Denver-native and ovarian cancer survivor, Stephanie Johnson, was only 35 years old when she was diagnosed with clear cell ovarian cancer. Once receiving the news, Johnson needed to make a tough decision in whether deciding to undergo a hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus), or preserving her fertility.
With the support of her husband, she decided to go through the hysterectomy as a part of treatment. Johnson says that her husband, Steve, was her greatest support system during one of the most challenging times of her life.
Read More “He came to every appointment with me [and] helped me write down questions to ask at each appointment,” Johnson says. “He never acted like I was sick. He never really acted like there was anything wrong. We really just carried on as usual. So, he really kept things normal for me.” Johnson’s friends also helped her cope with her diagnosis, which kept Johnson positive despite her concerns over her health. While preparing for her exploratory surgery, Johnson recalls a moment when she questioned her mortality, but quickly eased her mind by assuring herself she would be fine. “I was sitting on my deck; I was looking out at the beautiful landscape, and I was thinking ‘I can’t believe I’m going to die at age 35 of cancer, how did this happen to me?'” Johnson says. “Then I had this thought ‘wait a second I feel great right now, how do I feel the next moment? I feel great in the next moment. I feel really good right now. I don’t know that I’m going to die of cancer. Nobody knows if I’m going to die of cancer. So, it’s best to just live in the present moment.”
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