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Suzanne Holland doesn't shy away from a challenge. From riding mountain bikes to four wheelers, Holland enjoys every opportunity to test her limits. So when an ovarian cancer diagnosis sidelined her in January 2007, she was ready to face it head-on.
Suzanne Holland, back on her bike. |
"My prayer through this whole thing has been, 'God, how did I get here, and what am I supposed to do with this?'" she said.
"I felt like my medical
team was right there
with me 24/7."
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A 26-year UAMS employee, Holland discovered a suspicious lump in her abdomen after falling on a tile floor. A series of tests revealed a mass on her left ovary. "I believe that the beginning of my miracle was when I fell. It helped me find the cancer very early," she said.
Holland got an appointment with Dr. Alexander Burnett, director of the UAMS Division of Gynecological Oncology, who performed surgery in late March 2007 to remove a very aggressive and rare form of ovarian cancer. Holland can't say enough to praise Burnett, his staff and the care she received. "I knew I had Dr. Burnett's undivided attention, and I needed that. I felt like my medical team was right there with me 24/7," she said.
After six rounds of chemotherapy, Holland is ready to resume her favorite outdoor pastimes. She's also working with her daughter, Amy Lasseigne, to share the news that ovarian cancer can be beat.
"I want to use this experience to help other women," she said. Whether that includes speaking publicly about the disease or organizing efforts to support other cancer patients and survivors, Holland is open to whatever the future holds. "If we're on the right path, we'll see the fruits of our labor," she said.
Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Gynecologic Oncology
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