Ovarian Cancer Survivor Stories: 3 Brave Buzz Women

Lauren Brigance, an ovarian cancer survivor, rode in the MS150 right before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She later learned that the tumor was probably growing in her body while she was riding it.

I can think of nothing more inspiring than hearing stories from people who have battled cancer. This month - National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - we are spotlighting four Buzz women who beat ovarian cancer. In honor of their bravery and resilience, we are featuring their specific stories. As a cancer survivor myself, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to speak with these inspiring women.

I hope you read their stories and find the motivation to take steps toward preventing cancer and as inspiration to move forward through the daily grind. 

Joan Altsuler

Joan Altsuler’s story is particularly scary in that she was proactive and got a hysterectomy to prevent ovarian cancer. Even though she was seemingly “out of the running” for getting ovarian cancer, she still protracted it. Because of this shock, Joan encourages everyone who has heard her story to frequently visit their OBGYN for regular appointments, even if that person has already had a hysterectomy. 

Lauren Brigance

Lauren Brigance was diagnosed with Stage I ovarian cancer when she was only 33 years old. After going to a doctor for abdominal pain, resulting in her being sent home with antibiotics, Lauren insisted on more testing, which eventually led to doctors finding a softball-sized tumor in her ovaries. Even though the cancer was presumed to be confined to the tumor, Lauren went through six cycles of chemotherapy to make sure the cancer was out of her system. The most important takeaway she wants readers to have is that you are never too young to get cancer. You know your body better than anyone else, so don’t let doctors tell you that everything is okay if you know that there is an issue. Lauren rode in the MS150 right before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and later learned that the tumor was probably growing in her body while she was riding it. She has just begun riding again, and is excited to participate in the upcoming Wheel to Survive event.

Cathleen Marton

Cathleen Marton’s story starts off tragically, with the death of her husband, who passed away after a bad accident and subsequent illness. Soon after, Cathleen discovered that something inside her felt “wrong,” but whenever she went to doctors, they told her there were no problems. Finally, after visiting multiple doctors, a resident just out of medical school diagnosed her with cancer. Fearful of what her daughter might think if she found out (with worries that she might be an orphan), Cathleen hid her diagnosis from her daughter. Now that she has been treated and taken care of, Cathleen recently told her daughter about her illness. Her daughter is nothing but supportive, and encourages her to share her story and trust in herself and her body if something doesn’t feel right.

Thank you to all of these inspirational women for sharing their stories with us. Joan, Lauren, Cathleen and Cathy are all participating in the upcoming bike relay race, Wheel to Survive, on Sept. 25. Proceeds raised by riders directly funds programs for women currently battling ovarian cancer and provides research dollars for a cure.

Find a list of cancer resources provided by Buzz residents.