14-Year-Old Girl’s Back & Stomach Aches Were Dismissed As ‘Period Pain,’ But It Turned Out To be Stage 2 Ovarian Cancer

Speaking to PA Real Life in a recent interview, according to The Mirror, Lisa insisted, “Something wasn’t right, we know our daughter.”

Lisa recounted how her daughter first experienced stomach and back pain, as well as nausea back in November 2024. When their doctor thought Izzy might have appendicitis they brought her to the hospital. However, the hospital visit left her with prescribed antibiotics and putting her symptoms down to her menstrual cycle.

By March, when Izzy continued throwing up and was scared to eat food, her parents Lisa and Wayne returned to the hospital with their daughter and pushed for answers.

Doctors ultimately determined Izzy had stage 2 ovarian cancer after she had an MRI done in April.

They also found a “rugby ball-sized tumor” growing on her ovary, which her mom explained, “was so big, all her organs had been pushed backwards, and it had attached itself to tissue at the bottom of her back.”

Izzy had emergency surgery on March 17, where she experienced some complications and ended up needing blood transfusions, before having the procedure, to remove the cancer, completed.

On April 25, she started chemotherapy treatments, which she’s undergoing five days a week for three months.

As Izzy is being cared for by her parents and staying out of school to focus on her health, her mom Lisa is urging that “children should have access to screening from when they start their period.”

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been set up for Izzy and has since raised more than $9,000.

The GoFundMe description reads, “Izzy has a very long road ahead of her as do Lisa and Wayne to help their beautiful daughter fight this horrible disease.

“Both Lisa and Wayne have given so much to all of us that know them and it’s time for all of us that love and know them to give what we can back. Lisa’s forever helping out at school fairs and Izzy’s young theatre drama group, it’s now our time to give that support back.”

“Funds raised will go to them to allow them to help Izzy with anything she might need in this very long road ahead. I’m hoping you’re be able to help me raise as much money to help them financially be able to be by her side to fight this,” the fundraising page added.

Ovarian Cancer: What To Know

Izzy Pickering was very young to develop ovarian cancer, at age 15. According to the American Cancer Society, it is rare in people younger than 40, as it usually occurs in people after menopause. Half of all ovarian cancers diagnosed are in people older then 63.

With ovarian cancer, chemotherapy is usually the first stage of treatment, but staging the cancer is a little more difficult until your doctor performs a surgery.

Gynecologic oncologists often recommend a staging procedure when they have evidence that the cancer may be early or limited, which has to do with the location of the tumor. Based on where the cancer is found, it will be assigned a stage.

“If it’s remained in the ovary where it was initially found or developed, then the cancer is Stage 1,” says Dr. Amanda Fader, vice chair of gynecologic surgical operations at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told SurvivorNet.

How Do I Know The Stage of My Ovarian Cancer? Staging Surgery Determines Spread

“But if the cancer has started to spread to other organs or through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body, then it would be identified as Stage 2, 3, or 4,” Dr. Fader added.

The Stages of Ovarian Cancer

As Dr. Fader mentioned, the stages of ovarian cancer depend on if the cancer has spread elsewhere into the body, and how far.

• Stage 1:  The cancer is confined to the ovaries or fallopian tubes
• Stage 2:  The tumor involves one or both ovaries with extension to other pelvic tissues (or is a primary peritoneal cancer)
• Stage 3:  The cancer has spread outside of the pelvic peritoneum including to the outside of the bowel, liver and spleen and/or it involves the lymph nodes
• Stage 4:  There are distant metastases (outside of the pelvis and abdomen) or metastases to the inside of the spleen or liver

When doctors have evidence before the surgery, such as from imaging tests, that the tumor may be limited to the ovary, they will usually recommend a staging procedure. During that operation, doctors remove all or part of the ovary with the tumor and send it, while the patient is still asleep on the operating table, to a pathologist who will examine the tissue and identify the type of tumor so doctors can decide how best to treat it.

The Anatomy of Ovarian Cancer

If the tumor is determined to be benign, the surgery can end. Otherwise, more extensive surgery is usually performed.

Prior to the surgery the patient and her doctor would have discussed the various possible findings, so that depending on the result of the ovarian biopsy, the surgeon knows what the patient’s wishes are and how to proceed. “We would have made these decisions ahead of time through our preoperative counseling,” explained Dr. Fader.

Understanding Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer, but doctors say it is important for women to be aware of symptoms which can indicate something is wrong.

The signs of ovarian cancer can include:

• Feeling bloated or full
• Pain in the pelvis or abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Changes in bowel habits

As we all know, many of these can be similar to symptoms many women experience monthly with their menstrual cycle.

“We don’t have a good screening method, but if you have symptoms, it’s very important that you go to your physician because there might be an opportunity that we can detect it when it’s still early stage,” Dr. Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, a gynecologic oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.

“It’s very important that patients are not afraid to ask questions to their physicians. Because the sooner we can diagnose the cancer, the better that prognosis.”

Ovarian Cancer: What Are The Symptoms And Warning Signs?

Coping With a Child’s Diagnosis

As parents navigate their young one’s cancer journey, it’s important to remember that children’s bodies may react differently to treatments because their bodies are still growing.

“They may receive more intense treatments…and they may respond differently to drugs that control symptoms in adults,”  the National Cancer Institute informs. Be sure to ask a lot of questions.

RELATED: Why Do Pediatric Drugs Take So Long to Develop? A Look into the Lag Time on Drug Approvals for Childhood Cancer & Other Illnesses

Remember, you’re not alone — your child’s oncologist and care team are there to guide you and provide information and answers. Oncological social workers can also be a vital resource to help you sort out the financial aspects of cancer treatment, as well as other cancer-related issues. Skilled psychologists and counselors can be accessed to help you maintain good mental health through your child’s cancer journey, to the best of your ability.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to reach out to your support system friends, relatives, etc. for help through this process. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what you can do to ensure your child is getting the best treatment possible, consider the following recommendations from the National Cancer Institute.

• Build strong partnerships: Communicate openly and honestly with your child’s care team. You want to build a solid relationship with the people treating your child so you feel confident asking any questions and discussing your child’s treatment path.
• Take advantage of the many specialists who can help your child: There are many people who can help you and your child after the diagnosis arrives. Don’t hesitate to ask for specialists to help you and your child learn about their disease, understand how it will be treated and cope with difficult emotions.
• If you get information online, make sure the source is credible: Doing your own research is a great way to advocate for your child, but it’s important you’re looking at reliable sources such as (but not limited to) the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, National Comprehensive
• Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology, among others: Talk to doctors about what you’re finding and don’t hesitate to get multiple opinions regarding your child’s treatment path.
• Make sure you understand what your child’s health care team tells you: You need to ask for clarification if something about your child’s diagnosis or treatment is confusing.
• Keep your child’s pediatrician updated: Make sure your child’s cancer care team is sending updates to their regular pediatrician.

Advocating for Your Child

Here at SurvivorNet, we always encourage people to advocate for themselves when it comes to cancer and, more generally, health care. When it comes to a child, the parent must become the advocate just as we saw in the case above.

The Impact of a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis on the Whole Family Jayne Wexler Shares Her Story

And even if you’re called ‘pushy’ or people dismiss the concerns you have for your child, it’s important to remember that you never know when speaking up about a seemingly unproblematic issue can lead to a very important diagnosis cancer or otherwise.

“Every appointment you leave as a patient, there should be a plan for what the doc is going to do for you, and if that doesn’t work, what the next plan is,” Dr. Zuri Murell, director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview.

“And I think that that’s totally fair. And me as a health professional that’s what I do for all of my patients.”

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate, Don’t Settle

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, April Knowles also talked about self advocacy and explained how she became a breast cancer advocate after her doctor dismissed the lump in her breast as a side effect of her menstrual period. Unfortunately, that dismissal was a mistake.

Knowles was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at age 39. She said the experience taught her the importance of listening to her body and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.

I Wanted My Doctor To Like Me, Then He Missed My Breast Cancer

“I wanted my doctor to like me,” she said. “I think women, especially young women, are really used to being dismissed by their doctors.”

Figuring out whether or not you have or your child has cancer based on possible symptoms is critical because early detection may help with treatment and outcomes. Seeking multiple opinions is one way make sure you are or your child is getting the proper care and attention.

You should also try to remember that not all doctors are in agreement. Recommendations for further testing or treatment options can vary, and sometimes it’s essential to talk with multiple medical professionals.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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