Liliana is a mother, a wife, a dedicated volunteer and a former physician. While her cancer diagnosis forced her into early retirement, her mission to help others never wavered.
Today, OCRA programs made possible by donor generosity, allow her to give back and make someone else’s journey a little easier, all while healing a part of herself.
Diagnosed with 3C high-grade serous ovarian cancer in May 2018, Liliana has endured a grueling journey—first-line chemotherapy, surgery, clinical trials and multiple recurrences in 2020 and 2021. Her path through treatment continues to test her strength, but she remains determined to find purpose beyond the disease.
There has to be something good coming out of this.
For Liliana, OCRA became a place to take action, to focus on something beyond medical treatment. Through several of OCRA’s programs, including Survivors Teaching Students®, Woman to Woman Peer Mentor Program, and Staying Connected Support Series, she found not only support, but a renewed sense of purpose.
OCRA’s programs are like occupational therapy. As doctors, we focus on the disease, the treatment, the side effects. But this … this is connection. This is healing.
From engaging conversations to shared laughter, these programs provide an essential complement to medical care. They helped Liliana cope with the cognitive effects of chemotherapy, often referred to as “chemo brain.”
When Liliana and others in the community highlighted the profound impact of chemo brain at last year’s conference, OCRA responded by initiating a new survivor series to address this gap in care. This is the power of our community and how OCRA takes action to fill the gaps in ovarian and gynecologic cancer care.
There is no standard care, no follow-up, no support for chemo brain in ovarian cancer. But OCRA listens. That’s what makes OCRA different—they hear us and they act.
With many cancer patients experiencing chemo brain during treatment—and some experiencing permanent effects—Liliana knows firsthand how devastating it can be and the loss of self-confidence. It forced her to step away from medicine, the profession she loved. But rather than dwell on what she lost, she uses her experience to make a difference. And for her husband, OCRA’s support for loved ones was life-changing, finally giving him a space to share and be heard after years of quiet strength.
Liliana’s journey—marked by resilience and an unwavering commitment to others—reminds us why your support of OCRA’s work is so critical.
OCRA is steadfast in our commitment to advancing research, improving patient support, and advocating for those affected by ovarian and all gynecologic cancers.
Support That Makes a Difference
OCRA’s patient support programs set a model in the field, providing patients and their families with comprehensive resources to ensure the best possible care and outcomes.
- Our free, psychoeducational support sessions help patients, survivors, and caregivers navigate diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond cancer—because no one should have to face gynecologic cancer alone.
- Over 9,300 attendees have found community and support through our Staying Connected Support Series.
- For 25+ years, OCRA has hosted the International Gynecologic Cancer Conference, bringing together more than 600 attendees worldwide to share knowledge, experiences, and solutions.
More than 2,600 individuals have formed lasting bonds through our Woman to Woman Peer Mentor Program.
