For many years I have been an avid runner, and there truly is nothing quite like that powerful feeling I get from racing. I thrived on pushing my body to the extreme, whether that was an intense gym workout, marathon races or ultramarathons.
My weekly routine consisted of running between 15 to 20 miles and then hitting the gym in between. Needless to say, fitness has always been a big part of my life, and I relished feeling invincible.
I completed an ultramarathon in March 2026, and I felt like I was on top of my game. That euphoria was short-lived, because by May, I started to notice this extreme lethargy and fatigue. Suddenly, I didn’t have the energy to do any of the activities that I loved.
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I had very little energy to run, work out, or do the things that had always come naturally to me. Initially, I couldn't understand why I felt so drained. I was used to pushing myself physically, but this felt different.
This wasn't a lack of motivation; I genuinely didn't feel like myself.
Then in July, I was lying out on my back porch and I noticed a lump protruding from the lower left side of my pelvic area. Feeling confused, I pulsated it, not knowing what it could be.
That was what prompted me to make an appointment with my doctor. I suspected it might be an ovarian cyst, and I wanted to get it checked out.
‘Being Young Does Not Mean You Are Immune’
Once I got to the appointment, I explained to the doctor what I had noticed. The doctor told me that the lump was not my ovary and was likely related to my colon instead. She said I was probably just constipated and should simply take a laxative.
I knew that wasn’t the case though.
A few months went by, and I still felt that something wasn't right.
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As we reached September, it was coming up to one of the busiest times of the year for me. I host an annual 5K race for suicide awareness and prevention in honor of my late fiance, who took his life in 2018 while I was pregnant with our second child.
I intended to make an appointment with my OB-GYN for a second opinion, but I kept putting it off as I was in the final stages of organizing the event. It means so much to me and my family, and I was consumed with making sure everything was ready. So, I told myself I would get more answers once the race was over.
Looking back, I wish I hadn't waited, but at the time, I was trying to balance my health with the commitments that matter so much to me.
Unfortunately, as the race drew nearer, my symptoms became significantly worse. I was bloated, began vomiting and could no longer keep food down. At first, I wondered if it was something I had eaten, or perhaps the pizza we ate for my daughter’s 11th birthday days prior.
I tried to make sense of the symptoms with the most ordinary explanations I could think of. I also had abdominal pain, brain fog and dizziness that just kept getting worse, so I knew something serious could be happening.
Things got so bad that the day before the race, I went to the emergency room. I couldn’t keep ignoring the problems, and I certainly couldn’t get through a race—no matter how much it meant.
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The ER doctor felt my stomach, and she too suggested that it could be constipation. Again, I knew that wasn’t right, so I specifically asked for a CT scan and blood tests. I knew this was not normal for my body and I needed answers.
The blood work showed that my CA 125 (a test that measures the amount of cancer antigen 125) was elevated, prompting further investigation.
After that, I got a CT scan and that was when they discovered a mass measuring approximately 10 centimeters on my left ovary.
Hearing that was incredibly frightening, especially at the age of 32.
They told me the tumor was the size of a softball, and that I would need to be referred to a surgical gynaecologist. Unfortunately, because of its size and location, removing the mass safely was not feasible without risking life-altering damage. My oncologist was however able to obtain a biopsy, which confirmed low-grade serous ovarian cancer.
In the months leading up to my diagnosis, several doctors didn't believe my symptoms were caused by ovarian cancer because of my age. I understand that there can be many explanations for pelvic masses and that an elevated CA-125 doesn't automatically mean cancer. But I also learned firsthand that being young does not mean you are immune to it.
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‘Taking This One Step at a Time’
I have now been referred to the Mayo Clinic for further guidance on my next steps. Low-grade serous ovarian cancer can respond differently to conventional chemotherapy than other ovarian cancers, so I am exploring my treatment options with specialists. I have a lot to learn, and I am taking this one step at a time.
One of the hardest things about this experience is realizing how easy it was to explain away the warning signs.
Fatigue can be blamed on a busy life. Bloating and abdominal discomfort can be attributed to problems with digestion. Pelvic pain can be dismissed as menstrual cramps.
Each symptom has many possible causes, and none of them alone necessarily means cancer. But when something is new, persistent, or unusual for your body, it deserves attention.
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When I look back, there were other symptoms I didn't fully recognize for what they might have been. I don't typically experience significant menstrual cramps, but over the preceding months, my periods began to feel like labor cramps, and I was also having pain around my left ovary. At the time, I didn't know how these symptoms might be connected.
As frightening as this diagnosis is, I have maintained a very positive outlook. I know there will be difficult days, unanswered questions, and decisions that I never expected to have to make at 32. I know my journey may not be easy, but I refuse to let fear take over or allow this diagnosis to define who I am.
In fact, on the day I found out I had cancer, my friends and I went to Cotter Springs to rope swing into the water.
Some people might wonder how I could do something like that when I received such life-changing news. For me, it was a reminder that I am still here. I am still Summer. I am still a mother, a friend, an athlete, and a woman who loves being outside, making memories and living.
I refused to let cancer decide how I would spend that day, and I refuse to let it decide how I will live the days ahead. I want to continue making memories with my children, spending time with my friends and family and finding joy in the little moments that make life so special. I don't want to spend my life waiting for the next appointment or next test result before granting myself happiness.
I believe that I can get through this journey and there are still beautiful times ahead of me. This diagnosis is part of my story, not the ending.
I know a positive mindset is not a substitute for medical treatment, and I am committed to getting the best medical care possible. But I also believe that how we approach life's hardest moments can shape how we experience them. For me, I want to face this with courage, gratitude, hope and determination.
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‘Now I Face a Different Kind of Challenge’
My biggest message to women is to listen to your body and advocate for yourself. You know when something feels different.
If you feel that something isn't right, keep asking questions until you understand what is happening. If your symptoms persist or worsen, seek further evaluation, even if you have already seen a doctor.
Ovarian cancer does not exclusively affect older women. At 32, cancer was not something I expected to face, and I don't want another young woman to dismiss her symptoms simply because she believes she is too young.
I am still the woman who finished an ultramarathon. I am still the mother who wants to be present for every milestone. I am still the friend who wants to go to the river, laugh until my stomach hurts. I am still the woman who believes that even in the middle of something incredibly difficult, there is room for joy.
I spent years challenging myself physically and accomplishing things that seemed impossible. Now, I face a different kind of challenge. I may not be able to control every part of this journey, but I can choose to keep showing up for myself, my children, and the life I want to live.
Summer Sasser, 32, resides in Arkansas with her three children. Following her diagnosis, she has been documenting her cancer journey on social media. Her family has also set up a GoFundMe to help cover the extensive medical costs and the uncertainty her family now faces.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Tony Phillips.