June 26, 2006, I left work early with extreme stomach and lower back pain.

I tried a heating pad, I tried a bubble bath, until I finally reached a point where I knew with the amount of pain I was in, and something had to really be wrong. I had my boyfriend at the time, take me to the ER, where we had to WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, and after having several tests, a CT scan finally showed I had a mass on my left ovary. No one at this point was calling it cancer. The ER doctor asked if I had a local gynecologist, I said no, because I had moved to the area a year ago, and just had not found one yet. He referred me the next day to see a local gynecologist here in Winston Salem, NC. Still no mention of cancer.

During the appointment, this doctor said, we are not sure what this is, and its best for you to already be in the hands of a GYN oncologist for your surgery in case it is cancer. This was the first time the word cancer was used. I then had an appointment, at one of the local cancer centers set for July 5th, 2006.

At that appointment, this now 3rd doctor, still said, we will not know until surgery, and is going to be one of 3 things; all cancer, some cancer, or no cancer! I was definitely on board with the no cancer plan!!!

Surgery was set for July 14th 2006; I was already set to have vacation with my family that week, so we still went on vacation as planned. I just had to come back early with mom and dad, so I could have my pre-op and then surgery on Friday.

I woke up from surgery and my first question was, do I have cancer? And answer was yes.

I had what they call a Borderline Ovarian Tumor, but I had sparse abnormal cells in the lymph nodes tested. They had taken both my ovaries as my right side did not look good either. My doctor did leave my uterus in case I wanted In Vitro Fertilization at a later date, using donor eggs.

My doctor here, sent me to DUKE to get a 2nd Option, I was only 25. But I already was faced with the fact; I would never have children of my own.

Both doctors agreed, I should have 6 rounds of chemotherapy, which would start after I had recovered from surgery. I started in September and went every 3 weeks, until my last treatment on 12/22/2006. THAT WAS A GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT!! NO MORE CHEMO!!! I did lose all my hair, I did cry hysterically while my head was shaved. I did wear a wig. It was not comfortable, but I could not imagine not wearing it, as I work in healthcare industry and did not want to invite everyone into my own private personal health issues. I often wonder how many people knew it was a wig????

I know am coming up on 8 years, since that year, to top all years, and a part of it seems soooo far away, and how far I have come, and a part of it seems like yesterday, as it’s still very much has not left me.

Anytime I meet a new guy, I have to at some point, let them know I cannot have kids. Or kids of my own. I remain single. As, you note, prior I said my boyfriend at the time. He stayed through my treatment, but we broke up March 2007. I wish we had broken up before, as now a very difficult time in my life is forever tied to this person that I wish was not. I told him in the beginning he could leave, as one day I was a healthy 25 year old, and next day, I was a 25 year old that had cancer. Again, I wish he had.

Life is just never what you think it’s going to be, and through my cancer I learned, what not to take for granted. I will never be a typical girl, complaining about a bad hair day, you could not have hair. Or a bad haircut again you could not have any.

I also learned that I have AMAZING PARENTS!!! That drove down from WV to sit with me through all my treatments!!!

I also had all my chemo treatments on Fridays and was always right back to work Monday morning! Working helped me hold onto some sense of normalcy in my life. I was happy I was able to continue working throughout!!

In 2008, I started taking part in the Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Awareness Walk/5k, in Raleigh, NC. All the Money raised goes go ovarian cancer research at DUKE. My team is HALEYS COMETS!! www.ovariancancerwawareness.org. I truly believe the money donated, will help us see a screening test for ovarian cancer sooner, rather than later! They are doing incredible things! My hope, is that one day ovarian cancer gets the attention in deserves!!!

If I could tell people ANYTHING, or my take away is that you never know! I had no history of ovarian cancer in my family, and yet here I am, going on 8 years OVARIAN CANCER SURVIVOR!!!

#TAKENOTHINGFORGRANTED, you never know when it will fade from your grasp!

XOXO

-Haley Anne Mellert