Funding a Future without Ovarian Cancer

“Don’t Write the Obituary Yet” is a humorous account of Susan Evans’ ovarian cancer journey. She collaborated on the book with Dr. Thomas Krivak, director of gynecologic oncology at AHN, who she says is the kindest, most understanding, and patient doctor she’s ever met.

Today, Susan is in remission, but she’s on a personal campaign to bring awareness and raise funds for much-needed ovarian cancer research and education. All proceeds from the book sales and donations—over $250,000 to date—go to the Evans-Krivak Gynecological Cancer Research and Education Fund, managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation.

It awards Dr. Krivak and team funds for research and education on gynecological cancers and after-surgery care. The goal, Susan says, is to improve clinical treatment and personalized care and support education for physicians specialized in this area.

Susan is a retired English teacher, member of the Advisory Board of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and was named Newsmaker of the Year in 2018 by the newspaper. Her proposal to declare the month of September “Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month” throughout Pennsylvania was approved by the Senate and House. And, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto declared Sept. 12, 2017 “Susan Evans Day” throughout the city in recognition of her efforts.

When Susan was diagnosed in 2012, she had no family history of cancer and didn’t know one thing about ovarian cancer. “I don’t think many people do,” she says.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer in the U.S. Every year, ovarian cancer claims the lives of more than half the 20,032 women diagnosed. It’s often called a “silent killer” because it’s hard to detect, and its symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions.

“People ask, ‘Weren’t you afraid to die?’ and I say, ‘No, I wasn’t,’” Susan says. “Right from the beginning, Dr. Krivak said, ‘Yes, you have ovarian cancer, and we’re going to deal with it.’” Susan and her late husband, George, never once felt they would have a bad outcome. “We were comfortable in Dr. Krivak’s hands.”

“AHN doctors are very qualified and on the cutting edge,” Susan adds, “but a lot of doctors have that knowledge. It’s what you do with it.” Respectful, comfortable, understanding treatment, that’s what Susan says she received from Dr. Krivak and AHN—and why she chose AHN for nearly all of her healthcare needs.

“When I was going through treatment, my friend said she hadn’t heard me complain about anything,” Susan says. “And, I said there’s nothing to complain about.”

With fundraising, Susan hopes to see advances in ovarian cancer testing so more cases are caught and treated before stage 3, 4, or worse. She has spoken to more than 150 civic groups and women who’ve read her book and wanted to share their own experiences. Women she doesn’t even know call to thank her and ask how they can get involved.

“Whatever little bit can be done to help patients get through it successfully and have more years of life,” Susan says, “the better off we’re all going to be.”