Maddy Green

Artist Statement

My symptoms began around age 16. For the next 12 years, I saw countless doctors and specialists, repeatedly raising my concerns, but I was dismissed, misdiagnosed, told my symptoms were psychological, or made to feel that they were somehow my fault over and over again.

At 28, I went to the ER with immense abdominal pain and was ultimately referred to an oncologist for exploratory surgery. I woke from a much longer-than-expected surgery to find my fiancé and parents crying over me. Two weeks later, pathology revealed that I had Stage IIIB low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC).

Four weeks after my initial surgery, I underwent a second procedure that included a full hysterectomy with removal of my ovaries, cytoreductive surgery, and HIPEC. I then began maintenance treatment with letrozole. At 28, I was suddenly a cancer survivor in surgical menopause, recovering from an enormous surgery while trying to understand how completely my life had just changed.

This painting is my attempt to give my anger somewhere to go, to transform an experience that left me feeling powerless into something visible, meaningful, and connected. I cannot change the years I lost, but I can use my voice and my art to make sure others know that they deserve to be heard. Art has become a very therapeutic outlet for me in the aftermath of my diagnosis. I hope to build a path that allows me to channel more of my energy into creative outlets and use my experience to connect with and advocate for others.