Alaskan cancer survivor shares story of strength and perseverance

Every 7 minutes, a woman in America is diagnosed with a Gynecologic Cancer. For one Anchorage woman, that statistic hit close to home.

Galena Fechik courageously shared her story of strength and perseverance in hopes that other women will listen to their bodies and start to become more aware "down there."

What Fechik initially believed to be kidney stones turned out to be a football-sized tumor attached to her left ovary. "It was horrifying," Fechik said. "I was only, I was only 30, so I never would have expected it."

Fechik had the tumor removed via surgery, but just two years later, she found it had come back. This time, it was attached to her lungs.

"That's kind of the mystery with cancer, you never know where it's going to go or when it's going to show up," Fechik said. "They found I had 18 throughout both lungs."

Her treatment proceeded, and following chemotherapy has put her thoughts into helping others catch the illness earlier than she did.

To help spread awareness about Gynecologic Cancer, the organization Let Every Woman Know Alaska has several events planned for the weekend, including a free course for cancer patients at Providence hospital.

Friday, February 2nd

Art Showcase at Blue Holloman Gallery

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd and 4th

Free course for all cancer patients, family members, friends and medical professionals.

Providence Cancer Center

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Must register in advance.

Saturday, February 3rd.

Dance Like Barb Rhythm Heals Concert featuring: The KJ Denhert Band

Williwaw

7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.