Jessica Gilbert, 42, a mom of two from the Cincinnati, Ohio area, is courageously telling her story. She is currently battling ovarian cancer, and through her campaign she wants to raise awareness about the disease to educate others. Gilbert’s diagnosis came in January of 2025. Initially, she assumed that her symptoms meant nothing more than a sinus infection, never the wiser to the greater health crisis looming in her future.
Then, in early January, she started showing signs of the flu—a cough, runny nose, congestion—but mostly a feeling of being really worn down, Gilbert recounts. “I woke up with a fever, and I thought it was a sinus infection because I had a stuffy head all week,” she recalled. After several visits to her healthcare provider, she discovered the underlying cause of her discomfort: ovarian cancer.
Gilbert’s experience from diagnosis to treatment has not been a smooth one. At first, she assumed low iron was the reason for her symptoms of malaise. After being diagnosed, she underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and a radical mastectomy. Now, she is on a targeted maintenance therapy — a combination of medicines that keep her disease controlled.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so this is an especially fitting time for Gilbert to tell her compelling story of survival. She hopes to educate others about the symptoms associated with ovarian cancer, which can often go unrecognized until the disease reaches advanced stages. Common symptoms include pelvic pain, bloating, abdominal or back pain, and trouble eating.
According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 243,000 women in the U.S. were living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2022. In just this year, almost 21,000 new cases are expected. The five-year survival rate for women currently diagnosed with ovarian cancer is a dismal 51%. Unfortunately, over 12,000 Americans are forecast to perish from this deadly disease in 2025.
In spite of everything she is still going through, Gilbert is filled with an infectious enthusiasm for the world. “I just try to be in the present and just enjoy life,” she stated. But her inner resolve shines through in her ongoing fight to provide for her family even in the face of treatment. She remembers sitting in her daughter’s dance recital, taking chemotherapy and wearing a mask to make sure she was there. “I missed out on some things but I still was at my daughter’s dance recital during chemo with my mask on, so I could be there for her,” she shared.
Gilbert’s motivation for sharing her powerful experience is incredibly personal. “I don’t want this for my daughter or for my mom. I don’t want this for anybody else,” she expressed passionately. She’d like to increase awareness of ovarian cancer. In doing so, she hopes that more women will be able to realize they are experiencing symptoms and get medical help sooner.
“Take care of yourself, but get out there and still live your life,” she advised.
As September goes by, Gilbert’s story is a timely reminder of the need for awareness and education about ovarian cancer. By bringing attention to the disease and its symptoms, she hopes to inspire others to be proactive about their health and seek medical advice when something feels amiss.
