{"id":39385,"date":"2026-05-18T07:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T07:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=39385"},"modified":"2026-05-18T19:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:47:04","slug":"early-ovarian-cancer-diagnosis-enables-minimally-invasive-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/early-ovarian-cancer-diagnosis-enables-minimally-invasive-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Early ovarian cancer diagnosis enables minimally invasive surgery","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Before turning 60 last summer, Karen Marez noticed abdominal bloating out of nowhere. She was also urinating more frequently than usual.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought maybe this was part of life as a\u00a0postmenopausal woman, and\u00a0kept\u00a0explaining\u00a0away my symptoms,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n

Then Marez started cramping.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that was really weird,\u201d she says. \u201cIt couldn\u2019t be menstrual cramps; I hadn\u2019t had a period since 2012.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cramps subsided for a while, then returned with another symptom: spotting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the big \u2018aha moment,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cSomething was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

When symptoms don\u2019t add up<\/h2>\n

Both Marez\u2019s mother and great-grandmother had fibroids, so she thought her symptoms might be that and scheduled an appointment with her primary care provider (PCP).<\/p>\n

After an ultrasound showed an abnormal endometrial lining and some masses, a follow-up MRI was scheduled to get a closer look.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy PCP called immediately once the results of the MRI posted to MyChart,\u201d she says. \u201cShe agreed with the radiologist who had noted the larger mass could be cancer, and would get me a referral to MultiCare gynecological oncology.\u201d<\/p>\n

A fast referral and an expert consult<\/h2>\n

The next morning, Marez got a call from MultiCare Cancer Institute \u2013 Puyallup asking if she could meet with Christopher Breed, MD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in shock \u2014 that appointment was only three business days away,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI said, \u2018Of course I can.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

She says she went on the MultiCare website to learn more about Dr. Breed.<\/p>\n

\u201cReading close to 85 reviews about what an amazing doctor and caring person Dr. Breed is helped ease the weight of this diagnosis a bit, to know I\u2019d be in good hands,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Marez had an endometrial biopsy at her first appointment with Dr. Breed, and he ordered more imaging, including a CT scan and another MRI. She expected a little spotting from the biopsy, but several days later she had a full-blown period.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty clear we were dealing with something serious,\u201d she says. \u201cThere was a tiny bit of hope it could be benign, but with the reality that we will deal with it if it\u2019s cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Breed told her there was still a chance it was a large benign tumor, but that surgery and the results of pathology would confirm her diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Planning for surgery, hoping for the best<\/h2>\n

Marez was scheduled on New Year\u2019s Eve at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital for removal of the tumor, a hysterectomy and possible lymph node removal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had\u00a0experience\u00a0with my dad being at Good\u00a0Sam\u00a0when he battled\u00a0non-Hodgkin lymphoma,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew how caring the\u00a0people\u00a0were at the cancer\u00a0center,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Marez had nicknamed the tumor\u00a0\u201cFred\u201d and says she joked with her care team, \u201cWe need to evict\u00a0Fred;\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0an unwanted guest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore surgery, Dr. Breed told me, \u2018We\u2019re\u00a0going to get\u00a0Fred\u00a0out of there,\u2019\u201d she recalls. \u201cHe said that with 100 percent\u00a0conviction, which\u00a0made me feel\u00a0really\u00a0good.\u201d<\/p>\n

How early detection changed the surgical approach<\/h2>\n

Ovarian cancer surgery is traditionally performed with a large vertical incision with a five- to seven-day stay in the hospital and a six- to eight-week\u00a0recovery. This is because ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed at a later stage and has spread outside the pelvis.<\/p>\n

But because of Marez\u2019s early diagnosis, Dr. Breed was able to perform minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. That meant only five small incisions, no overnight hospital stay and a\u00a0two- to three-week recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe robotic platform allows for enhanced visibility, dexterity and very precise control, which\u00a0allowed\u00a0me to see very subtle\u00a0signs\u00a0of cancer in Karen\u2019s pelvis that could be removed entirely without need for a bigger incision,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis affords the patient a safer surgery and much faster recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have a gut instinct something is not right, that’s women\u2019s intuition. Listen to that, even if you can explain away some of your symptoms as menopausal.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Breed removed the large ovarian mass and did a complete hysterectomy. Cancer had started growing on her\u00a0right\u00a0ovary, which was removed, and there was cancer on the peritoneal lining, which was also taken out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile\u00a0this mass did represent\u00a0a cancer\u00a0and there\u00a0were\u00a0some early signs of spread, thankfully there were no clear signs of spread to the upper abdomen or out of the pelvis,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

No cancer was found in\u00a0the lymph\u00a0nodes, but there was evidence of ascites, a type of fluid buildup that contains malignant cells and was likely the cause of the bloating Marez had experienced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0need to do six rounds of chemo, because\u00a0of these\u00a0microscopic\u00a0cells\u00a0that are\u00a0left\u00a0behind,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

What the pathology showed \u2014 and what came next<\/h2>\n

When the pathology results came back, Marez\u2019s tumor was classified as high-grade serous carcinoma, which is both aggressive and the most common type of ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe data for ovarian cancer are very clear \u2014 what predicts overall survival and outcome is that there are no visible signs of disease after surgery,\u201d Dr. Breed says. \u201cWe were able to accomplish that for Karen through a much more minimally invasive surgery, allowing her to be able to move quickly onto the next step that\u2019s equally as important: chemotherapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the supervision of medical oncologist Anuradha Belur, MD<\/a>, with MultiCare Cancer Institute \u2013 Auburn, Marez began chemotherapy in early February.<\/p>\n

\u201dI\u2019m really impressed by Dr. Belur and her staff,\u201d she says. \u201cWith both her and Dr.\u00a0Breed,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0this respect. They\u00a0listen\u00a0to\u00a0you and check in \u2014 \u2018How\u00a0are you\u00a0today? How do\u00a0you feel about this?\u2019 I just\u00a0really\u00a0appreciate\u00a0that. I have such a good team on my side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"smiling

Marez has maintained a positive outlook throughout her treatment for stage 2 ovarian cancer.<\/p><\/div>\n

While Marez has had some challenges with chemo, including neuropathy, some bone pain and fatigue, she\u2019s maintained a positive attitude and received much support from family, friends and her care team. She says she learned a lot from her dad when he was battling cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always had such a positive attitude and approached everything with research,\u201d she says. \u201cHe battled the cancer back five times while caring for my mom, who was battling Alzheimer\u2019s. He did it with courage, love, grace and compassion. I use them both as inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Breed also notes Marez\u2019s optimism.<\/p>\n

\u201cKaren has had a really positive outlook from the beginning,\u201d he says. \u201cShe noticed there was something wrong, came in and got evaluated, and got into the right people quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marez\u2019s message to other women: Trust your instincts<\/h2>\n

Marez feels fortunate the cancer was caught at stage 2, when she started to pay attention to symptoms, and urges other women to do the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have a gut\u00a0instinct\u00a0something is not right, that’s women\u2019s\u00a0intuition. Listen to\u00a0that,\u00a0even if you can\u00a0explain away some of your symptoms as menopausal,\u201d she adds.\u00a0\u201cGet yourself to a doctor, because the majority\u00a0of ovarian cancer cases don’t\u00a0get diagnosed till stage 3 or\u00a04, and five-year\u00a0survivorship\u00a0odds go down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Breed says there\u2019s a chance of recurrence with Marez\u2019s type of cancer, and that it\u2019s treatable, but it\u2019s not always curable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe difference is much like Type 1 diabetes \u2014 we don’t cure diabetes; we manage and treat diabetes,\u201d he says. \u201cThe goal is to keep a close eye on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Marez knows there\u2019s a possibility the cancer could return, she\u2019s committed to fighting it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wake up one strong, brave, determined day at a time,\u201d she says. \u201cI’m so looking forward to ringing that bell at the Cancer Center in celebration of getting through my chemo treatments that have hopefully brought me to NED (no evidence of disease) status. I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Breed and Dr. Belur for their skill and expertise during this chapter of my life. It helps to move forward knowing that they will still be on my team as my chapter of survivorship begins.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before turning 60 last summer, Karen Marez noticed abdominal bloating out of nowhere. She was also urinating more frequently than usual. \u201cI just thought maybe this was part of life as a\u00a0postmenopausal woman, and\u00a0kept\u00a0explaining\u00a0away my symptoms,\u201d she recalls. Then Marez started cramping. \u201cI thought that was really weird,\u201d she says. \u201cIt couldn\u2019t be menstrual cramps; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":451,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,79,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cancer","category-profiles-stories","category-womens-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEarly ovarian cancer diagnosis enables minimally invasive surgery - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Symptoms that mimicked menopause felt easy to dismiss, but Karen Marez listened to her instincts, got answers fast and began treatment for ovarian cancer.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/early-ovarian-cancer-diagnosis-enables-minimally-invasive-surgery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Early ovarian cancer diagnosis enables minimally invasive surgery - 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