. Ketty Fessahazion doesn’t look like someone living with ovarian cancer. Thanks to care received through a clinical trial at HonorHealth Research Institute, the 42-year- old Glendale financial executive lives an active, full life — with little reminder of the disease she carries. “Thankfully, I’ve had very few symptoms, if any at all,” Ketty says. “If nobody told me, I wouldn’t know I had cancer. My energy level is great. I live my life normally. This is just one part of it.” In 2013, Ketty developed a persistent cough and shortness of breath. Tests revealed late-stage ovarian cancer, including a tumor on her left ovary and two liters of fluid in her lungs. She underwent a full hysterectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation, but the cancer spread to her lymph nodes. By 2019, those treatments were no longer working and Ketty was told she had exhausted her options. Hope returned in 2020, when she was referred to HonorHealth Research Institute and enrolled in a clinical trial led by Dr. Erkut Borazanci, medical director of the Institute’s Cancer Research Division. “Dr. Borazanci already had two treatment plans prepared. That showed me they truly cared about me and my future.” —KETTY FESSAHAZION Like many patients, Ketty had concerns about research. But those fears quickly faded when she was met with warmth and empathy. “Dr. Borazanci already had two treatment plans prepared. That showed me they truly cared about me and my future,” she says. The trial worked. Ketty’s cancer is now managed as a chronic condition, allowing her not only to survive, but to thrive. With her disease under control and approval to continue on the trial, Ketty made a life-changing decision: she stepped away from her corporate career to pursue work rooted in purpose. She launched She Is Limitless Coaching, a business focused on helping women identify their values, challenge limiting beliefs and establish healthy boundaries. She also founded Sweet Dreams Angels Foundation, a nonprofit that helps low-income families cover funeral expenses after losing a child to illness. Because of research — and the generosity that fuels it — Ketty is not only living well with cancer, she is building a legacy of compassion, resilience and hope for others. A Life Reclaimed H O N O R H E A LT H R E S E A RC H I N S T I T U T E K E T T Y ’ S S T O R Y O F H O P E T H R O U G H R E S E A R C H Ketty and Dr. Borazanci 24 HonorHealth Foundation
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