I always knew that someday I would hear the words "you have cancer." My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 44 in 1973, and was treated by having a radical mastectomy. She looked like the famous NY Times magazine cover. The following year she had a reoccurrence in the remaining breast tissue and at that time went through radiation.

My history with ovarian cancer began three years before my diagnosis, when my younger sister was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer at the age of 46 in August 2003. I was in the waiting room when her surgeon came out, and the first thing she said to me was that I should have my ovaries removed.

Remission #3 continues at almost 2 1/2 years! (More than twice as long as first remission) Woohoo! Was it the latest surgery, the chemo assay that helped us select the latest chemotherapy, the latest treatment itself or the vaccine clinical trial? Or maybe it was a little bit of everything? No one really knows for sure.

Annie Ellis spoke at the Scientific Research Symposium of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund on November 13, 2010.

Below, ovarian cancer survivor Cheryl recounts how she was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer.
"My name is Cheryl and I am one of the few women that are diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer. The cancer was found as a result of a follow-up CT scan I had for kidney stones.

Hello! I was diagnosed with clear cell ovarian cancer on March 31, 1993 at the age of 45.

My story actually begins about 3 months prior to my diagnosis. I had my regular appointment with my gynecologist for my yearly physical exam. I had no physical complaints and I was feeling well.

In September of 1999, while exercising, I had acid reflux every time I bent at the waist. When this continued for around three weeks, I made an appointment with my gynecologist. Years before, I had a hysterectomy for fibroids, but asked that my ovaries be left in if they were healthy so I could have a normal menopause. They were healthy.

SHARE is deeply saddened by the loss of Lisa Franklin to Stage IV ovarian cancer on June 24, 2015. Lisa died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family. This profile, which shows her relentless efforts to make all women aware of the symptoms and risk of ovarian cancer, was posted shortly after she learned of her recurrence.