Ovarian Cancer Awareness: Why Staying on Top of Your Health Matters More Than You Think

If you had asked me last year how I was doing, I would’ve told you, “I’m fine.” Life was busy, I felt okay for the most part, and honestly? I skipped my annual physical. I figured I’d get to it later.

Here’s the thing: later almost cost me everything!

When I finally did make it to the doctor, they found a mass the size of a soccer ball inside my ovary. A soccer ball. To this day, I still can’t wrap my head around how something that big had been quietly growing inside me. I didn’t have the kind of pain that stops you in your tracks. I didn’t have symptoms that screamed “something’s possibly wrong,” and that’s the scary truth about ovarian cancer, it can grow in silence until it’s dangerously late.

The Subtle Red Flags

Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent” disease, but the signs are there. They’re just easy to dismiss:

• Bloating
• Feeling full faster than usual
• Changes in bathroom habits
• Nagging stomach or back discomfort

The kind of stuff you chalk up to stress, hormones, or just getting older. I brushed them off. I told myself I’d deal with it later, but ignoring those whispers from your body, or skipping that yearly check-up can give something serious the time it needs to grow.

Hearing my doctor tell me there was a mass the size of a soccer ball inside me was terrifying, but it was also a wake-up call. That appointment….the one I almost canceled for work, may have saved my life.

It reminded me of something we all tend to forget: our health is not optional. It’s not something we squeeze in after the errands, after the deadlines, after the family needs. It’s the foundation that holds everything else up.

While September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it isn’t just about teal ribbons or statistics. It’s about stories like mine, even if it turned out as not cancerous, and so many others. It’s about reminding each other not to put off the check-up, not to silence the nagging feeling that something might be off. Because “later” is not promised.

If my story gets even one person to make that appointment they’ve been putting off, then sharing it is worth it.

Here’s What You Can Do This Month

• Schedule your annual physical. Even if you feel fine. Especially if you feel fine.
• Know your family history. Genetics can play a big role in ovarian cancer risk.
• Listen to your body. Don’t downplay changes just because they seem minor.
• Talk about it. The more we share these conversations, the more people we reach.

I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but here I am, and I’m grateful. My mass turned out to be benign once it was removed…but that’s not the case for everyone.

So, let this be your reminder: don’t wait. Don’t push your health to the bottom of the list. Make the call. Book the appointment. Give yourself the best chance to keep living your life fully, because nothing…nothing, is worth more than that.

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