Community Health Leaders

In order to stay up to date on latest treatments, drug discovery, clinical studies and how to cope with advanced ovarian cancer every day, AdvancedOvarianCancer.net brings you frequent articles, points of view and advice from health leaders and experts.

Current health leaders

Vicki Campana

At the age of 37 while trying to start a family, Vicki was diagnosed with stage 3A Granulosa Cell Tumor (GCT) Ovarian Cancer. Since that time she has become a true advocate for her own health, as well as helping to empower fellow survivors and thrivers in the cancer community. Read more.

Leya Elijah

Leya Elijah is a 43-year-old cancer advocate, plus-size model and founder of This Is What A Fighter Looks Like. A charity established to create unique opportunities, events, moments, and experiences for female cancer survivors of all ages. Read more.

Kara Nissen

Hello, my name is Kara Nissen. I am a 32-year Southern California native. When I am not working my 8-5 job in the medical field you can find me spending time with my family and friends. I love being at the beach and river or you can find me singing my heart out at country concerts. Although I’ve never traveled outside of the country, I do like to consider myself a weekend traveler. I love packing a bag with my girls and heading out of town even if it is only for a few days. Read more.

Deborah Norris

Debbie was diagnosed with Stage 1C Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer in April 2013 at the age of 43, just 8 months after she was married. After 2 surgeries and 6 cycles of chemotherapy, she has been blessed to remain with No Evidence of Disease since October 2013. Read more.

Alisa Manzelli

Alisa is a 32-year-old, Los Angeles native, who loves hiking, traveling, live music, and being a dog mom to her Chihuahua-Terrier rescue pup. She is also a proud graduate of the University of California, San Diego (B.A.) and Loyola Marymount University (M.A.), where she received both degrees in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. Read more.

Ruth Ann Ornstein

Ruth Ann was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, Stage 2C in August of 2013. She was diagnosed at 47 years old and at that time her children were 14 and 17 years old. Unfortunately, she was exhibiting symptoms but it took a severe stomach ache to land her into the doctor's office. Read more.

Ellen Reed

Ellen is a believer that everyone has a story worthy to tell. Her story begins with the early loss of her father to brain cancer when she was in her teens. His dying influenced her passion to make a difference in healthcare, especially in the care of dying patients and their families. Read more.

Julie Salazar

Julie was diagnosed with ovarian and endometrial cancer during a global pandemic. She was extremely fortunate that her cancer presented with a vast amount of blood clots in both lungs. Her subtype of endometroid ovarian and endometrial cancer likes to produce blood clots. Otherwise, she never would have known that she was ill. Read more.

Catherin Saoud

Catherine Saoud is a 23 year old ovarian cancer survivor and advocate. Catherine grew up in La Plata, MD and is a proud graduate of Georgetown University. She moved to Chicago, IL to pursue her master’s in social work at the University of Chicago. She began experiencing multiple symptoms associated with ovarian cancer in March of 2020. Read more.

Nolan Stuckenschneider

I am not your typical ovarian cancer patient as a transman, most of the time you see mostly women as the face of events and discussions, which is understandable considering the basis of the diagnosis, but that doesn't mean others don't have to deal with this as well. Read more.

Randalynn Vasel

Life after hearing these words is forever changed in numerous ways – it begins with surgeries, treatment, and wrapping your arms around everything that is happening, all the while wondering how could she not have known so many things about ovarian cancer. Read more.

ShaRhonda Wise

ShaRhonda was diagnosed with a rare form of Ovarian Cancer called Mucinous Ovarian Carcinoma in May 2020 at the age of 30. She underwent a total hysterectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy, and a HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) procedure. Read more.

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