ORLANDO, Fla. (July 1, 2025) – Leah Alvarez has gone from competing as an athlete at the AAU Junior Volleyball National Championships in 2010 to returning as a coach in recent years, but more than her role has changed; she’s now a cancer survivor. 

As a volleyball coach for 1st Alliance/Lions Jrs VBC, she’s been known for her fierce spirit, her passion for mentoring young athletes, and her unshakable energy. But in 2023, her world came to a halt. 

“I just had a baby. I’m 31. I’m healthy. How do I have cancer?” Leah recalled, her voice still tinged with disbelief. “This cannot be happening.”

For years, Leah had dealt with endometriosis, a condition that affects millions of women, often painfully and silently. She has undergone three surgeries to remove endometrial tissue from her ovaries, but on her fourth one, doctors discovered something unexpected: stage one ovarian cancer.

“I couldn’t believe that this silly disease of endometriosis had turned into the deadly cancer,” she said. 

Unlike breast or cervical cancer, there is no routine screening for ovarian cancer. It’s often diagnosed in its later stages, when survival rates are grim. But because Leah had been vigilant in managing her endometriosis, the cancer was caught early. And that early detection saved her life.

When Leah got the call from her doctors she was with her mom, but she knew right away what she wanted to do. 

“Take it out” Leah replied. “There’s nothing that’s going to stop me from not being able to live my life. I had to get rid of this cancer.” 

Leah’s greatest motivation was at home when she looked at her husband and their two young children. Only six months post-partum, she knew what she needed to do. 

“I can’t let my husband just be by himself taking care of two kids,” she said. 

Leah began treatment immediately. Chemotherapy pushed her body to the limit. She described it as one of the hardest things she’s ever done.

“It was probably the worst thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, intentionally knowing I’m poisoning myself.”

But Leah wasn’t alone. 

Her volleyball community became her rock. Players, parents, and fellow coaches rallied around her. They checked in regularly, offering kind words, thoughtful gestures, and even small things like gift cards that made a big difference. A simple meal covered meant one less thing to worry about on the hardest days.

“Just getting away and being in the gym, it was just so nice” she said. “It was kind of like normal again, even though I know I had to go back home and deal with cancer.”

Even after her last round of chemotherapy, Leah’s fight wasn’t over. Her doctors recommended a full hysterectomy, a heartbreaking decision for someone who had just welcomed a second child and still dreamed of possibly growing her family. But a choice that had to be made to eliminate risks of the cancer coming back.

Today, Leah is back doing what she loves: coaching volleyball and mentoring young women. But she’s also taken on a new role as an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.

She wants more attention given to female cancers beyond breast cancer, and she’s passionate about spreading a message that could save lives. She encourages women to remember the acronym B.E.A.T.S., a simple guide to potential cancer symptoms:

• Bloating
• Eating less and feeling full quickly
• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Trouble with urination or bowel changes
• See your doctor if symptoms persist

“Listen to your body… go get it checked out,” Leah urges. 

Through her strength, vulnerability, and voice, Leah Alvarez is doing more than surviving, she’s making a difference. On and off the volleyball court, she’s teaching others what it means to fight with heart.