Christine Sable’s Immunotherapy Story

It was May 2003. I had noticed some minor symptoms over a period of about three months that didn’t really alarm me at first. They were typical things like bloating, a little bit of cramping, some urinary urgency, and feeling really full every time I ate. But they didn’t go away, so I visited my family practitioner. She was very astute and sent me in for tests right away. My diagnosis came as a complete shock to me since none of my relatives had ever been diagnosed with cancer. I went from walking into my doctor’s office on a Thursday, thinking very innocently that there was probably nothing wrong with me, to a week later having major abdominal surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.

Cancer treatment was very scary and overwhelming at first. I had major surgery—the surgeon said my cancer had spread over my organs “like icing on a cake”—followed by about six months of chemotherapy, which was a pretty debilitating thing to go through. My doctor was able to get rid of most of the cancer, but because the risk of recurrence is very high—around 80 percent—I was offered more chemotherapy. I considered the options very carefully, and decided I just didn’t want to endure more chemo. During this whole process, the biggest lesson I learned was that I needed to assume more responsibility and awareness about my disease and my treatment, and that’s why I started looking for clinical trials.

It was my husband who heard about Dr. Kunle Odunsi’s vaccine trial from a local news program. I applied for the trial soon after and learned I was eligible and became one of 18 women who enrolled in the trial. My treatment lasted for a year, during which I made about 25 trips to Buffalo, New York, which included consultation visits and vaccine immunizations.

I had no side effects at all from the vaccine and it seemed to be working for me. I found the trial to be a really positive experience and I was absolutely thrilled with the results. I have not recurred to date, and I still stay in touch with Dr. Odunsi.

I feel really good about immunotherapy. I like the idea of a treatment that works with your body and with your immune system rather than one that is very harsh like chemo. But I also want to make it clear that I’m not against chemotherapy. I don’t want women out there who are on chemotherapy to stop what they are doing. It’s probably going to be quite some time before immunotherapy becomes a leading treatment for cancer, but I am excited about the prospects.

Immunotherapy was so different from chemo. Instead of being hooked up to an i.v. for several hours and then suffering from nausea, fatigue, and watching my hair fall out, it was just a simple shot in the arm—15 shots in total. 

Initially, ovarian cancer really grabbed me and made me realize that life isn’t guaranteed—no one lives forever. I certainly think I will never again take my health for granted. I wake up every day thankful that I’m in good health. Whenever I’m feeling particularly good, I remember what it was like to not feel so good and I realize how truly lucky and fortunate I am. Overall, I’ve just really come to appreciate all the little things in life. And I try not to sweat the small stuff—some things in life that upset us really aren’t such a big deal. I also realized that despite my burdens, there are people with bigger problems than me, and I need to be grateful for what I do have.

For those who are new to ovarian cancer or want to learn more about the disease, I encourage them to acquaint themselves with the symptoms and the risk factors. Lists of symptoms can easily be found online. That information is key to survival: 90 percent of early stage ovarian cancer can be cured. Unfortunately, most cases of ovarian cancer are found too late when it’s very difficult to treat. It’s very important to notice and act upon the symptoms very early on, as opposed to waiting several months like I did.

For those who have ovarian cancer or are undergoing treatment, my advice is to do some of your own research, ask questions, and consider clinical trials. I have assisted women with finding clinical trials online—even though many people have Internet access these days, a lot of them are just too emotionally wrung out to do the research. I often search databases for them; pulling up research and good information is a skill that I seem to have. And I recommend joining a support group, both to give and receive information.

For those who are survivors or who are in remission, my advice is to help others who are going through cancer. Try to spread the word to others by supporting and advocating for someone else who may be afraid to ask questions, get a second opinion, or question anything about their diagnosis. Help them become actively involved in their healthcare, treatment, and determining their future. Maybe even accompany them to a medical appointment.