Ovarian Cancer: A Patient’s Perspective with Gabriela Benjamin

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Gabriela Benjamin to discuss a patient’s perspective on ovarian cancer. Gabriela Gesteira Benjamin 38 years old and was born in Brazil and grew up in Miami. She attended Columbia University where she studied engineering. She has worked in finance for the past 15 years and is currently a portfolio manager at Blackrock. She is the daughter of Roberto Benjamin and late Fatima Gesteira and sister to Joana Benjamin and Dr. Carolina Benjamin and proud aunt of Nico and Enzo. Gabi has a zest for life, practicing tennis, yoga, pilates, meditation, Freediving and kitesurfing just to name a few. She was diagnosed with advance stage ovarian cancer one year ago, underwent chemotherapy and hysterectomy. She is currently in remission but remains on maintenance medication. Interviewee Info: Gabriela Benjamin (@galebaweBenjam) Highlights: - It benefits patients when doctors put themselves in the patient’s shoes and acknowledge how painful and difficult a cancer diagnosis is - Treatment is not an easy journey, but staying positive and continuing to live life help in the process and often the outcome. - You must learn to see the collateral beauty or the silver linings, whether it is the love you receive, nature or a breath you take when you feel good. This diagnosis will give you new lenses to view life with

- The choice of what center you do care in and with what Doctor makes the difference. Do your research, It is a personal choice but a very important one. For me it was a combination of experience and affinity, and I could not be happier with my choice of Dr. Ramirez and MdAnderson.