Video

'Connection is Key' in Conversations Between Parents and Children About Ovarian Cancer

Author(s):

Ryan H. Mitstifer Walton

A young advocate emphasizes the importance of communication between parents and their children about an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Ryan H. Mitstifer Walton, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, has been an ovarian cancer advocate his entire life, volunteering for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).

At the Ovarian Cancer Heroes event in Honolulu, Hawaii, Walton shared how his mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis shaped him into the enthusiastic advocate he is today, while also emphasizing the importance of communication parents and their children when it comes to a diagnosis.

“Include us. You are not protecting us by your silence,” said Walton. “We know when something is wrong. Tell us your fears and let us know how we can help.”

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of man.
Image of thumbnail.
Patients can prepare personal overviews to help care teams connect with them as individuals, explained Michelle Kirschner in an interview with CURE.
Enhertu with Perjeta nearly doubled progression-free survival versus standard treatment in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, study shows.
Expanding on a New Way to Manage Polycythemia Vera Without Iron Deficiency
Image of woman.
Image of two people.
Image of doctor.
Image of woman.
Related Content
Image of injection.
June 12th 2025

How Love Helped Me Overcome my Cancer Diagnosis

Glenna Sears-Brinker
Facing two life-threatening diagnoses, I overcame fear of self-injections by leaning on love, encouragement and determination to save my life.
cancer horizons logo: a white microphone on a navy blue background
March 11th 2024

Oncology Approvals, Psychological Outcomes for Survivors and an Ovarian Cancer Vaccine

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Last week we saw some FDA approvals come through, as well as research that explored the psychosocial outcomes of individuals who survived pediatric rhabdosarcoma.
Image of kelly.
May 23rd 2025

Ovarian Cancer Treatment Side Effects Make for a Difficult Balancing Act

Kelly Irvin
I urge researchers to look into why side effects occur in cancer drugs and to find ways to mitigate them that doesn’t impact their efficacy.
Shannon Miller smiling at a podium while delivering the keynote address at the 2023 Extraordinary Healer event | Image credit: © ATA-GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY
May 4th 2023

Olympian Shares Her Cancer Experience: ‘Give Yourself Grace’

Brielle Benyon
Olympic gymnast, Shannon Miller, sat down with CURE® to discuss her experience with a rare type of ovarian cancer, and how her competitive mindset helped her through.
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
May 7th 2025

Managing Lung Inflammation After Chemoradiation and Tagrisso

Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
Kelly Irvin was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in January 2016. Catch up on all of Kelly's blogs here!
May 6th 2025

Nurse’s Big Personality Makes Cancer Treatment More Bearable.

Kelly Irvin
She wore a variety of bright sneakers and occasionally did a cha-cha-cha in them. Her laughter was contagious. Patients smiled. The other nurses smiled.