Annie Ellis
Ovarian Cancer Survivor

Annie Ellis was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004 at the age of 40. Soon after becoming a self-proclaimed "support group junkie," she turned her energy to advocacy, participating in the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance's Survivors Teaching Students program and attending their Conference and Lobby Day in Washington, DC. Annie also began volunteering on the SHARE/New York State Ovarian Cancer Hotline and facilitating a peer-led support group. At the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in March 2008, Annie spoke about hope from the patient's perspective. In 2008, Annie was one of 20 cancer survivors selected for the Survivor-Researcher Mentor Program at the Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference (co-sponsored by National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society and Lance Armstrong Foundation) where her focus was doctor/patient communication and decision-making in the recurrent setting. Annie has participated in clinical trials and has continued to work full-time throughout most of her cancer journey.