My Wife’s Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

In October 2023, my wife started having fatigue symptoms. By January 2024, she was also having a foot problem. She was told she had plantar fasciitis and was given cortisone shots. By March 2024, her chiropractor said she had an inflammatory problem. In April 2024, she had abdominal swelling. Her primary care physician told her in mid April that her leg pain was pseudo gout and referred her to a rheumatologist.

Blood clots were blamed for symptoms

The rheumatologist said he wasn't sure what was wrong with her. He put her on steroids for 3 weeks. During the second visit, the rheumatologist ordered an ultrasound for her leg swelling. The ultrasound showed numerous blood clots in both legs.

Finally, an emergency room doctor found the cancerous tumors

An emergency room doctor put her on Eliquis, a blood thinner. She had a skin reaction/rash to the blood thinner. She returned to the emergency room a week later. Another doctor noticed her shortness of breath and ordered a CT scan, which showed blood clots in both lungs and ovarian cancer tumors. In mid-May 2024, she was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer.

Too many doctors overlooked the symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer

The blood clots in her feet, legs and lungs were caused by ovarian cancer. Her primary care physician missed the ovarian cancer and so did some of the other doctors. My wife started chemotherapy in early June and surgery will be done in late September 2024. I wish the other doctors would have found the cancer sooner.