Regaining Independence After Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Mary Barbera remembers the moment she couldn't yet go home after surgery; recovering from stage 3C ovarian cancer, she spent three months in rehab and needed help from her family to get to appointments and navigate daily life. Her condo, with its three flights of stairs, was simply too much at the time.

By April 2018, she was finally strong enough to return home. Although it was emotional doing so without her late husband, the move back represented a powerful turning point. “Doing everything on my own again, being independent… that was a big victory for me,” she said.

With the help of her care team at John Theurer Cancer Center and the unwavering support of her loved ones, Mary found her footing again. Her story is one of reclaiming freedom, one step at a time.

Transcript

What was the transition like returning home after treatment, and how did that experience shape your sense of independence or recovery?

When I got out of rehab — I was there for three months after my surgery — I couldn’t come back here right away because I wasn’t able to take care of myself. There are too many stairs in this place, like three flights, and there was no way I could manage going up and down. So, my family took me in. My brothers, my sister, and my friends helped get me to all my doctor’s appointments and chemo treatments.

I think it was around April 2018 when I was finally able to move back home. It was hard, especially because my husband had passed away, and coming back here without him was emotional. But at the same time, it made me feel empowered — like I had my freedom again. Not that anyone was holding me back, but it’s hard to rely on others. Being able to get back to my life, even if it looked different than before I got sick, felt really good. Doing everything on my own again, being independent — that was a big victory for me.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness

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