Jocelyn Rasmussen talks about how a recent innovation in treating ovarian cancer has helped her live a fulfilling life.

Ovarian cancer is what I have. 

It does not really cause many symptoms. Nothing noticeable, especially once you’re of the age of menopause.

It’s not something I ever imagined having. But I had one tiny little symptom, and a friend of mine said, “you better go get tested.”

I went to the doctor. They couldn’t do an ultrasound because there was too much fluid, so I had a biopsy and they discovered I had ovarian cancer.

I was referred to a surgeon for radical hysterectomy. Then I went through chemotherapy.

I got three glorious years of cancer-free living before it returned.

During those cancer-free years, I had some peers in cancer treatment who had participated in a clinical trial for a drug called olaparib. To participate, you had to have the BRCA gene. So, I asked if I could have genetic testing, and it turned out I had the BRCA gene.

By the time I went into my second round of chemotherapy, those clinical trials were over, and I didn’t get to be part of them. But when I finished chemotherapy, olaparib had just been approved. I decided that I would take it.

I am now 12 years since my diagnosis, which is much longer than I was expected to live.

And in that time, I’ve been able to record an album of my own songs, do a concert, and raise money for research.

Jocelyn Rasmussen is an author, inspirational speaker, singer, private voice teacher and cancer survivor.