Cathy Brockhoff, a 47‑year‑old teacher’s assistant living in Coram, New York, thought she was suffering from severe indigestion when a sharp stomachache woke her early one morning. After taking antacids, the pain intensified, making it difficult to lie down, and she woke her husband to go to the hospital.
Initial concerns pointed to gallbladder issues or pancreatitis, but a sonogram revealed a mass on her ovary. Doctors confirmed ovarian cancer, a disease that typically affects women in their 60s. “This literally came out of the blue… it still makes your stomach drop,” Brockhoff told TODAY.com.
Medical perspective
Dr. Antoinette Sakaris, a gynecologic oncologist at Northwell South Shore University Hospital, noted that while most ovarian cancers develop after menopause, younger diagnoses like Brockhoff’s are “definitely on the younger side.” She emphasized the need for women to be attuned to subtle symptoms.
Ovarian cancer often presents vague signs, allowing it to spread unnoticed, making it the most lethal gynecologic cancer. About 1 % of women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. Risk factors include older age, family history, and harmful genetic mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. However, most patients, including Brockhoff, have no identifiable risk factors.
Warning signs
Dr. Sakaris advises women to watch for the acronym BEAT: bloating, early satiety, abdominal pain, and toilet changes. Persistent bloating that does not resolve with a bowel movement, especially when accompanied by a feeling of fullness or rapid satiety, should prompt a doctor’s visit.
Other possible signs include frequent urination, narrow stools, and a sensation that the bladder cannot hold normal amounts of urine, which can result from a tumor pressing on pelvic organs.
Treatment and outlook
After her diagnosis, Brockhoff underwent surgery to remove the tumor, uterus, ovaries, and a portion of nearby colon, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. As of October, three years post‑treatment, scans show no evidence of disease.
She credits her family’s support and urges women not to ignore persistent abdominal symptoms, especially while juggling work and parenting responsibilities. “We often make excuses or push things off,” she said. “We have to stop doing that and listen to our bodies.”
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
