{"id":299826,"date":"2026-05-19T15:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/299826\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:00:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:00:08","slug":"young-adult-cancer-survivor-trusts-ut-md-anderson-to-treat-rare-ovarian-tumor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/299826\/","title":{"rendered":"Young adult cancer survivor trusts UT MD Anderson to treat rare ovarian tumor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caitlin Koehler was just 27 years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After a year of severe abdominal pain, visits to different doctors and specialists, diet changes, a colonoscopy<\/a> and an endoscopy, it was a CT scan that revealed an 11 cm mass on her right ovary. The mass had also attached to her abdominal wall, peritoneum and sigmoid colon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Caitlin underwent a right salpingo-oophorectomy<\/a> to remove her right ovary and fallopian tube. The tissue from the mass was biopsied<\/a>, and her gynecologist shared the results at her follow-up appointment. Caitlin was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma arising in a teratoma, an extremely rare type of ovarian cancer<\/a>. It was stage 2B<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy doctor wanted to refer me to a cancer care provider in Texas, but they had missed my dad\u2019s cancer in 2018,\u201d says Caitlin, who lives in New Braunfels. \u201cAnd once they slapped the word \u2018rare<\/a>\u2019 on the end of my diagnosis, I knew I wanted to go to UT MD Anderson.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin\u2019s dad called that day to make an appointment.<\/p>\n

UT MD Anderson develops plan to treat rare, aggressive cancer<\/p>\n

Caitlin met gynecologic oncologist Roni Wilke, M.D.<\/a>, on Jan. 3, 2024. She explained that the pathology from her surgery would undergo expert review by pathologists<\/a> at UT MD Anderson, and she\u2019d have imaging to see if the cancer had spread<\/a>. That imaging showed a postoperative complication from her prior surgery.<\/p>\n

That week, the Interventional Radiology<\/a> team placed a surgical drain<\/a> to collect fluid that had collected after Caitlin\u2019s surgery. Shortly after that, a multidisciplinary team of experts met to review Caitlin\u2019s diagnosis<\/a> and develop a treatment plan.<\/p>\n

She started with the chemotherapy<\/a> drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel and targeted therapy<\/a> bevacizumab administered intravenously every three weeks.<\/p>\n

Molecular testing of the tumor revealed high expression of the PD-L1 protein, so on her third chemotherapy cycle, Wilke added immunotherapy<\/a> drug pembrolizumab.<\/p>\n

She completed a total of six cycles of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d spend six hours at UT MD Anderson getting infusions,\u201d Caitlin recalls. \u201cMy mom would be there with me. I\u2019d crack a lot of jokes, just trying to make the best of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin took the anti-nausea medication her doctors recommended, so she didn\u2019t experience much nausea<\/a> during treatment. She temporarily lost her sense of taste and smell<\/a>, but it came back once she completed chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

In June 2024, she continued taking bevacizumab and pembrolizumab as maintenance therapy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really satisfied with my care team and the information I was getting from them,\u201d she says. \u201cThey would say, \u2018This is a unique situation. But we have a plan.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Surgery successfully treats ovarian cancer recurrence<\/p>\n

In February 2025, a routine scan found a new growth in Caitlin\u2019s right abdomen and a growth along a small portion of her small bowel.<\/p>\n

Again, a multidisciplinary team of experts reviewed her case and recommended surgery<\/a> to treat the cancer recurrence<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On April 24, 2025, Wilke performed a debulking surgery<\/a> to remove the new growth as well as a small portion of Caitilin\u2019s small intestine and omentum<\/a> \u2013 the layer of fatty tissue in her abdominal cavity. She was able to preserve her uterus and left ovary. General surgeon Celia Ledet, M.D.<\/a>, repaired Caitlin\u2019s abdominal wall using a mesh flap.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Caitlin remains on maintenance therapy. All her scans since the second surgery have been clear and shown no evidence of disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coping with cancer-related fertility challenges<\/p>\n

Facing a rare cancer diagnosis as a young adult wasn\u2019t easy for Caitlin; there were a lot of unknowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fertility challenge was a lot harder for me than the actual cancer diagnosis because I thought, \u2018OK, I can take cancer.\u2019 But tacking on possible infertility as a result of treatment was tough,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n

Caitlin met with oncofertility specialist Terri Woodard, M.D.<\/a>, before starting treatment to discuss her options for fertility preservation<\/a>. But, she ultimately opted not to move forward with preservation so as not to delay treatment since the cancer was so aggressive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve spent a lot of time reflecting the last couple of years, and I’ve looked at other options if I can\u2019t conceive naturally,\u201d she says. \u201cI could ask my siblings if they want to help, and my best friend said she\u2019ll help with whatever I need. I just look at it like another bridge to cross when I get to that point. But it\u2019s nice to know I have their support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Managing emotions during treatment<\/p>\n

With her parents\u2019 support, the right mindset and available resources, Caitlin learned how to manage the range of emotions that came with her cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter my first surgery, I had to pick whether I was going to live in that immense feeling of pity and sorrow for myself, or if I was going to go fight to live. And I chose to fight,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Caitlin stayed with her parents after both of her surgeries. Her dad, also a cancer survivor, told her that a lot of times, people just don\u2019t know what to say to someone with cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard a lot of, \u2018I\u2019m here if you need anything,\u2019 and \u2018I\u2019m so sorry,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cI would always say, \u2018There\u2019s nothing to be sorry about. No one can control what happened.\u2019 And of course, you’re going to lose some people<\/a> through the process, but the ones who stick around are the ones who truly matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once Caitlin completed chemo, she began seeing a therapist to help sort out her feelings<\/a> about not knowing what\u2019s next. It\u2019s been beneficial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a lot less likely to worry these days,\u201d she says. \u201cI just take what comes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thankful for UT MD Anderson<\/p>\n

Since Caitlin travels from New Braunfels for her infusions and follow-up appointments, it\u2019s more convenient for her to go to UT MD Anderson<\/a> West Houston<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked Dr. Wilke to move any appointments that we can, and it\u2019s definitely been easier because I don\u2019t have to go through so much traffic,\u201d she says. \u201cIt is so convenient, fast and easy. And I love the staff at UT MD Anderson West Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin also praises Wilke and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Crystal Teague for touching base, keeping her informed and reassuring her throughout the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I talked to Crystal or Dr. Wilke, they reassured me that things were looking good. That’s all I could ask for,\u201d she says. \u201cThey always responded to my questions. And if they didn’t have an answer, they would tell me, \u2018Caitlin, we know as much as you know right now.\u2019 And that made me feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin continues to take maintenance therapy, though she may be able to stop soon. Either way, she\u2019s happy her scans remain clear with no sign of cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of emotions come with a cancer diagnosis. It’s OK to sit with them, but it’s not OK to stay,\u201d she says. \u201cAttitude is important, so I keep a positive outlook. Even on my worst days, I put a smile on and tell myself to keep going. I’m still going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online<\/a> or call 1-877-632-6789.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Caitlin Koehler was just 27 years old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After a year of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":299827,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[86922,1145,1146,56,108944,58,57,39161,81844,39164,95338,75671,1148,108943,2822],"class_list":["post-299826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-issues","tag-caregivers","tag-health-vigilant","tag-houston","tag-houston-area-locations","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news","tag-in-treatment","tag-md-anderson-west-houston","tag-newly-diagnosed","tag-ovarian-cancer","tag-patient-caregiver-stories","tag-patients","tag-rare-ovarian-tumors","tag-survivors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=299826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/299826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/299827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=299826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=299826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=299826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}