Editor’s note: This is one in a series of stories exploring the survivorship journeys of Novant Health Cancer Institute patients. We celebrate our survivors and share their stories to showcase how surviving – and thriving – after a cancer diagnosis is possible. You’ll find all the stories here.
Valentine’s Day may never quite be the same again for Amber White.
Amber, 35, had been experiencing some pain and had a CT scan that found a cyst on her ovary, and it needed to be removed. “I wound up having to go back two weeks later because I was just in excruciating pain,” she recalled.
In a short period of time, the cyst had more than doubled in size. The stay-at-home mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on Feb. 14, 2020. For a single parent of four young children, one of whom has cerebral palsy, the news was life-changing.
What came next was an intense journey to get rid of the fast-growing cancer quickly.
“It was crazy,” she said. “It was just a shock because it felt like everything was just happening so fast.”
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In total, Amber had four surgeries from March to September, including two debulking surgeries. She developed a hematoma following complications associated with her vaginal hysterectomy and had to use a colostomy bag following removal of a massive uterine tumor.
Her treatment plan consisted of four rounds of chemotherapy, with intermittent blood transfusions in between. The side effects were severe. She lost her hair and weight, and she couldn’t stand the taste of metal from typical flatware. There were multiple trips to the hospital along the way. At one point, her extreme fatigue made her reliant on a wheelchair.
“The hardest part throughout the whole thing for me was losing my hair,” she said about her long brown locks.
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She didn’t tell her children about her diagnosis until she had all the information.
“My kids are my whole world,” Amber said. “They knew I didn’t feel good but didn’t know why.” When she did share with her older kids, she promised them she would fight through this. Her faith has helped. Through it all, Amber said she has grown closer to God and her loved ones.
“I’ve gotten a whole lot better with my relationship with Christ through this journey,” she said. “It’s made me closer with my kids and with my boyfriend. And my mom. My mom was my rock through this whole thing. She’s been to almost every single doctor’s appointment. She’s been through all of it with me.”
Amber also connected with other women impacted by ovarian and gynecologic cancer when she joined the local Teal Diva chapter; she remains actively involved and is currently helping with an outreach program to support newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Amber also connected with other women impacted by ovarian and gynecologic cancer when she joined the local Teal Diva chapter; she remains actively involved and is currently helping with an outreach program to support newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Connecting with others who have been through the same journey is important, she said, and she wants other cancer survivors to know that they’re never alone.
“There are people who have been through the same thing. You can do it. You just need to keep fighting.”
