‘It felt like my organs were being crushed,’ said a 20-year-old woman from Florida after having a 100-pound ovarian cyst
Allison Fisher, a 20-year-old from Florida, was given a second chance at life after doctors discovered a 100-pound ovarian cyst. Her symptoms began in 2020 with stomach pain and irregular periods, but she avoided doctors out of fear they’d blame her weight—as had happened throughout her life.
“I thought if I ignored it, it would go away,” Allison said, explaining how past experiences made her afraid to seek help. Over time, her stomach grew hard and swollen, and the cyst began affecting her breathing.
In late 2022, Dr. Martin Martino at Ascension St. Vincent’s diagnosed and removed the massive cyst. During surgery, they also discovered her other ovary was twisted and managed to save it, preserving her fertility.
Now, Allison says she feels like herself again—able to see her feet, wear clothes comfortably, and move freely. She’s beginning her weight-loss journey and hopes her story encourages others, especially those struggling with weight, to seek medical care without fear or shame.
“There are people like me who are scared to go to the doctor because of their weight,” she said. “I just want them to know they shouldn’t be.”
