Her Best Friend Died of Ovarian Cancer — Less Than a Year Later, She Was Diagnosed With the Same Disease

A Minnesota woman who stood by her best friend through a devastating battle with ovarian cancer never imagined she would face the same disease herself.

Becky Drexler supported her best friend, Connie Dahl, after Dahl was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in April 2015 at the age of 51.

Dahl fought bravely for more than two years before she died in September 2017.

During her friend’s cancer journey, Drexler became involved with the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA), volunteering to help raise awareness about the disease.

After retiring in 2017, Drexler looked forward to a new chapter of life. She planned to travel, spend more time gardening, volunteer and enjoy time with her family and friends.

But those plans changed dramatically less than a year later.

In July 2018, Drexler was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

“I was diagnosed with stage 3B high-grade serous ovarian cancer,” Drexler, now 65, told Fox News Digital.

Looking back, Drexler realized that she had experienced several symptoms that she initially dismissed as normal signs of aging.

She had been experiencing frequent urination, constipation, bloating and hip pain, but she initially put off seeing a doctor.

Then, she began noticing something she interpreted as a reminder from her late friend.

“By early summer, I felt I was getting signs from Connie to nudge me along,” Drexler wrote in an essay sent to Fox News Digital.

Dragonflies had become a symbol of Connie for Drexler after her death, and she began noticing them frequently.

One afternoon, while sitting on her patio and wondering whether she should see a doctor, she noticed two dragonflies repeatedly flying around her flower garden.

“I said out loud, ‘OK, Connie, I’ll go in and talk to the doctor.’”

The decision proved critical.

On Drexler’s 57th birthday, her doctor called with the results of a CT scan, telling her that masses had been detected on both ovaries.

After meeting with an oncologist, Drexler underwent surgery just four days later.

Her diagnosis marked the beginning of another difficult cancer journey — one that would bring an unexpected connection between her own experience and the friend whose illness had first introduced her to ovarian cancer advocacy.

Having witnessed Connie’s battle firsthand, Drexler was determined not only to fight for her own health but also to continue raising awareness about a disease whose early symptoms can be easy to overlook.

Her story has become a deeply personal reminder of the importance of listening to changes in the body and seeking medical advice rather than automatically attributing persistent symptoms to aging.

Source: Fox News