Becky Drexler supported her best friend, Connie Dahl, after Dahl was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in April 2015 at age 51. Dahl died in September 2017 following what Drexler described as a courageous battle.

During her friend’s illness, Drexler began volunteering with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, known as MOCA. She continued that work even as ovarian cancer would soon reshape her own life.

After retiring in 2017, Drexler planned to travel, garden, volunteer and spend more time with family and friends. Those plans were interrupted when she received her own ovarian cancer diagnosis in July 2018.

Drexler, now 65, had experienced frequent urination, constipation, bloating and hip pain. Like Dahl, she initially dismissed the symptoms as ordinary signs of aging and delayed seeing a doctor.

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Drexler later wrote that dragonflies, which represented Connie to her after her friend’s death, seemed to nudge her toward seeking medical care. After seeing dragonflies repeatedly around her flower garden, she decided to speak with her doctor.

On Drexler’s 57th birthday, her doctor called with the results of a CT scan that had detected masses on both ovaries. She met with an oncologist and underwent surgery four days later.

“I was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer,” Drexler told Fox News Digital. From September 2018 through January 2019, she received six chemotherapy treatments involving carboplatin and taxol.

“Those months were difficult but also filled with the support, love and laughter of family, friends, care team and MOCA,” she said. “I knew Connie was part of my team as well – just in a different way.”

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Drexler drew strength from Dahl’s commitment to remain positive and live, laugh and love fully each day. MOCA support meetings and conversations with women who had faced similar experiences also helped her through treatment.

Her cancer returned in August 2020, leading to surgery to remove a new tumor from her pelvic area. Drexler and her oncologist discussed standard chemotherapy, radiation and monitoring without additional treatment.

Drexler chose targeted radiation, with chemotherapy reserved as a backup if the radiation failed or the cancer returned again. After completing radiation in January 2021, she was again considered to have no evidence of disease.

She then began taking Lynparza, a PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment that had not been available to ovarian cancer patients when Dahl was undergoing treatment. Drexler took Lynparza from January 2021 until February 2026.

In winter 2025, gastric symptoms prompted Drexler to undergo a PET scan. The imaging revealed a tumor around her small intestine that required surgery, and testing confirmed it was another recurrence of ovarian cancer.

A subsequent PET scan found that a couple of spots remained. In May 2026, Drexler began an 18 week treatment cycle involving carboplatin, taxol and avastin, with completion expected at the end of September.

A PET scan performed halfway through the cycle in late July indicated the treatment was working. Drexler said the spots were no longer visible and no new spots had appeared.

Depending on her next PET scan, Drexler said she would likely begin an antibody drug conjugate maintenance plan. She has continued volunteering with MOCA, serving on its board, joining committees and reviewing ovarian cancer research grants.

Brian M. Slomovitz, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, said ovarian cancer was once considered a “silent killer.” About 75% of women are diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 disease.

Researchers now recognize that ovarian cancer can produce symptoms, but those signs are often nonspecific. They can include stomach pain, abdominal bloating, increased abdominal girth, weight loss and decreased appetite, sometimes resembling gastroenteritis or the effects of a bad meal.

Slomovitz advised women to seek medical evaluation when symptoms persist or worsen for one or two weeks. He said no reliable screening method has been identified for earlier diagnosis, although the cure rate approaches 90% when ovarian cancer is detected at stage 1.

Drexler urged women not to dismiss vague or seemingly minor changes. “If something isn’t feeling right or a seemingly minor issue persists, and you think you might be concerned, see your doctor. Advocate for yourself.”