SMU-Graduating Cancer Survivor This Week's "Texan With Character"
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DALLAS(CBSDFW.COM) - When an SMU senior walks across the stage this weekend she will be more than just a graduate. This week's Texan with Character, Katie Ballard is a cancer survivor.
Nearly two years ago Ballard started having trouble going to the bathroom and was gaining weight. She went to the doctor and two days later she was in surgery and diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer.
At age 20, earning her diploma was suddenly the furthest thing from her mind.
"It was crazy, " says Ballard. "One of those things I never expected to be cancer."
"That's a pretty devastating diagnosis to have to tell a 20 year old and her parents," says Dr. Debra Richardson.
Surgeons removed a four-pound tumor. Ballard says it looked like a Thanksgiving turkey.
"I was so fortunate that they were able to take out the tumor intact and that I didn't have to do chemo," says Ballard.
"I had never treated anybody that's 20 with epitheal ovarian cancer besides Katie," says Dr. Richardson.
Doctors say the average age a woman's diagnosed with ovarian cancer is 60. But Ballard didn't let the diagnosis or her surgery get her down long.
"I think within two weeks of the surgery I was back in class, off and on," says Ballard. "It's out of me and it's done. I don't have to have chemo. And we're going to move on and learn from it."
Now Ballard takes part in events that raise awareness about cancer in women. She talks to her sorority sisters and friends about getting regular checkups.
"The symptoms are just so...there aren't...there aren't big signs of it," says Ballard. "So it's something you need to be aware of and hopefully catch it early on so more people have experiences like me, can get it out and be healthy again."
After she receives her degree in journalism, Ballard is going to stay at SMU and work on her masters in advertising.
Out of this experience with cancer she says she's got a new perspective on life.
"You take for granted a lot that things are not that easy and I'm so lucky to be able to graduate in four years and keep moving on with my life."
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