A firestorm blasted my world. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Firestorms—those unexpected, devastating losses that disrupt our lives. It may be the loss of a loved one, health, job, home or dream. The derailment may be temporary or have lasting effects. How do we not only survive but also overcome these catastrophes? During the […]
Everywhere I go I am reminded of Christmas: lights twinkle, trees sparkle, bells chime, shoppers scurry and Christmas carols ring out the joy of the season. Wreaths with cheery red bows adorn the entrances of my neighbors’ homes. I stare at my bare door as I enter my home devoid of Christmas decor. My fireplace […]
Do you find it hard to be grateful? Sometimes the challenges we face make it difficult to feel thankful. When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I was not overcome with gratitude. But I was grateful that I could turn to a God who loved me and had a plan for my life. Ingratitude is […]
We are women. We love shoes. Our closets are chock-full: stilettos, flats, platforms, sandals, flip-flops, tennies, boots, athletic shoes. For each occasion we agonize over our perfect outfit right down to our feet. Sometimes it’s a delicate balance of comfort versus fashion. Women with ovarian cancer have trod in all of these shoes. We come […]
Stop. Listen! Do you hear the whispers of ovarian cancer? This insidious disease assaults over 20,000 unsuspecting women per year and is the most lethal of all female cancers. Since there are no screening tests, it is often diagnosed in the latter stages. As an oncology nurse, it’s a tragedy I’d witnessed too many times. […]
Coffee in hand, the 3rd year medical students wander into the conference room and take their seats across from us. We are ovarian cancer survivors. Today, the three of us are presenting to their class. We follow the guidelines from Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives® program sponsored by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Our […]
“Bald is beautiful,” said the young woman on the television screen as she proudly displayed her shaved head. I was not alone. She had also braved chemotherapy as a result of ovarian cancer. During the entire course of my treatment, television stations aired this commercial. I held onto this message like a child clutching a […]
Today we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day. Nearly 10 years ago ovarian cancer plunged me into its murky sea. Sometimes I felt like I was drowning. Choking, sputtering, I struggled to lift my head above the waters of cancer and chemotherapy. Breathe, breathe. But once again, waves of fear pummeled me as the side effects […]
As a former oncology nurse, I had vowed that I would never undergo chemotherapy. I had witnessed too many devastating side effects suffered by my patients. But when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I knew that like my patients, I needed to go through the process. Dark shadows of fear skulked the path of […]
This week is American Camp Week. Nestled in the Rockies near Missoula Montana, Camp Mak-A-Dream exceeded expectations for ovarian cancer survivors last summer. Cabins dot the hillside, and there we bunked together. After a full day of activities, we encouraged one another as we shared our cancer stories. We tackled the physical challenges offered by […]
