Allison Fisher, a 20-year-old from Florida, is finally getting a fresh start after doctors discovered and removed a 100-pound ovarian cyst that had been growing for years.

Her symptoms began back in 2020—stomach pain, irregular periods—but Allison avoided seeing a doctor. “I was terrified they’d just blame it on my weight,” she said. Sadly, that had been her experience for most of her life.

“I thought if I ignored it, it would go away,” she admitted. But her stomach kept growing, becoming hard and distended. Eventually, it was so large it impacted her ability to breathe.

In late 2022, Allison met with Dr. Martin Martino at Ascension St. Vincent’s, who diagnosed the massive cyst and successfully removed it during surgery. Doctors also discovered that one of her ovaries had twisted—a dangerous condition—but were able to save it, protecting her ability to have children.

Today, Allison says she finally feels like herself again. “I can see my feet, wear clothes that fit, and move around without pain.” She’s now focused on her weight-loss journey and hopes her experience encourages others to advocate for their health.

“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.”