Coping with rare ovarian cancer as a young adult (Jen’s story)

March 1, 2011

In this video, Jen talks about dealing with a rare form of ovarian cancer as a young adult, needing to rely on her mom and returning to work

Watch as Jen talks about being diagnosed with endodermal sinus, a rare form of ovarian cancer, at the age of 29. She talks about how hard it was to go back to being dependent on her mother through treatment.

She also discusses her slow and difficult return to work, and her luck of having flexible employers. Jen also shares how finding a support group of young-adult cancer survivors helped her heal.

Jen lives and works in Richmond, British Columbia. She’s become a strong advocate for better care of young adults with cancer. She also is involved with Callanish and Young Adult Cancer Canada.

It’s really been a lot about me advocating for myself and being open and honest to others about my experience. So when cancer came and went, and through the process of the healing, I think somehow I managed to disassociate myself from that label. Though I’m a survivor and though I’ve had cancer, cancer is not who I am.

Watch the video of Jen talking about coping with rare ovarian cancer

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer works with our partners to make sure adolescents and young adults (AYA) who are either living with or are survivors of cancer as children, adolescents or young adults, experience improved outcomes and quality of life. Our goal is to deliver quick, equal access to the best care both during and after cancer treatment. That care should be based on education and research to improve health outcomes and quality of life, and to eliminate current disparities around AYA cancer care.

Downloadable content