The Brief
- A 23-year-old Clearwater woman was diagnosed with an extremely rare ovarian cancer containing neurological tissue.
- Doctors at Moffitt Cancer Center identified the tumor as an ependymoma, a type usually found in the brain.
- Only a few dozen similar ovarian cases have ever been reported worldwide.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Ainsley Cole, a Dunedin High School graduate and University of South Florida psychology student, is battling an exceptionally rare form of cancer doctors say they may only encounter once in a career.
Cole was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her ovaries that was later identified as an ependymoma, a type of brain tumor. While ependymomas account for about 2% of all brain tumors, their appearance in the ovaries is extraordinarily uncommon.
Timeline
- 2023: Cole underwent bariatric surgery.
- Mid-2024: Family members noticed a growing lump in her abdomen.
- September 2024: She was hospitalized after the mass became painful.
- Late 2024: Doctors confirmed the tumor was malignant and transferred her care to Moffitt Cancer Center.
- Present: Cole is in a maintenance phase
Dig deeper:
After further evaluation at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Robert Wenham, chair of the Department of Gynecological Oncology, identified the tumor as an ependymoma, something typically found in the brain, not the ovaries.…