After a year of uncertainty trying to understand unusual changes in her body, Brynn Ryan of Jordan, Montana, is starting the new year healthy and with peace of mind. 

After many months of advocating for herself and receiving support from her family, she finally found answers when it was discovered in the fall of 2024 that she had a basketball-sized ovarian mass in her abdomen. 

She had successful surgery in October to remove the benign (non-cancerous) tumor under the care of Bradley Burger, MD, an OBGYN at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City. Now fully recovered, Ryan has a newfound passion to help young women take charge of their own health and advocate for themselves. 

After she graduated high school in 2021, Ryan began noticing changes in her body, particularly weight gain in her abdomen. Despite her efforts to stay fit by going to the gym and running, the area around her stomach remained stubbornly unchanged. 

Initially, she attributed these changes to the "freshman 15" that many college-age students joke about. She grew increasingly frustrated with her inability to achieve the expected changes in the appearance of her stomach, despite getting into good physical shape. 

"I was going to the gym consistently, almost every day, but my stomach just wouldn't change,” she shared. 

She sought medical advice but was initially told it was potentially related to bloating or dietary issues. This past summer her condition became more noticeable. 

Ryan, encouraged by her mother, sought further medical evaluation.  

It wasn’t until a visit to an emergency room in Bozeman, which resulted in a CT scan, that the large ovarian mass measuring approximately 14 inches by 11 inches was revealed.

The surprising discovery led her to consult Dr. Burger at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital about her risks and options.  

"Brynn and I reviewed the imaging of her mass and discussed options for treatment,” said Dr. Burger. 

Because of the size of the mass and how long it was present, they discussed surgical options to remove it. 

Dr. Burger shared that unlike ovarian cysts, the nature of Ryan’s ovarian mass would likely not go away without surgery. Even though it was determined that the tumor was non-cancerous, based on imaging and laboratory blood work, there was potential that it could continue to grow and eventually impact her gastrointestinal system, making hard to eat and digest food. 

In addition, it could have inhibited her breathing. Dr. Burger performed successful surgery, which involved draining the mass and then removing it. Ryan spent a night in the hospital for recovery, and after a few weeks, she felt significantly better. 

"Right after the surgery, it took a lot out of me,” shared Ryan. "But after two weeks, I felt really good. I went back to class and felt pretty much back to normal."   

"Brynn’s case was both unique and not uncommon for different reasons,” shared Dr. Burger. “It is unusual for a young woman to experience an ovarian mass of this size. However, the length of time that it took to be diagnosed and removed is unfortunately common.”  

Dr. Burger said that patients can be reticent about going to the doctor, out of fear of what may be discovered or because of a lack of knowledge of symptoms. Also, patients and providers might not take minor symptoms as seriously as they should, leading to delayed treatment. 

“Many patients may still have a good outcome like Brynn’s,” shared Dr. Burger. ”But I have also seen unfortunate outcomes because of advanced disease due to a delay in diagnosis.” 

With the tumor now removed, Ryan is healing physically and emotionally. 

With a noticeable change in her stomach, she is back in the gym and looking forward to training for a 10K race this spring.    

Her experience has ignited a passion to help young women understand the importance of advocating for their health. She emphasizes the need for regular check-ups and not dismissing symptoms. Ryan believes that women should not be afraid to ask questions and should seek medical advice if something feels off. 

"I feel like there is a stigma (in education) around women's health and reproductive systems," she said. “I’ve had conversations with my classmates, about women not knowing a lot about what's going on in their bodies. I’ve talked to girls who are older than me who have never had an annual exam (with a gynecologist or women’s health specialist).”    

Now a junior in the graphic design program at Montana State University, Ryan is interested in using her skills to raise awareness about women's health issues. She looks forward to an opportunity to work on a campaign or effort to help educate and empower women. 

"It would be fun to use my design skills to help women know more about their bodies and health,” she said.  

Dr. Burger recommends that all women begin well-woman exams at 21. The exam with a gynecologist or women’s health specialist, generally includes a head-to-toe physical, pelvic exam to monitor for any abnormalities, and a pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.  

As women age, this annual exam is also an opportunity for other proactive health discussions and evaluations, including cholesterol, diabetes, and additional cancer screenings.

He also said that ovarian masses can be common in reproductive age females and can cause symptoms like pain and bleeding. Ovarian cysts usually resolve spontaneously and require no treatment.

Some ovarian tumors, similar to Brynn’s, can secrete hormones and cause symptoms ranging from acne, hair growth, or symptoms similar to thyroid disorders. He recommends that if women are noticing any changes in their body or health that the reach out to their primary care provider or women’s health specialist.  

“After her experience, I think it is admirable that Brynn is hoping to raise awareness of the importance of the exams and educating women about their bodies and health,” said Dr. Burger.  “Knowledge is power, and with that, women can address future health issues.”