Mom Discovers She Has Cancer After Mistaking Symptoms For Sinus Infection

A mother of two was left stunned when doctors raised red flags about her health after she assumed her problems were linked to nothing more than a stubborn sinus infection.

Earlier this year, Jessica Gilbert was preparing to take her children on a long-awaited vacation to Disney World in Florida. The trip, which had been planned as a special Christmas surprise for her son and daughter, was supposed to be a joyful moment. But in the days leading up to it, Jessica suddenly began to feel unwell and her symptoms grew concerning.

"I woke up with a fever, and I thought it was a sinus infection because I had a stuffy head all week," she explained, recalling how quickly things changed for her.

Speaking with ABC News, Jessica continued: "I decided to go to my [primary care] doctor to get COVID, flu, [and] RSV tests, and they all came back negative."

Although her symptoms seemed to ease a little after a couple of days, she told her doctor she was determined to continue with her family’s Florida trip. However, to her surprise, her doctor strongly urged her to go to the emergency room for further testing instead of traveling.

Once she arrived at the ER, doctors delivered shocking news. They told her they suspected she could be dealing with ovarian cancer, something she had never imagined was a possibility.

Jessica Gilbert was supposed to be taking her kids to Florida when she fell sick GoFundMe

"The whole world just stood still," Jessica recalled. "I was just totally shocked. [I had] no family history. I didn't know any of the signs for ovarian cancer. I just didn't know anything about it at all."

"I didn't really know the symptoms for ovarian cancer. And since I don't have family history, I just really didn't think anything of it," she also shared in an interview with WLTL, admitting how unprepared she felt for the diagnosis.

Doctors later confirmed that Jessica had stage 3 ovarian cancer, a diagnosis that changed her life overnight.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer develops in the tissues of the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system.

The ovaries are responsible for releasing eggs and also produce important hormones.

According to ABC News, this form of cancer can progress quickly and often goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages.

Jessica was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer GoFundMe

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

The Cleveland Clinic outlines several warning signs that may point to ovarian cancer. These can include pelvic or abdominal pain, changes in eating patterns such as feeling full quickly, abnormal bleeding or vaginal discharge, digestive issues and bowel changes, persistent bloating, and needing to urinate more frequently than usual.

How common is it?

The National Cancer Institute reports that about 1.1 percent of women will face an ovarian cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives. While this percentage may seem small, the impact is significant.

By 2022, an estimated 243,572 women in the United States were living with ovarian cancer, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.

How is ovarian cancer treated?

For Jessica, treatment involved going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy followed by surgery. At present, she is continuing with targeted maintenance therapy that involves specialized medication designed to keep the cancer from returning.

Treatment options for ovarian cancer can also include hormone therapy as well as radiation therapy, depending on the stage and individual circumstances of the patient.

To help support Jessica as she undergoes treatment, her brother has created a GoFundMe page where people can donate to assist with her growing medical expenses.