She's young, she's had six children, she's not overweight - three of the main indicators for a low risk of ovarian cancer.
But that doesn't mean it can't happen.
When 260 people from across Saskatchewan attended the Canadian Cancer Society's ninth annual Living Well with Cancer Conference earlier this year in Regina, at 38, Shianne Revet of North Battleford was among the youngest people at the conference. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago.
She has undergone treatment and she is now checking in with her cancer specialist every six months, probably for the rest of her life. She is considered an ovarian cancer survivor and her prognosis is good.
But, things could have turned out differently.
Revet is now involved in Ovarian Cancer Canada's awareness program and in the spring of 2010, she began to tell her story to well women and to Grade 12 students to educate them about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and to encourage women with persistent symptoms to get them investigated.?
"I share my own experience," she says of her presentation.
She has done perhaps a dozen presentations so far, and has one scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the North Battleford Library. She will tell the story of her journey through the beginning of symptoms to her eventual treatment, and will present a 10-minute video. Her presentations usually include a question and answer session as well, she says.
Revet especially likes to speak to younger women because she was young when she was diagnosed. Ovarian cancer is generally unsuspected in women her age. She wants to empower other women with information about ovarian cancer, so they can be their own advocate. If women don't persist in getting a diagnosis and treatment, illness such as ovarian cancer can be even more deadly.
Her journey with ovarian cancer began in November of 2007. She was 35, and had recently been delivered of her sixth child. She began experiencing abdominal pain, gas and cramping that would not go away.
Repeated doctors visits resulted in no diagnosis, examination or tests until February of 2008.
When a test for a bladder infection came back negative, a physical examination discovered a mass, and she underwent immediate surgery.
Ten days later she learned she had ovarian cancer.
Further surgery, then an additional diagnosis of uterine cancer, and chemotherapy followed. The journey was fraught with frustrations and delays. It was a frightening time for Revet, her husband Sheldon and their six children, but family and friends from across the country gave them their support and assistance. By September of 2008, she had finished chemotherapy. Fortunately for Revet, despite all the challenges, her cancer had been caught early enough to ensure a good prognosis.
Having discovered the Ovarian Cancer Canada website, she got involved. Rivet met Anne Chase, an ovarian cancer survivor and Ovarian Cancer Canada volunteer, at a conference in 2009. Chase encouraged her to get involved in the organization's awareness campaign, and Revet began making presentations in 2010.
Her goal is to empower women with information. Rivet says she is grateful to share her story if she can save even one woman from going through what she want through.
Revet also takes part in fundraising events and with the help of family and friends has raised thousands for cancer research.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Sept. 11 the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope will take place in Meewasin Park in Saskatoon. The Walk of Hope is the largest event in the country raising money solely for ovarian cancer.
According to Ovarian Cancer Canada, over 2600 Canadian women are diagnosed every year; and every year 1750 women succumb to this disease, the most serious of all gynaecological cancers. Symptoms are varied, vague and easily missed. There is no screening test to detect it. But when found early - and treated - ovarian cancer survival rate is 90 per cent.
