WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – More than 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. In Kansas, 150 women will be diagnosed with it just this year, and there is no early detection for this cancer.
Tori Duncan is an ovarian cancer survivor in Wichita who wants to raise awareness so that other women can be empowered to advocate for their health.
“A little voice in the back of my head said, ‘God didn’t put you in this position just so that you could disappoint him,’ and at that point, I decided that I needed to get the word out,” Duncan said.
Getting the word out has become a mission for Duncan and Janet Studnicka, a senior development manager with the American Cancer Society. They meet often to support each other and raise awareness.
Today, Duncan is cancer-free. She says she’s alive because of luck and timing.
“You know, most women don’t find out until they’re Stage 3 or Stage 4, and it’s metastasized,” she said.
After years and months of pain and doctor’s appointments, Duncan had a hysterectomy in 2011. That’s when they discovered the diagnosis: Stage 1C ovarian cancer.
“I knew that, you know, we’ve caught this early enough that my survival chances were fairly good,” she said.
Early diagnosis usually doesn’t happen with this silent killer, as there are no early tests for detection.
“It may present with all kinds of symptoms that could be something else. You might have belly pain. You might have back pain. You might be fatigued. Talk to your doctor about anything of that nature that’s bothering you,” Studnicka said.
Duncan says the physical and mental toll cancer took through chemotherapy and other treatments was rough, but she found strength in her family, her husband, and her two sons.
“Their strengths, their silliness, their very unique way of looking at life gave me the strength that I needed,” she said.
Today, Duncan says her faith keeps her going.
“If you believe in yourself, believe in a higher power, whatever that means for you, you can absolutely make it through this,” she said.
For other women, Duncan hopes they trust their instincts when something feels off and get it checked out.
Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers for women in the United States. The American Cancer Society offers transportation for treatment, support groups, and research for all cancer patients. Head to cancer.org to learn more.
