From an early age, Rachel felt a strong desire to work in advocacy and make change in the world. She moved to San Francisco 40 years ago to attend college, and she felt right at home. It’s where she met her husband, went on to raise her two children and became an integral part of the vibrant community. Her life is driven by her dedication to family, community and her career in advertising and media. She never imagined her work would one day evolve to focus on advocacy and marketing within the healthcare industry.

In 2018, Rachel was diagnosed with ovarian cancer – a disease she has now faced three different times. After her first diagnosis, Rachel was devastated and fearful of what came next. But she found new purpose in advocacy, channeling her experience into education, awareness for prevention, research and clinical trials and legislative action in the hope that other women wouldn’t have to experience what she did.

“Any advocacy that someone like me or anybody else can do to support awareness around this disease is imperative and can have great outcomes,” Rachel said. “I preach from the rafters. I want us to be talking about the organs down there – the organs that give us life and that can kill us – I want us talking about them all the time. This needs to be less taboo.”

A crucial part of Rachel’s advocacy work focuses on legislation and raising awareness of research and clinical trials that can support new treatments for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, a patient population with historically limited options. Ovarian cancer is considered “platinum-resistant” if it returns less than six months after a patient receives platinum-containing chemotherapy.

“Clinical trials and the dedicated funding supporting them are going to save lives,” Rachel stresses. “When we become resistant to certain treatments for this type of disease, clinical trials are the only answer.”

Finding a support system

A critical part of any patient’s journey with ovarian cancer is the support system they have around them. Rachel credits her medical team, friends, family and dogs Mateo and Kabocha, in getting her through the diagnoses. She also highlights the role her community in San Francisco has played.

“Having cancer is a journey. It’s an emotional journey, a physical journey, and all sorts of things all at once,” Rachel reflects. “The sense of community that comes when you are diagnosed with a disease like this is so important and so valuable and something that I have enormous gratitude for.”

Rachel maintains close relationships with her community. This includes involvement in her neighborhood’s Tiled Steps project, an art installation inspired by her neighbor. Rachel and her family were involved in the inception of the project 20 years ago, and she appreciates the fact that their legacy will live on through this initiative. “There is a step with mine and my husband’s names on it and another with my children’s names – and they’re permanent,” Rachel said.

Navigating your personal cancer journey

A diagnosis with any illness can become an emotional rollercoaster, and Rachel chooses to take her journey proactively and one day at a time. “Every patient journey is unique, and every patient journey is personal,” Rachel shares. “It’s okay to focus on your needs, how you want to approach this and seek out the right people to help you.”

In addition to a personal support system of friends and family, Rachel encourages women faced with ovarian cancer to partner with their care team to better understand their disease and treatment options. To learn more about platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and to download resources, please visit IlluminateRecurrence.com.

Now, despite all the ups and downs, Rachel maintains a positive outlook which she hopes to impart to others. “I am not one of those people that walks around and says cancer was a gift, but had I not had a diagnosis, I would not be doing the work I’m doing today,” Rachel reflects. “If I save one life or help one patient navigate this, I guess it was worth it.”

This article is the experience of one person and is not medical advice. Consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.