Emily Campbell’s Fight Against Ovarian Cancer: Advocating for Research and Awareness
By: Joshua Finley
At just 33 years old, Emily Campbell faced an unexpected and challenging diagnosis, but her experience led to a dedicated call to action. What began as persistent bloating and discomfort pushed her to take charge of her health, a decision that may have played a critical role in her well-being. After weeks of uncertainty and dismissed symptoms, Emily’s visit to the emergency room proved to be a turning point. “I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t walk, couldn’t eat,” she recalls. At the ER, doctors identified a pelvic mass and fluid buildup that others had overlooked, and within days, Emily underwent significant surgery. She was diagnosed with a form of borderline serous ovarian cancer.
Instead of focusing solely on what she endured, Emily is using her journey to shed light on the gaps in women’s healthcare and advocate for meaningful change.
Recognizing Gaps in Women’s Healthcare
During her diagnosis, Emily learned troubling statistics about ovarian cancer research. Among the 30 different types of ovarian tumors, some disproportionately affect younger women. “The average age of diagnosis for ovarian cancer is 65,” she explains. “But for low-grade ovarian cancer, it’s 45—that’s a 20-year age gap.” This distinction is important, as younger women face unique challenges beyond the cancer itself, including fertility issues and early menopause. However, funding for these specific types of tumors appears to be lower compared to more common forms of ovarian cancer.
Launching Not These Ovaries
Rather than accepting the status quo, Emily and her husband launched Not These Ovaries, taking a distinctive approach to nonprofit work. “We wanted 100% of our dollars to go toward research,” she says. “That’s relatively uncommon in the nonprofit cancer research space.” However, fundraising for research presents its own challenges, as research outcomes are often long-term rather than immediate. “Research can take two, five, ten years,” Emily points out. “What does a cure look like to someone? What does a diagnostic tool or screen look like?”
Despite these hurdles, Not These Ovaries has taken significant steps forward. The foundation recently committed $200,000 to research at Mount Sinai in Miami Beach. Emily sees this local connection as an important factor, especially as Miami’s medical community expands. “There’s this demographic shift—everyone moved to Florida,” she notes. “Because of that, the research is growing. The oncology department at Mount Sinai is growing. There’s this momentum happening here.”
There is also growing optimism for future treatment options. “There’s hope for an FDA-approved treatment coming in the pipeline in the next year or two,” Emily shares. If approved, this could become the first FDA-approved treatment specifically for these tumors—a potential milestone for patients who currently have limited options.
Raising Awareness Through Education
Perhaps most surprising to Emily has been discovering how many other people have similar experiences. “I had never once heard of anyone else that had ovarian cancer,” she reflects. “But just sharing this story, so many people are saying, ‘I was touched by ovarian cancer’ through a sister, a mother, or a friend.”
This realization led her to expand the foundation’s mission beyond funding. The Not These Ovaries website now serves as an educational resource, offering accessible information for newly diagnosed patients. “It’s really hard to go online and Google a symptom or cancer and try to sift through the medical jargon,” Emily explains. “We want to create content that’s as informative and approachable as possible, but in a voice that isn’t too medical.”
Advocating for Women’s Health
Emily’s ultimate goal remains clear: advancing research and improving patient outcomes. She acknowledges that this will take time and substantial funding, but she remains determined. Her message to young scientists considering this field is straightforward: “Maybe it’s not as crowded a space, but it’s needed. There are still so many women who need help and advocacy.”
Those wanting to support this mission can visit the website Not These Ovaries. The foundation accepts various forms of support, from direct donations to vehicle contributions. However, Emily emphasizes that raising awareness about ovarian cancer symptoms can also make a difference. “Being helpful comes in many forms,” she says. “You can share the story, talk about symptoms, connect us with people. Every bit helps.”
Through it all, Emily maintains a balance of urgency and patience. “It’s going to take time and money,” she acknowledges. “That’s one of the biggest challenges.” But for the thousands of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, every step forward contributes to progress.
To learn more about Not These Ovaries, connect with Emily on LinkedIn.
Published by Drake M.