Debut novelist uses her cancer journey and love of fantasy fiction to inspire others

Colleen Ochab, of Roselle, was only 26 years old when she received some of the worst news any woman could get: she had breast cancer. Her doctors informed her that it was stage 2, meaning it had already spread to nearby lymph nodes.

“You know, you're in your mid-20s. Life is busy and fun, and you're trying to get established in your career. And the diagnosis kind of just felt like everything got put on pause in a bad way,” Ochab said. “I was finally moving up in my job and doing all that. I was a really active exerciser. I had just benched 100 pounds, and now doctors were telling me I can't bench anymore because of what they were going to have to do to my chest.”

Ultimately, Ochab received care at the cancer center at Ascension Alexian Brothers and battled through six rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation treatment and a reconstruction procedure through the majority of 2022 and 2023. She said it all upended her life and made her feel “numb.” But when she finally learned that she was cancer-free in late 2023 she described feeling relieved. She celebrated the good news with a trip to Antarctica with her best friend.

Dr. Ramji Rajendran is a radiation oncologist at Ascension Alexian Brothers who helped care for Ochab during the later stages of her treatment. He described her as someone who quickly inspired him.

“I immediately knew with her that this was not your average person,” Dr. Rajendran said.

Today, Ochab only needs maintenance medication as her cancer fight winds down, but she has taken it upon herself to help others who may need inspiration or help in their fight in the future. This month, Ochab is publishing her debut novel, a feat she’s always dreamed of doing. The book, titled “Fight For Your Fairytale: A Guided Quest to Total Transformation,” is a genre-blending adventure perfect for anyone seeking guidance as they fight through some of life’s harshest battles.

“Part of the book has a self-growth element, like a traditional self-help book, but then it includes a little bit of a cancer memoir as I tell my story of fighting cancer,” Ochab explained. “And then the third element is that it is a fantasy story in a way.”

Inspired by her regular “Dungeons & Dragons” sessions and love of “The Lord of the Rings,” Ochab writes part of the book in the format of a role-playing game campaign and incorporates real-life prompts which she refers to as her book’s “side quests.”

“It might say that your job today is to go for a walk in nature and just have your headphones out and appreciate the sound of birds, the wind or the temperature,” Ochab said. “It kind of guides you to getting more in tune with yourself.”

Ochab wants to continue to help other women going through cancer treatment, and intends to donate 10% of all profits on her book back to the cancer center at Ascension Alexian Brothers where she received treatment. She explained that she wants to pay it forward to other “warriors” who are fighting the battle in the future.

“I want the donations to help people who are struggling. When you get diagnosed and suddenly you can't work, you start thinking, ‘How am I supposed to pay the rent, or buy my wig that'll make me feel like myself again,’” Ochab said. “That's a big part of where the money's going. It’s not just general cancer research, it really is to help these women.”

“It really is such a wonderful life she is leading,” Dr. Rajendran said. “Colleen is an inspiration to all breast cancer patients in the way she used her diagnosis and her spirit to get through everything and write such an inspiring book.”

While screen and novel writing might only currently be a passion project for Ochab, she hopes this leap forward helps launch her literary career, and hopes even more that the messages she conveys in her debut work help inspire those who need it most.