Sherry Pollex (L), girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr. (R) points out a friend as the two walk down the pit row before Truex's qualifying for the Winn-Dixie 250 Busch Series NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida June 30,
Sherry Pollex (L), girlfriend of Martin Truex Jr. (R) points out a friend as the two walk down the pit row before Truex's qualifying for the Winn-Dixie 250 Busch Series NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida June 30, 2006. REUTERS/Mark Wallheiser REUTERS

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr.'s girlfriend Sherry Pollex has valiantly shared her battle with ovarian cancer in a recent interview. Pollex revealed how their life changed forever after she had been diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer in August.

Pollex told Mike Hembree of USA Today that she used to be on the run all the time. Aside from managing her business, a clothing boutique called Lavendar, she also deals with Truex's foundation and always travel with him. Thus, when Pollex was diagnosed with cancer unexpectedly, everything changed. She said that the biggest adjustment for her was to pause from her busy life and be calm in the midst of the challenging battle in their lives.

Pollex had immediately gone through surgery after the diagnosis. Truex missed out on practice and qualifying sessions at Michigan International Speedway just to be with Pollex. Truex told Hembree that it has been a rollercoaster ride since then. He said that they go through all kinds of difficult emotions and even couldn't fathom why such it happened to them.

Truex said that he was shocked to learn about Pollex's cancer at first. He said that it had made him quickly realise the significance of things around him. "All this stuff I've been mad about before and thought was a big deal, it's nothing," Truex said.

Pollex reportedly started feeling six in August. She had gone through several specialists, but they could pin point exactly what was wrong with her. Until, a doctor asked her to do a CT scan. They were told she had Stage III (Stage IV is the most severe) ovarian cancer a couple of hours later.

Pollex and Truex were beginning to entertain the idea of having their first child. Initially, Pollex thought she was feeling ill because she might be pregnant.

Pollex's main concern after she was told about her disease was her egg cells. However, the doctor told her that the first thing she needed to worry about was her life. She had to go through surgery right away or else, she would die. "I don't know what hit me worse, the devastation that I couldn't carry my own child or the devastation that I had Stage III cancer," Pollex said. She said it was hard to sink everything in.

Pollex's appendix, spleen, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and part of her stomach were removed. She stayed in the hospital for eight days after the operation and started her weekly chemotherapy treatments a month later. She needs to continue her chemotherapy treatments until January 2015.

While she gets treatment, Pollex continues her work with Truex's foundation, which helps children battle pediatric cancer. She also hopes to raise more awareness about ovarian cancer. Team Sherry shirts are available on Americarnatv.com. All proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go Teal Diva, an ovarian and gynecologic cancer survivor's organisation.

Truex and Pollex have been together for nine years now. Pollex is the daughter of PPC Racing owner Greg Pollex.

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