A crisis of any kind is an unwelcome intrusion upon my very well-orchestrated plans. When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, little did I know how cancer would change the course of my life. I searched for other survivors. But there were no support groups or Gilda’s clubs. Were there other survivors? A friend gave […]
Teal hearts dangled from my lighted mantle in honor of Galentine’s Day—a Zoom Valentine’s Day celebration with fellow ovarian cancer survivors, my teal sisters. The director of the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance (WOCA) invited me to read a few selections from my book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer and then share my writing […]
My cry echoed the cries of many throughout the centuries, culminating in the haunting strains of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” In 2006, my treadmill of holiday festivities sputtered to a halt. Instead of my Christmas letter brimming with the clever antics of beloved children and pets, I announced, “I have ovarian cancer.” Chemotherapy had sapped my stamina, […]
How could anything good come from cancer? As an oncology nurse, I was familiar with the ravages of cancer and chemotherapy. But in 2006, ovarian cancer flung me to the other side of the bed. I dutifully exchanged my nursing scrubs for peekaboo gowns and skid free gripper socks. Instead of threading needles into the […]
I want to thank Tony Gambone for featuring my ovarian cancer story and book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer on Tough Talk Christian Radio September 30. For encouragement and inspiration, check out this program link. http://tobtr.com/s/11812639 In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer is now available in an audiobook […]
Interview with In Her Shoes Narrator Julie Stein
Have you heard the whispers of ovarian cancer? Stop. Listen. Despite my background in oncology nursing, I had missed an ovarian cancer whisper—nausea. Over the course of a few months in 2006, I experienced several bouts of nausea, but I dismissed them as the flu. Fleeting thoughts of ovarian cancer crept into my mind. But […]
In 2006, my Christmas letter neglected to tell the tales of brilliant, talented, and amazing children and pets. Instead, I dropped a bomb–I had ovarian cancer. Bald, fatigued and in pain from chemotherapy, I had to lay aside my usual baking and Christmas decorating traditions. I needed to simplify. What could I delete from my […]
Interview with channel 15 ovarian cancer
“Today my guest is Joanie Shawhan, and she shares how she lived through cancer and chemotherapy.” Cynthia L. Simmons Heart of the Matter Radio