CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Mecklenburg County Commissioner and state lawmaker, Ruth Samuelson, is opening up to Channel 9 about her battle with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
Doctors diagnosed Samuelson less than two months ago. She's now in the middle of several rounds of aggressive chemotherapy.
"Last week was the first week I actually said to myself, 'I know it will get this bad or worse. Wow, this is going to be hard,'" Samuelson said.
She received the diagnosis in May, and since learned the cancer moved to five areas, including her liver.
"Some here in this lymph node, several spots on my lung and one on my pelvic bone," Samuelson said.
Samuelson is thankful tests show her ovarian cancer isn't genetic, so her children aren't at risk, and said a cancer diagnosis won't define her.
She hopes for remission and to use her fight against cancer as a way to help others in the future.
"I had to deal a lot with the whole identity issue when I first got into politics, and decided all along that my real identity is child of God, wife of Ken and mother of many," she said.
Looking back, Samuelson believes her abdominal pain and fatigue may have been signs months ago.
Former Mecklenburg County commissioner talks about battle with cancer
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