Nancy Kouris, who, along with her husband Keith are well-known on the North Fork for their Blue Duck Bakery Cafes, were faced with the greatest challenge of their lives in July: The devastating news that their beautiful daughter, Noelle, 34, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
With grace, courage, and indomitable strength they’ve rallied to Noelle’s side and are now committed to shining a light of awareness on the disease, so that other women can recognize the warning signs and seek help.
The message is especially timely; September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
To that end, the Kouris family has formed Team Noelle, to walk in the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s 9th Annual 5K Run/Walk to “Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer.”
Team Noelle is already 32 members strong and together, they’ve raised more than $4,500 for the NOCC.
The walk takes place on Saturday, September 26 at Belmont Lake State Park.
“Noelle is blessed with a wonderful support team of extended family and many friends,” Nancy said. Already, the outpouring of love has been enormous, Nancy said. “We hope to help them raise awareness to prevent and cure ovarian cancers and to improve the quality of life for survivors.”
“How could this be — ovarian cancer at 34?”
When her daughter first reached out and described her symptoms, Nancy said she advised her to call her doctor immediately.
“When she told me it was a solid mass with a blood supply, my heart sank. Then I rationalized to myself, saying it was nothing. She named it and we joked about it. I went with her to all her appointments after that discovery and we comforted each other, even though I think we both hoped it wasn’t ‘that,'” Nancy said.
After appointments, blood tests and scans, Nancy and Noelle were ready for surgery, again facing the unknown with their trademark humor, joking and laughing.
With Keith Kouris at work on the morning of the surgery, Nancy faced the news no mother should have to hear: “Suddenly our worst fears became real: Noelle, my second child, had cancer — ovarian cancer,” she said. “I think I repeated it to myself over and over because, how could this be, ovarian cancer at 34? This is something I should worry about, not her.”
Nancy said she couldn’t explain the rush of feelings. “I could only hold on to her and give her any and all of my strength and energy at that moment. I told her, ‘We’ll do this together.’ They rushed her off to surgery before Keith arrived. I delivered the news to my husband. We sat, unable to talk or move for the four-and-a-half hours of surgery, waiting. It was almost unbearable.”
The Kouris family owns the Blue Duck Bakery Cafes in Southampton, Riverhead, Southold and Greenport; the couple’s children, Christina, Noelle, Anthony and his fiance Carrie all work, and between other jobs and the bakery, are busy seven days a week, Nancy said.
“All this happened during the busiest month of the year, July. We really didn’t have time for cancer. But cancer had other plans,” Nancy said.
And so, with a mother’s fierce heart guiding her, Nancy remained steadfast at her daughter’s side. “I am my daughter’s sidekick, companion, sounding board and support. But most of all, I am her mom,” she said.
Noelle has been an elementary school teacher at the Longwood Central School District for 11 years and loves working with children. “I have wanted to be a teacher since I was five years old,” she said.
Living back at home with her parents in Aquebogue, Noelle said she is truly grateful for their help and support as she undergoes chemo at Stony Brook Hospital; today marks her third day of treatment
Describing her experience, Noelle said she woke up on the morning of July 8 with “what felt like a charlie horse in my lower stomach. “At first I ignored it, thinking it was gas or something. Even though in the back of my head, I knew something didn’t feel quite right. The next morning I woke up with the same feeling, but when I stood up, the feeling moved lower on my right side. I believed I may have had a hernia. No pain, though. I just felt very bloated.”
Noelle made an appointment that day to see her gastroenterologist, who did not feel a hernia, but scheduled a colonoscopy and endoscopy, as well as a sonogram, which she had on Friday, July 10.
She received a phone call at 3 p.m. that afternoon, with the news that she had a large white mass on her right ovary and instructions to call her gynecologist right away.
“Naturally, I freaked out and cried,” she said. But thinking proactively, she then called her gynecologist and headed to the office for an appointment Monday, as soon as the office opened.
“They informed me that the mass was quite large and needed to be removed, and there was a good chance that I would lose my right ovary due to the size of the mass,” she said.
Next, an MRI and a CA-125 blood test were scheduled; an appointment was also made with an oncologist, “for the rare chance that it was malignant.”
Noelle said she felt very confident with her doctors. “They really showed compassion and care.”
Next, came the MRI. Her physician told her that the numbers from the CA-125 test, used to detect early signs of ovarian cancer, were within normal range, and the mass might be benign, a dermoid tumor, but an oncologist’s appointment was still booked.
“My appointment with the oncologist was the following Monday. So I made jokes about my tumor, even giving it a name, ‘Dickie Lloyd the Dermoid'”, she said.
Surgery was scheduled for July 30; blood tests preceded the surgery, with nine vials taken.
“Thursday came and I was ready for the surgery. It was then that she informed me that I had tumor markers that indicated ovarian cancer. She said because of my age it was rare,” Noelle said. “Usually, ovarian cancer is seen in women who are post-menopausal or in young girls and girls in their 20s.”
With her signature strength and positive attitude, Noelle said, “I was devastated for a few moments, but I knew that wouldn’t get me through whatever was to come next.”
During surgery, Noelle’s right ovary was removed; her tumor was 12.5 cm. Also removed were her fallopian tubes, lymph nodes and other tissue.
“My oncologist spoke to my parents and informed them that what I had was germ cell ovarian cancer. This is rare,” she said. Germ cells are the cells in the body that develop into eggs.
A week after surgery, Noelle learned she had a malignant germ cell tumor, stage 2B; she would need four rounds of chemotherapy, using the BEP protocol, used in her type of ovarian cancer.
“This type of ovarian cancer responds well to chemotherapy. So this is the silver lining to it all,” she said.
Noelle then went through fertility treatments to help preserve eggs, in case after chemotherapy her left ovary does not function as it should.
For the past two weeks, Nancy said, she has been giving her daughter fertility shots every day. “Not something you expect your mom to have to handle. But again, we laughed, named the assorted medical equipment and bonded even more,” Nancy said.
The love between mother and daughter shines through in every word, every gesture, every photo of the journey they are facing. “My mother has been with me every step of the way,” Noelle said. “I am often a private person with certain things, but I knew that had to throw that right out the window. I am extremely grateful for having my mother with me. She has missed work, changed her own life to be with me at every appointment and at each new venture. We make each other laugh whenever we can and we just give support to each other when it is needed.”
Noelle said she feels truly blessed to have her parents, sister, nieces, brother, and sister-in-law rallying by her side. “I couldn’t do this without them. I am also blessed to have an amazing extended family, friends, work family and a school district that is supportive of me. My support system is out of this world. I am so overwhelmed by all the love and support, but I believe it helps keep me strong.”
And now, Noelle is determined to spread the work, to help raise awareness about ovarian cancer for all women. The color teal is meant to shine the light: TEAL means “Tell Every Amazing Lady” about ovarian cancer.
The decision to form Team Noelle and walk this September was a natural for Noelle: “I felt like it was important to share my experience with people and to spread awareness. We though maybe we could get 10 people to walk with us — now we are up to 32. I am so grateful to each person that has donated, to each person that will be walking with us. My desire to spread awareness about ovarian cancer to all women is strong because I would never have guessed that this what I had. They call this type of cancer the ‘silent killer’ for a reason.”
Types and symptoms of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer, she explained, comes in three types: Surface Epithelium, where cells cover the lining of the ovaries; germ cell, where cancer is found in cells destined to form eggs; and stromal cell, where cancer is detected in cells that release hormones and connect the different structures of the ovaries.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and feeling the need to urinate urgently or often.
Noelle encourages women to be proactive; regular pap smears, she said, do not detect ovarian cancer. “If you have any of the symptoms mentioned or something else, go to the doctor. Do not wait. Don’t be afraid to take charge of your health. The sooner you know, the better.”
Early detection is critical, she added. “These symptoms often go ignored and for many women, they find it when it is at an advanced stage,” Noelle said. “I am lucky that mine responds well to chemo, but this is bigger than me. I want to help all women. I know I am young-ish, but I want to help spread the word to all women, no matter the age. We have to help each other. All cancers are devastating.”
Her hope is that one day, awareness of ovarian cancer is as widespread as breast cancer. “The more people are aware and proactive, the more we can work on finding a cure and better early detection measures.”
Team Noelle shines light on awareness
Despite the uncertainty, Noelle is focused on staying positive. “I just see no other way. I have sad moments, but they are just that, moments. I refuse to live in those moments all day. So many people live in sadness and sometimes, they wither away. I refuse to wither away. I believe there is a reason this card was dealt to me. I am going to play this card with confidence, optimism, humor, and love. Staying strong and positive is the way I am tackling this journey. I always teach my students about choices and how their choices will impact their lives. So I am taking that advice. I am choosing to stay positive and strong.”
Noelle also thanked her “amazing, loving and supportive” team of doctors and nurses. “Time for more teal,” she said.
Nancy, who has organized the Red Dress Dinner locally for more than 12 years, to raise awareness about heart disease, said this year, some teal may be added to the mix.
Nancy thanked the Westhampton Farmers Market, where Noelle has run the Blue Duck Bakery booth for 10 years, and Liz Jackson, of the Market, who has spearheaded a Teal campaign for Team Noelle, to raise funds for the walk.
“We are a close family even when we are all going in different directions,” Nancy said. “I know she will beat this, and I will be at her side every minute. That’s what moms do. She will always be my child, no matter how old she is, and my husband and I will always be there for her, no matter what.”
