Niamh Shackleton
A mom-of-two got the shock of her life when her doctors expressed concerns about the symptoms she had that she'd put down to a sinus infection.
Earlier this year, Jessica Gilbert was getting ready to take her kids on vacation to Disney World, Florida. However, in the run-up to their trip, which was a Christmas present for her son and daughter, Jessica started to feel unwell.
"I woke up with a fever, and I thought it was a sinus infection because I had a stuffy head all week," she said.
Jessica continued to tell ABC News: "I decided to go to my [primary care] doctor to get COVID, flu, [and] RSV tests, and they all came back negative."
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After a couple of days, she started to feel a bit better and informed her doctor that she still wanted to go to Florida as planned. But, much to Jessica's surprise, her doctor urged her to go to the emergency room for further tests instead.
It was at the ER that a doctor told her that they suspected that she might have ovarian cancer.
"The whole world just stood still," Jessica said. "I was just totally shocked. [I had] no family history. I didn't know any of the signs for ovarian cancer. I just didn't know anything about it at all."
"I didn't really know the symptoms for ovarian cancer. And since I don't have family history, I just really didn't think anything of it," the mom-of-two also told WLTL.
Jessica went on to be diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer.
This type of cancer refers to cancer that develops in the tissues of the ovaries, the reproductive organs responsible for multiple functions, including producing eggs and hormones, says ABC News.
As per the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of ovarian cancer include: pelvic and abdominal pain, changes in your eating habits, vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, bowel changes, bloating, and peeing more often than usual.
Approximately 1.1 percent of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point during their lifetime, states the National Cancer Institute.
As of 2022, around 243,572 women were living with ovarian cancer in the US.
In Jessica's case, she underwent multiple cycles of chemotherapy and surgery. She is currently on targeted maintenance therapy with medications.
Patients with ovarian cancer may also have hormone therapy and radiation therapy.
Jessica's brother has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her treatment, which you can donate to here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.