Sherri Schut

Sherri’s story

Sherri was 33 when she thought she was having an appendicitis attack. When she went for an ultrasound to identify the source of the pain in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen, the test revealed masses on both her right and left ovaries.

The Diagnosis

Ovarian cancer, early stage.

Clinical Trial

After a total abdominal hysterectomy, including the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes, her oncologist suggested a clinical trial. The trial was evaluating the current standard of care, 3 rounds of chemotherapy, with 6 rounds of  chemotherapy; she was randomized to the arm of the study that received 6 rounds.

“I’m very thankful that I was randomized to that arm, because 15 years later, here I am!

“Being in a clinical trial was something that was empowering to me: It was a way that I could participate, a way that I could make a difference for somebody coming after me.

“I am still being followed for survival data, so it’s nice to know that I’m still contributing to the information they will use to treat patients.”

Life Now

A full-time healthcare professional, Sherri has been cancer-free for more than 20 years — May of 1996, to be exact.

A dog lover who puts her heart into action, Sherri rescued her first greyhound, Remy, on her one-year anniversary of finishing chemo.

“I’m not sure who rescued who,” she says with a smile, “but I continue to rescue greyhounds. I really think she represented my commitment to live: I now had this hound to take care of and be there for … I had to live! Ironically she died of cancer….it came full circle. But we had 11 great years together!”

Sherri loves spending time with her nieces and nephews, and she still rescues greyhounds.

She is a passionate advocate for clinical trials, and the difference they can make, one patient at a time, as well as for patients yet undiagnosed.

“There were brave women who went before me and went on a clinical trial, and so, you keep wanting to make advances. Can we increase survival? Can we minimize the toxicities from certain regimens? Little by little we make advances."

“Where cancer used to be so deadly, now we’re turning it into more of a chronic disease. People with ovarian cancer in particular, are living out many more years than what they did 10-15 years ago. It has changed how many practitioners treat stage 1C ovarian cancer, so that’s a beautiful thing.”

Sherri Schut

Ovarian Cancer