When Luda was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she and her husband Viktor began a journey that would test their resilience, deepen their bond, and ultimately turn them into advocates for change.
Recently, as a person with lived experience, Luda was invited to present at the Formulary Management Expert Committee (FMEC) a Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) advisory body about her experience with the drug trametinib, a treatment sometimes used for those living with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer. For Luda, the decision to speak up was never about her alone.
“I wanted to help in any way I can,” she said. “If sharing my experience can make it easier for someone else, or help others get access to treatment, then it’s worth it.”
The presentation to the FMEC marked an important step in acknowledging the value of lived experience in drug reimbursement reviews. Luda’s voice, grounded in the reality of what it means to live with ovarian cancer, added a vital human perspective. While low-grade serous ovarian cancer is a rarer type of the disease, it is crucial that those living with it are represented in health care system change in the areas of prevention, treatment, and care.
On April 1, 2025, the CDA recommended that trametinib be reimbursed for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer. This positive outcome was directly influenced by Luda’s presentation to the FMEC and is an example of how influential the patient voice is.
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Luda, Ovarian cancer survivor and advocate
“It feels good to be able to make even a little positive difference,” Luda reflected. “Researchers and doctors make the final decisions, but they need to understand more than just the numbers. They need to understand how these decisions affect real people – how it affects our daily lives, our families, our futures.”
Luda also spoke with Ovarian Cancer Canada following her presentation to the FMEC, continuing her efforts to amplify the patient voice in critical conversations around treatment access. For her, storytelling is a form of advocacy.
“People with lived experience need to speak up,” she said. “When we share our stories, it gives others hope. It shows them that they’re not alone and motivates them not to give up.”
Luda and Viktor’s story is not only one of survival, but of partnership. Through every step of treatment, every appointment, every moment of uncertainty – they faced it together.
“We are one body, one soul,” Viktor said. “There was no question. We are family.”
“I hope that more drugs will become available to effectively treat cancer,” said Luda. “That’s what we all want – options, hope, time,” says Luda. Together, they are now using their experience to support others and advocate for better access to treatments. They hope their story resonates with patients, families, healthcare providers, and policymakers alike.
Luda also had a message for others facing ovarian cancer: “Stay positive. Trust your doctors, and work with them as a team. That’s very important. Stay organized – really, organize yourself – and keep thinking positively.”
Their story is a reminder that behind every decision in healthcare, behind every clinical trial and drug review, are people with hopes, fears, families – and the courage to speak up in the hope of making things better.
Ovarian Cancer Canada is proud to elevate patient voices like Luda’s and will continue to advocate for equitable access to treatments across the country. Because every voice matters. Every story matters. And every story shared can lead to meaningful change.
SUMMARY
Ovarian Cancer Canada advocates for improved access to treatment by bringing the voice of Luda, a woman diagnosed with low-grade serous ovarian cancer, to the Formulary Management Expert Committee (FMEC) a Canada’s Drug Agency advisory body.
On April 1, 2025, Canada’s Drug Agency recommended that trametinib be reimbursed for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer.