Saul and Marsha Rivkin

There was a time when Saul Rivkin thought he knew all there was to know about women's cancers. An oncologist at Swedish Medical Center, Rivkin did research, saw patients, trained young doctors.

But after decades as a cancer expert, Dr. Rivkin was caught completely off-guard when Marsha, his wife of 25 years, and mother of their five daughters, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.

“A terrible surprise, yes. She was in the prime of her life. Stage 3 cancer all of sudden,” he said.

All of a sudden, cancer became a personal enemy. The Rivkins fought it aggressively, using every tool at their disposal, including two bone marrow transplants.

“Anytime we'd ask my dad, ‘Is mom going to die?’ he would answer, ‘we're all going to die,’” said Melissa Rivkin.

“I was always confident, but toward the end it seemed unrealistic that she'll be cured. Just as to keep her alive as long as possible,” said Dr. Rivkin.

“As long as possible" meant four years. Marsha died in 1993. Their youngest daughter was just 11.

“I still cry … how many years later,” said Dr. Rivkin.

 “Yeah, that was really a very tough time for him. And actually for the whole staff that worked with him,” said Rivkin’s former nurse, Shirley Gough.

Shirley remembers how Dr. Rivkin then turned his grief into a living legacy for his wife. He started the Marsha Rivkin Ovarian Cancer Center, the first of its kind anywhere.

“Our goal is to cure ovarian cancer, to prevent it,” said Dr. Rivkin.

The center enrolls patients, collects tissue samples for research, and through events like the "Swedish Summer Run," has raised millions of dollars over 12 years.

The money is given to researchers all over the country who are on Dr. Rivkin's side of the cancer war.

“A blood test, ultrasound, immune test, anything to catch it early. And treat it early. Because if you find ovarian cancer early, it's curable,” he said.

"Dr. Rivkin's passion has not lessened at all over the years; if anything it's increased," said Gough.

At age 70, Rivkin says he's learned there's a lot more about cancer we need to learn. One day, he wants to see his personal enemy defeated.

“We haven't cured it yet, but yes I'm very happy,” he said.