SHARED STORY
Desolina Postreich
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Juvenile granulosa cell tumor
Desolina was just 5 years old when she was diagnosed with a juvenile granulosa cell tumor, a rare form of ovarian cancer. Throughout her experience, she often heard people remark on how young she was. For many around her, it was a realization that ovarian cancer can affect young people, too.
Now, at almost 16, Desolina wants other young people to understand that serious illness can become part of their story as well. Just as importantly, she wants anyone going through cancer to know that they do not have to face it alone. Finding a community, she says, can make a meaningful difference during some of the hardest moments.
Listen to your body, know the symptoms and ask questions. Tell someone.
— Desolina
Her experience has also taught her the importance of paying attention to changes in your body and speaking up when something does not feel right. She encourages young people to ask questions, tell someone they trust, and not dismiss something simply because it seems small.
For Desolina, awareness is not about being afraid of every symptom. It is about knowing yourself well enough to recognize when something continues, changes, or deserves a closer look, and feeling confident enough to say something.
