Navigating Ovarian Cancer Through Dance

Donna Taylor lives an active lifestyle and brings joy to those in her community through her unique hobby. Donna has been canine freestyle dancing or “dog dancing” for the past 18 years. “I have always loved to dance but my husband does not so when I learned about this activity, I was intrigued,” said Donna. “It is a very creative sport that requires training yourself and your dog to perform dance moves, choreographing a dance routine, and incorporating costume design and props to really make the routine shine.”

As you might imagine, the time and energy it takes to put together a routine is quite extensive and can take a toll on the body. “My miniature poodle, Pepper and I were filming a dance routine for a video competition on May 20, 2024,” said Donna. “About halfway through the two-and-a-half-minute routine, I felt a tear in my right groin muscle. We completed the routine (and surprisingly, got a qualifying score!) but, I knew had to spend some time taking care of that injury. I took about a month off to rehab.”

Donna felt better after some time off and decided to move forward with a performance for a children’s program at the Bemis Library in Littleton on July 9. The team chose to dance to “Roar” by Katy Perry and the kids loved the show! “Unfortunately, during our final moves, as Pepper was jumping over my back and swinging backwards through my elevated right leg (three times!), I felt the tear again,” said Donna. “This time, I knew I better see a doctor.”

Although Donna’s doctor wasn’t available at the time of her appointment, the nurse she saw suspected there was more going on than just a torn muscle and ordered several tests. Ultimately, a mass was detected on Donna’s right ovary which was confirmed to be cancerous which came as a surprise to her as she did not have a family history of ovarian cancer. She met with board certified, fellowship trained gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Neil Phippen at AdventHealth Medical Group Gynecologic Oncology at Porter. Dr. Phippen performed an ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery and is overseeing Donna’s postoperative chemotherapy.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It’s estimated that nearly 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2024. Pap smears do not detect ovarian cancer so it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with ovarian cancer. Common signs and symptoms include frequent need to urinate, back pain, fatigue, feeling full quickly, feeling bloated, and pelvic pain.

Donna’s advice to others who may receive a cancer diagnosis in the future is to find a doctor you believe in and trust, keep as active as possible, and stay connected to all the people and activities you love.

Dr. Phippen’s passion for serving others led him to a career in medicine. He partners with his patients during their most vulnerable moments, helping them restore their quality of life and feel whole. If you’d like to learn more about the care that Dr. Phippen provides, click here: Neil Phippen, MD | OBGYN | Denver, CO | AdventHealth

Neil Phippen, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified Gynecologic Oncologist. Dr. Phippen treats a wide variety of cancers, including ovarian and fallopian tube, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancer. As part of his practice, he performs robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic hysterectomy, ovarian tube removal and pelvic exenteration, among many other procedures.

Dr. Phippen’s passion for serving others led him to a career in medicine. He is grateful to be a physician who can partner with his patients during their most vulnerable moments, helping them restore their quality of life and feel whole. He also is fluent in English and Spanish.