She had “terrible bad luck, but also incredible luck”: How this woman deals with ovarian cancer
Carla Omlin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 40. Her doctor explains why she was lucky and what is important in these moments.
Carla Omlin and doctor Andreas Günthert in the gynecological center in Lucerne.
Photo: Nadia Schärli (Lucerne, 11. 9. 2024)
It was a rollercoaster of emotions that Carla Omlin had to experience. In March of this year, she went to see a doctor because of persistent stomach pains. Within two days, she had an ultrasound and a CT scan done, which showed certain nesting in her stomach. The terrible diagnosis: incurable ovarian cancer. “That was the worst moment for me. I went home and thought I was going to die in a few weeks. I had already thought about scenarios of what would happen to my two children,” says the 40-year-old.
Andreas Günthert, head of the gynecological tumor center at the Hirslanden St. Anna Clinic in Lucerne, also looked at the images. His conclusion was different: it could just be an inflammation. Carla Omlin suddenly had hope again. She was soon operated on and one of her ovaries was removed. But the samples from the laboratory showed that she had a type of cancer that produces a lot of mucus – a rare variant. Because parts of the tumor could still potentially be present, the second ovary, the uterus and other tissue samples were later removed.
Vicious but not aggressive
This phase was very difficult for her, says the secondary school teacher from Kriens. “I fell into a hole and cried for an hour. Then I pulled myself together and told myself I could do it.” It eventually turned out that the tumor was malignant, but not very aggressive and in an early stage. A stroke of luck, because: “We almost never catch cancer like this so early,” says Andreas Günthert. This meant that no chemotherapy was necessary, as is usually the case. And he adds: “Carla Omlin was terribly unlucky, but also incredibly lucky.” The likelihood of the cancer returning in her case is rather small.
Carla Omlin and doctor Andreas Günthert in the gynecological center in Lucerne.
Photo: Nadia Schärli (Lucerne, 11. 9. 2024)
Ovarian cancer is often fatal, but it is not very common. The cancer can occur in different age groups, but is more likely the older a woman is. “But I currently have a patient who is 14 years old. The parents are very desperate, it’s brutal.” The cancer is generally difficult to detect, also because it is not part of routine screening like cervical cancer. “It only becomes apparent when the belly gets bigger.” There is not much that can be done to prevent it, and around a fifth of the diseases are genetic. But there is hope: “In the last five years, a lot has happened in terms of treatment options, a lot of research is being done. There are new drug approaches that are showing good results.”
The surgical procedure is difficult for a doctor because it requires careful preparation. “You have to get the patients as quickly as possible because the situation is understandably highly emotional.” The technique is also complicated: it requires years of additional training, which is not often offered. “And it requires a lot of experience. I perform well over twenty operations a year, although this number is usually the lower limit,” says Günthert, who has been working as a gynecologist for almost thirty years.
Family and friends gave her support
It is rare for ovarian cancer patients to undergo two operations, as was the case with Carla Omlin. “In young women, we want to be very sure before the female genitals are removed. Because if we are wrong, nothing can be undone.” But because it was necessary in her case, she was put into menopause without her genitals. This did not bother her much, she says, because she no longer wants children. “I imagine it would be very bad otherwise.” So that the 40-year-old continues to have the vital hormones in her body, she now has to use hormone cream.
During this difficult time, her family and friends were the main support she had. “It was only then that I really realized who I wanted to tell about my illness and who I didn’t.” She points to the ElleHelp association, which can be a good support for women in this situation to talk about cancer. Günthert praises Omlin for her courage. “Many women don’t talk about gynecological tumors because they are ashamed of them. It would be desirable if society could talk about them more openly. Those affected don’t need pity, they need strength,” which Omlin acknowledges with an approving nod.
Günthert also addresses the psychological component. It is important to consult a psycho-oncologist if necessary. The shock from the diagnosis to the chemo lasts for a while until you realize what you are going through. “And then life should theoretically go on as normal, but it will never be the same again. A coach is very helpful in these situations.” Also to sort out what is important in life. That was the case for Carla Omlin too: “I value everything very much at the moment and live by the motto ‘You only live once’.”
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