Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer at 15: 10 Things That Helped Brynn Forlizzi Through Treatment

If you weren’t diagnosed with cancer in high school, do you remember what those years were like? Maybe you were focused on school, spending time with friends, discovering your interests and figuring out who you were.

For Brynn Forlizzi, those everyday teenage experiences looked very different. At just 15 years old, during her freshman year of high school, Brynn was diagnosed with germ cell ovarian cancer. While navigating treatment, she also had to find ways to keep up with school, stay connected with her friends and hold onto the parts of herself that made her feel like a teenager.

In this video, Brynn shares the 10 things that helped make treatment a little easier, from a matching sweat set and her favorite jewelry to AirPods, sunglasses, ginger chews and a walking pad. She also talks about finding small ways to feel comfortable, express herself and maintain a sense of normalcy during a time when cancer could easily take over her life.

Brynn’s experience also inspired her to help other young people facing cancer. Along with her friend Teddy, she co-founded SootheNote, an app designed to support patients and their caregivers throughout the cancer experience. Stay tuned as we sit down with Brynn and Teddy to learn more about SootheNote, their story and what inspired them to create it.

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