Amber’s symptoms began subtly with bowel irregularities, night sweats, missed periods, unintended weight loss, fatigue, and pain, but she initially rationalized these as related to stress or her active lifestyle. With her mother battling stage 3 colorectal cancer at the time, she feared a similar diagnosis but delayed seeking medical help. By the fall of the same year, her symptoms had worsened significantly, including blood in her stool and severe discomfort, prompting her husband to schedule medical appointments.

After a colonoscopy revealed a mass, a subsequent emergency surgery determined Amber had stage 4 ovarian cancer, with the tumor spreading to both ovaries and her colon. This led to initial chemotherapy and the placement of an ileostomy bag. She later transferred care to a specialized center, where treatment included more chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before undergoing a radical hysterectomy and removal of other affected tissues. Genetic testing revealed she was BRCA1 positive, which shaped her treatment plan and ultimately led to the decision for a preventive double mastectomy two years after achieving remission.

Despite multiple allergic reactions to treatments and procedures, she persevered, completing six rounds of chemotherapy, a surgical recovery phase, and several years on a targeted PARP inhibitor. Though she mourned the loss of her fertility, she and her husband pursued fostering and adopted their daughter, who brought new purpose and joy to their lives. Now in remission, Amber reflects on the challenges of cancer, the trauma it caused, and the blessings that emerged through her resilience and determination.