A Minnesota woman experienced a shocking revelation when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer less than a year after her best friend succumbed to the disease. Becky Drexler stood by Connie Dahl when Dahl was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2015 at age 51. Connie passed away in 2017 after bravely fighting the illness.
Inspired by her friend’s struggle, Drexler began volunteering with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA). Although she retired in 2017 having plans to travel, garden, volunteer, and spend more time with loved ones, Drexler received her own diagnosis of stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer in July 2018.
Drexler, now 65, initially dismissed symptoms like frequent urination, constipation, bloating, and hip pain as typical signs of aging. She hesitated to see a doctor. But motivated by memories of Connie, whom she associated with dragonflies, she eventually decided to seek medical advice.
Dragonflies represented Connie to Becky, urging her to visit the doctor.
On her 57th birthday, a CT scan revealed ovarian masses. Following this, Drexler had surgery and underwent six chemotherapy treatments from September 2018 to January 2019. Despite facing difficulties, she found strength through the love and support of family, friends, and MOCA.
Emulating Connie’s positive outlook, Drexler sought inspiration and support from MOCA meetings and shared experiences with other women facing similar challenges. In August 2020, Drexler’s cancer returned. She opted for targeted radiation treatment after discussing options like standard chemotherapy and monitoring with her oncologist. After completing radiation in January 2021, she was declared to have “no evidence of disease” (NED).
From January 2021 to February 2026, she remained in NED status with the help of Lynparza, a PARP inhibitor maintenance treatment unavailable during Connie’s battle. Drexler faced a recurrence in 2026 requiring surgery for a tumor near her small intestine. Following surgery, the tumor was confirmed to be ovarian cancer again.
In May 2026, Drexler began a new 18-week treatment cycle, combining carboplatin, taxol, and avastin. A PET scan in July showed significant progress, with no new spots appearing.
Her future treatment may include an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) maintenance plan with promising results. Throughout her journey, Drexler continues to actively volunteer with MOCA, contributing to research and support efforts.
Brian M. Slomovitz, M.D., director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, notes the challenges of diagnosing ovarian cancer due to its non-specific symptoms. He emphasizes monitoring persistent symptoms over several weeks.
Drexler advocates self-awareness and proactive healthcare for women experiencing vague symptoms like aging, stress, or dietary changes. She stresses the importance of consulting gynecologic oncologists for specialized care.
Early detection remains critical as researchers seek reliable methods. Presently, no standard screening test exists for women at average risk. However, the cure rate for stage 1 detection reaches 90%, underscoring the need for further research.
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