Woman Diagnosed With Cancer After Her ‘Normal’ Period Pains Were Ignored

Extreme bloating, brain fog, heavy periods, and night sweats—Rachel Danchek experienced these symptoms for years, and she always assumed they were “normal” for women during their periods.

They left her feeling miserable each month, but Danchek, 31, told Newsweek that she “never complained” and just tried to get through it.

“I had terrible periods and the brain fog was crazy—to the point where I was scared to drive during my period,” Danchek said. “I never felt like leaving my house and would sit on my couch with my heating pad. The night sweats were so extreme that I would wake up drenched and have to change my pajamas.”

Danchek, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, did what she could to manage the symptoms with a heating pad, painkillers, and acupuncture. None of it alleviated her discomfort though. Indeed, when she knew her period would be at its worst, Danchek made sure to work remotely and kept her schedule quiet.

However, after tying the knot in June 2022, Danchek and her husband Cody were keen to start a family.

Almost a year later, they were still no closer to having children, and Danchek pushed for medical tests to understand why she couldn’t get pregnant.

She continued: “The anxiety and bad periods were definitely overlooked, and I just assumed the bloating was weight gain. The main symptom that I kept pushing was infertility, since that was extremely important.

“My OBGYN took me seriously as she knew how important kids were to us. My pelvic exam, bloodwork, and pap smear were all normal, so she sent me to a fertility specialist who had me do a CA 125 blood test, and an internal ultrasound, which showed a grapefruit-sized mass on my left ovary,” Danchek continued.

A CA 125 test measures the amount of protein in a person’s blood, which helps test for cancer, the Mayo Clinic explains. An elevated reading doesn’t automatically mean cancer however, as it can also be a sign of endometriosis, menstruation, or uterine fibroids.

As Danchek was only 30, her fertility specialist said it was likely that the mass was endometriosis and not cancer, which she dreaded.

Finally Seeking Answers

By February 2024, she underwent laparoscopic surgery to test the mass and learn whether it was cancerous. She told her husband that as soon as she woke up, she wanted him to tell her if it was endometriosis—but when she awoke, he didn’t say anything.

“Around an hour after I woke up from the surgery, I finally had the guts to ask if it was cancer, and he said yes,” Danchek said. “The next day, I had an appointment and they said it was at least stage 2, but it would take a few days to get the diagnosis.”

Danchek could barely sleep or eat for the days that followed. She was only 30 and hadn’t started a family yet, but she feared that all her hopes were already being snatched away from her.

The call finally came later that week, and Danchek learned that she in fact had stage 3 high grade ovarian cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ovarian cancer may cause vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, back pain, bloating, and difficulty eating. Women should see a doctor immediately if they experience bleeding that isn’t menstrual, or if they have any of the other symptoms for two weeks or longer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 20,890 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2025, which is one of the leading causes of female cancer deaths.

“I cry every time I talk about this, but I truly felt like I had to come to terms with preparing myself to die. I couldn’t even look at my phone, so my husband took the calls from doctors,” Danchek told Newsweek.

“My doctor said it was a favorable stage 3, and I held onto that word. She said I could freeze my eggs, get chemo, and that I would lose my hair—but it’s treatable.”

Before starting treatment in April 2024, Danchek froze her eggs and collected five embryos. She hopes this means she can still achieve her dream of becoming a mother someday.

She underwent five rounds of chemotherapy and surgery to remove an ovary and her appendix. It was incredibly grueling, and she recalls feeling “out of it” most of the time.

“We didn’t know if I’d be able to keep my uterus, but I’m so thankful the cancer didn’t touch it and it wasn’t removed. My husband and I are hoping to use a surrogate for our first baby, and then I’ll carry our second once I’m done with medication,” Danchek said.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer is difficult, as Dr. Aparna Kamat, director of The Division of Gynecologic Oncology for Houston Methodist, told Newsweek that symptoms can be “vague and misleading.”

Many women may experience bloating and fatigue, but she notes that they’re not usually cyclical and would be persistent instead.

“If there is a tumor on the ovary, it can cause crampy pelvic pain,” Dr. Kamat told Newsweek. “The most important thing to monitor is the severity of the symptoms and if they are persistent. In addition, if a woman experiences new symptoms, including intermittent pain that does not resolve, she should be evaluated.”

Raising Awareness For Ovarian Cancer

Thankfully, Danchek is now cancer-free and will continue having intravenous infusions for over a year in the hopes of preventing recurrence.

When she was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, Danchek was terrified to tell people and refrained from sharing anything online. But when she finally shared her story on Instagram (@racheldanchek) in August, she felt liberated, and started documenting her experience on TikTok (@racheldanchek) too.

“Sharing it with the world was so freeing and it has been the most fulfilling thing,” Danchek said. “It felt like a safe space to share my story, and the response has been amazing. I’ve connected with women all over the world.”

Danchek regularly shares videos online detailing her symptoms, which for so long she thought were just normal periods. She hopes to raise awareness and encourage women to advocate for themselves as they know their bodies better than anyone.

“If something feels off, keep pushing for answers. Don’t focus on what Google says is normal—focus on what is normal for you,” Danchek said.

She continued: “It’s so easy to panic, but my advice is to take it one day at a time. There are many silver linings, because I have reconnected with people I’d lost touch with, I’ve spent quality time with friends and family, and I have met tons of amazing people.”

Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.