Tyumen Woman Fights Rare Ovarian Cancer After Misdiagnosis

Tyumen resident Natalia Averina is battling cancer. Specialists diagnosed her with low-grade serous ovarian cancer. She has undergone six courses of chemotherapy. She needs an operation. And for this, about 1.5 million rubles are required (approximately $15,800 at current rates). In an author«s column, Averina shared the story of her illness, her treatment experience, and how she ultimately learned about the diagnosis. What follows is in the first person.

Background

My acquaintance with cancer began gradually. In 2019, I was operated on to remove ovarian cysts. One of them, according to histology, turned out to be a borderline tumor — it«s no longer benign but not yet malignant.

Doctors at Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2 advised: «Go to an oncologist urgently!» But it turned out that getting into the hyped Tyumen »Medical City« is not easy: either a month-long queue or «your clinic filled out the referral to us incorrectly, go get a new one».

At that time, they didn»t prescribe any examinations for me and performed another operation, partially resecting my ovaries and delighting me with: «Now, if you want to have a child, you have no more than a year! And according to histology, everything is fine and benign, there is no recurrence of the tumor that was found in OKB 2». Well, thanks a lot. Why didn«t they send me for an MRI before the operation? And how many young women have you ruined lives like this, cutting reproductive organs without examinations?

In 2022, I was operated on again. This time at the »Neftyanik« Medical Sanitary Unit. For hydrosalpinx.

And in 2023, I found out that I was pregnant. My husband and I had long wanted children, but were sure it was impossible, as all the doctors had said so aloud.

And now the story directly about cancer and why ovarian cancer is often detected at late stages

The pregnancy proceeded easily, according to all examinations everything was fine. In February 2024, I gave birth to a wonderful girl. During the cesarean section, the doctors didn»t see anything suspicious. In May, I went for an ultrasound, as is customary after childbirth, and again everything was fine.

In September, I went to donate blood for the level of the tumor marker CA-125 (this is a marker for ovarian cancer), and it showed a twofold excess. To not waste time, I immediately paid for an MRI of the pelvis with contrast. And the doctors reported: «most likely, you have a widespread malignant process, already affecting not only the ovaries but also the liver, spleen, intestine. The entire abdominal cavity, in short». And when did all this manage to grow? In three months?

But the exact diagnosis was supposed to be established only by oncologists. With a fight, after a month and a half of waiting, I got an appointment at «Medical City». First, they decided to review the results of my MRI and didn«t see anything suspicious. They said: «Yes, this is endometriosis for you».

Then my attending physician, without handing over her patients» cases to any colleagues, went on sick leave. Another oncologist at the appointment didn«t communicate with me at all.

Time dragged on. I again took the CA-125, which showed a fourfold excess compared to the norm, and insisted that the MRI be reviewed again. This took two weeks. During this time, the level of the tumor marker increased, now exceeding the norm by five times. They refused to take me for surgery.

I went to the head of the oncogynecology department of the »Medgorod« clinic, threw the test results in her face and started speaking harshly. I asked why in 2019 they operated on me without any examinations, and now, when there are all indications for surgery, they are dragging their feet. In response, I got that the protocols have changed and they can»t establish a diagnosis for me yet — there isn«t enough data.

To not drag time further, I had surgery paid for at »Neftyanik«. Well, sort of had surgery. The doctors started the operation, saw the spread of the process, realized they couldn»t handle it, and only took a biopsy — samples of tumor tissue for analysis.

I came with the biopsy results to «Medgorod». There they told me that there still isn«t enough data for diagnosis. I had a PET/CT at the radiology center of »Medgorod«. In response, I got that there still isn»t enough data for diagnosis.

And then I understood that there«s nothing to catch in Tyumen — our oncologists simply don»t know how to diagnose. There is equipment, but there are no specialists capable of reading the examination done on this equipment. Later I learned many similar stories from Tyumen cancer patients.

I managed to get a referral to Moscow, to the federal oncology center Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute (MNIOI). There I got only in March 2025, when the level of the tumor marker exceeded the norm by 11 times. They accepted me under compulsory health insurance, took a non-surgical biopsy with a special needle, and quickly diagnosed low-grade serous ovarian cancer — with low malignant potential.

On one hand, it«s not as aggressive as high-grade. On the other hand — it responds worse to treatment, because high-grade cancer is much more common and chemotherapy is developed for it. Nevertheless, they prescribed me to undergo three courses of chemotherapy and only then operate.

I underwent three courses of chemo in Tyumen, — they»ll put in an IV with medications at «Medgorod», I decided, — did examinations and flew to Moscow again for a consultation.

Need I say how much money was spent on flights and hotels, energy on waiting in queues? And this time I wanted to spend with my little daughter. I also somehow managed to work — fortunately, it«s remote for me — because money was flying away at a catastrophic speed.

The consultation decided that before surgery I need three more courses of chemo. I underwent them in Tyumen. In the discharge from »Medgorod«, I found that I have a different diagnosis indicated than what I was given in Moscow — instead of low-grade cancer, I saw the inscription «borderline tumor». I inquired why it was so. The answer, as they say, killed: «And we don»t have a suitable code for this diagnosis in our computer program».

That is, in Tyumen, they fundamentally don«t know about the existence of my type of cancer, — although it»s the second most common among ovarian cancers, — don«t know how to diagnose it, don»t know about such a diagnostic method as non-surgical biopsy. And I«m surely not the only one among patients. Not everyone has the strength to punch their way to Moscow.

Tyumen woman is ready for surgery, but money is needed

At Herzen MNIOI, after six courses of chemo, they agreed to take me for surgery, because the tumor partially responded to chemo, and I myself noticed improvement: the pain stopped, the ascites went away.

But another problem arose: with my level of spread of the cancer process, with my metastases, I need an abdominal surgeon, that is, one who can work with the abdominal cavity in general, not only with the pelvic organs. But they want to hospitalize me for surgery in the gynecology department, not abdominal surgery.

Now I already know a bunch of stories from patients, found support in a verified patient chat, know those who have already gone through all these stages. And I know that the accuracy of the cytoreductive — from removing all visible manifestations of the tumor — surgery depends on further recovery and life.

I know cases of successful and unsuccessful operations in patients with a similar level of spread of the cancer process as mine. From fatal outcome and disability to long-term remission. Everything depends on the surgeon»s qualification, because I will have to remove some organs completely, some — partially.

I reached out to a luminary in abdominal surgery in Moscow. He has very good statistics for survival and remission. But there is one problem. He resigned from the federal medical center and now operates in a private clinic. The cost of the operation — from one million rubles to one and a half. He studied my history and is ready to take me for surgery, but I don«t have that kind of money.

And I»m very scared. I«m grateful for the support of my husband, parents, and friends. And I»m also supported by the fact that everything I have in life, I got through «this is impossible».

They told me: «you won«t be able to find a husband with interests like yours». But I found one. They told me: «with such a rare specialty, you will never work in your profession». But I work and am very satisfied. Doctors told me about my previous illness, unrelated to oncology: «you won»t get rid of it». I got rid of it. Finally, they told me that I have no chance of having a child. But I gave birth.

I really want to believe that this time too everything will end successfully, and I will get to the right surgeon. I myself used to donate money to constructive social projects and help people, but didn«t think that help might be needed for me (the link leads to Natalia»s social media page).

And I really want to urge those who are now in a similar situation: fight for your health with all your might! Your life is important — for you, and for the world, and for those who depend on you.

Earlier we published the story of Tyumen resident Olga Farfanyuk, who is fighting with blood cancer. The Tyumen woman has a chance at life — it«s expensive treatment abroad costing 45 million rubles.

Also told about the paramedic from Tyumen Darya Rogozina, who became a bone marrow donor. Thereby she helped a person.