asking for a little help to catch myself back up on everything I’ve had to put aside, and some help with my medical expenses I’ve accumulated this year so far directly related to my ovarian cancer (medications, my surgery copay).

People who know me, you know I’ve always helped others, and I’ve dedicated my last 17 years to working in healthcare, even at one point in surgical oncology! I wouldn’t ever ask for help if I had any other choice.

Thank you for literally anything ❤️. Even a share helps.

My journey and navigation with this isn’t over. I have to start HRT (my body doesn’t produce a lot of hormones regularly - I have PCOS), and I’ll be getting repeated scans and tests for the next five years. All funds raised will go to my past due expenses and outstanding medical co-pays and debts from surgery and medication expenses.

I am also one semester away from medical school (Bachelors of science in Biochemistry) which I’ve had to postpone due to needing treatment and multiple surgeries. I’ve already had to postpone due to divorce and moving halfway across the country - and literally zero money over my goal will be wasted. I’m planning to major in pathology with a sub-specialty of oncology as cancer has riddled many of my family members lives and many others - including myself.