Louise Altese-Isidori looked healthy and felt fine — yet she was unknowingly living with advanced ovarian cancer. The 56-year-old had no symptoms, but a routine transvaginal sonogram changed everything.
Her doctor discovered a large ovarian cyst, and although blood tests were negative, surgery was advised. Before the procedure, her surgeon warned, “I don’t like the way things are looking.” During the operation, they found she was “filled with cancer.” A biopsy confirmed Stage 4B ovarian cancer, already spread to multiple organs.
In January, surgeons removed her spleen, appendix, gallbladder, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, part of her stomach lining, and cancer from her colon, liver, and chest. She also underwent chemotherapy. Today, Louise is “technically in remission” after her CA 125 test came back normal.
“My goal is to let women know a simple annual transvaginal sonogram could save your life,” she said. Her story is a powerful reminder — early detection can mean the difference between life and death. Sometimes, taking one extra test is worth everything.
