Meet Levana! Captain of team Elle’s Pretty Hall which raised over $10,000 for the 15th Annual Brooklyn T.E.A.L.® Walk/Run™ Celebration!
Hi! I’m Levana. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer in 2020 at age 33. The symptoms were subtle- headaches, fatigue, bloating. I was diagnosed through a CA 125 blood test during my annual gynecologic appt. I was able to get this blood test because I have the BRCA1 gene- I learned I had this gene after my mom passed away from Ovarian Cancer and I did genetic testing. Despite my best efforts at surveillance there is NO test for Ovarian Cancer. By the time I learned I had it, it had already spread to lymph nodes in my neck.
I am beyond lucky to be getting the best possible care at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I am grateful for outstanding doctors, supportive friends, family, and co-workers. Not all days are great- I am on a weekly chemo and the port in my chest is a constant reminder of how my life has changed. I’ve lost track of how many ER visits and hospital rooms I’ve had.
