Jessica, 35, who opted not to share her last name, said she knew something was going on with her body while speaking to 7News Australia.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI approached a few doctors who told me that I was too young for cancer, that it was something that was generally considered more in older people. I got told that it could be a stomach ulcer,\u201d she recalled while speaking to the outlet.<\/p>\n However, Jessica, who said she has a strong family history of the disease, continued to seek out answers. Doctors eventually discovered a mass in her abdomen that measured nearly 12 inches across and weighed over 28 lbs. \u2014 the approximate size of a watermelon.<\/p>\n She was admitted to a hospital for surgery on Oct. 31, 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cThey removed the tumor along with my right ovary and my right fallopian tube<\/a>,\u201d she told the outlet.<\/p>\n \u201cNow from that they obviously did testing, which determined that I have an exceptionally rare cancer,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Jessica at the doctor’s office during treatment for ovarian cancer Jessica is now telling her story in an attempt to create increased awareness about growing cancer rates among young people.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing 35 and having been dismissed<\/a> as much as I was is quite disappointing, and I think as a young female, I\u2019m living proof that it can happen and cancer doesn\u2019t discriminate based on age,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n She also urged medical providers to take patients seriously when they say something doesn\u2019t feel right.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we come in and we\u2019re displaying these symptoms, hear us, you know? Really hear what we\u2019re saying and, you know, push for further testing because that could be the difference between being diagnosed in stage 1 or stage 3 and 4\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Jessica is currently undergoing chemotherapy<\/a>, and while she admits she\u2019s scared, she also said she knows she\u2019s up for the challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t terrified. But with that fear also comes something else, which is this fierce nature to battle this cancer,\u201d she told 7News.<\/p>\n However, she also admitted that cancer treatment can be grueling and has a very real impact on her daily existence.<\/p>\n Jessica, who was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer in 2025 \u201cThere\u2019s cold sensitivity, permanent neuropathy, which is a big one, so pins and needles, muscle aches, tiredness, fatigue, nausea. It\u2019s taken a huge toll on my life,\u201d she said, adding that there are some days when she can barely walk.<\/p>\n She said her experience has taught her a valuable lesson about the importance of advocating for yourself within the healthcare system.<\/p>\n \u201cLadies when something doesn\u2019t feel right, fight for it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n In a GoFundMe<\/a> established to help cover Jessica\u2019s medical expenses, Jessica shared that her specific form of cancer, stage 3 mucinous adenocarcinoma with anaplastic nodules, is so rare that treatment options in Australia \u201care limited.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she has located a specialist in Germany who she believes will give her \u201cthe best possible chance\u201d of survival, but that the immense cost of the treatment and travel will make it impossible without financial help.<\/p>\n The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jessica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/578456a35ee37dd8b1df1ab9ef4f0845.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: GoFundMe<\/p>\n![\"Jessica,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d5bffd971a8016397490a2ed44471c84.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Credit: GoFundMe<\/p>\n