At just 32 years old, Iesha Duhon began experiencing unusually heavy bleeding. Knowing this wasn’t normal for her body, Iesha immediately contacted her doctor to schedule an appointment. During the visit, her physician discovered a lump and quickly performed a biopsy. The results confirmed a cancer diagnosis, spurring Iesha’s physician to refer her to Dr. Cowan at Woman’s Hospital for further evaluation.

Dr. Cowan discovered that the mass, which had already grown from four centimeters to six centimeters in just three weeks, was leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer that develops in smooth muscle tissue, such as the uterus.

This diagnosis came as a shock to Iesha because no one in her family had ever faced cancer and she had always been diligent about attending her annual screenings. 

“I was scared,” Iesha recalled. “But Dr. Cowan took the time to break everything down to make it easier for my husband and I to understand. She didn’t just make me feel comfortable…she made my husband feel comfortable too.”

Iesha immediately began six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by an immunotherapy booster she will continue until the end of September. Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, Iesha said the compassion of her care team made a huge difference. “I felt loved and it made my cancer experience seamless. They made me feel like family,” said Iesha.

Now at 34 years old, Iesha is determined to live each day to the fullest. She refuses to take a single moment for granted, living each day like it’s her last. She also uses her story to encourage others to always trust and listen to their bodies; it could save their life.

It is recommended that you attend your annual screenings, but you should also contact your physician if you are experiencing abnormal symptoms, even between appointments. Early detection is the key to positive outcomes like Iesha’s.  

Learn more about leiomyosarcoma here.