From Cancer Crusader

I get the weekly affirmations from Cancer Crusader and thought I would share this part with you.

And now begin to really live. No prissy, half-hearted living like you were living before. That wasn't really living, and that you doesn't exist anymore. No putting off dreams until tomorrow. Carpe diem. Carpe diem. Carpe that diem now.

Go live your life. Become who you know you're supposed to be. No holding back this time.

In the words of Walt Whitman, "Now voyager,
sail thou forth to seek and find."

And don't you dare say it's too late. If you're reading this, it's not too late. It's only too late for the people who didn't wake up this morning.

Live out loud. Be outrageous. Love fiercely. Laugh and cry at the sheer beauty of it all. And thank whatever god you believe in that you have
another chance to get it right.

Every day, you get another chance.

If you want to read more about Roger and Cathy Crowthan and Cancer Crusader check them out online.

LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Ovarian Cancer Bill introduced in House - contact your Congressman

Info from OCNA: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution Introduced in House	Take Action!
Contact your Representative and request their support!
The National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Resolution (H. RES. 727) was introduced in the House of Representatives expressing support for the ovarian cancer community. The lead sponsors of this Resolution are Mr. Israel (D-NY), Mrs. DeLauro (D-CT), Mr. Burton (R-IN), and Mr. Issa (R-CA). We need many cosponsors to sign onto this bi-partisan Resolution to show the strength of the ovarian cancer community and spread awareness to the American public. Ask your Representative to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by clicking "Take Action" in the top right hand corner or clicking "Go" below. To make the message more personal, please add a sentence or two after the first paragraph about why this resolution and/or ovarian cancer awareness is important to you. LiveSTRONG Dee Every Day is a Blessing!

An Incredible Woman of Teal

Janice and I met three years ago turning Edison teal. ( We were both diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005.) Since then we got together at the Olive Branch to raise funds for her Team JLO and the Sandy Rollman Foundation. We messaged each other on Facebook about hair and side effects of our chemos and the torment of waiting for those scan results. During our chemos this spring, Janice would always leave a message on my wall before I had chemo to say" good luck". We prayed for each other. This year she was in the hospital and unable to join in our annual ribbon hanging but her sons and their wives, an aunt, cousin and friends were there . Last night before going to bed around 12:30am I noticed a missed call on my cell from her son. I was hoping beyond hope that he was calling to set up a time when I could give Janice the Edison proclamation. But that was not the case.

Janice passed away yesterday afternoon. Janice was a wonderful wife , mother, grandmother and friend. She had this great smile and I envied her earring collection. Janice knew how to enjoy life. She delighted in every one of her children and grandchildren. Back in April we agreed that in 2010 we would both be walking together in Fairmount Park with Team JLO. I can't even describe how sad I feel about not being able to plan for that time together.

I was blessed to have Janice in my life.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! I have been blessed by the Lopez family.

"Cocktails for a Cause" Celebrating LiveSTRONG Day and supporting the LAF and CINJ

This is a fabulous way to celebrate LiveSTRONG Day ( Oct. 2,2009) in NJ and support the Cancer Institute of NJ and the LAF!

LiveSTRONG Day is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's one-day initiative to unite people affected by cancer in raising awareness of cancer issues on a global level and in communities across the country.

All proceeds will go to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

WHEN: LIVESTRONG Day is Friday October 2, 2009 - 5:00PM-9:00PM

WHERE: The Beach Bar is located at 28 Boardwalk Seaside Heights, NJ 08751

ADMISSION: FREE

WHAT TO WEAR: WEAR YELLOW! If you already have LIVESTRONG t-shirts wear it, if you do not have LIVESTRONG t-shirt and would like to purchase one or more please visit http://www.store-laf.org/ or you can always just WEAR YELLOW - ANY yellow shirt will work.

The Fun Evening will include:

• FREE food and SPECIALS on drinks,
• A remembrance wall to sign to honor those fighting cancer or in memory of someone you lost to cancer,
• Bracelet links to create a GIANT yellow chain around the bar,
• LIVESTRONG wristbands will be given to all who make a donation,
• 50/50 and Door Prizes.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Lori at Lori_Ditzel@horizonblue.com

LIVESTRONG!

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Wylers Light - Supporting NOCC

Jelsert , the people who make Fla-Vor-Ice and Wylers, is supporting the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition by placing the NOCC seal and contact information on all its packages of Wylers Light. A portion of every purchase will go to support the NOCC and its mission. There a lots of flavors in canisters and single paks.

Looking forward to seeing more products displaying TEAL!

LiveSTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

1.877.OV.HOPE.1 - Free Counseling for Women with Ovarian Cancer

The CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Elizabeth Howard sent this letter:

Today, 1 September 2009,a free counseling and referral service for women with questions about ovarian cancer is in operation. The telephone number is:

1.877.OV.HOPE.1

(877.684.6731)

This new service, named the L’Oréal Paris Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Hope Line,is a unique partnership between OCRF, our corporate partner L’Oréal Paris, and CancerCare,a national non-profit organization that provides counseling20and support services for thoseaffected by cancer.

The L’Oréal Paris OCRF Hope Line will be staffed by CancerCare’s professional oncology social workers, who provide emotional support and practical guidance to assist the women

and their families who are coping with a diagnosis or living with ovarian cancer.

We are grateful to L’Oréal Paris for their ongoing support and for all they do to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, and we look forward to working closely with CancerCare as they initiate this new service.

LiveSTRONG
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.

Thoughts I shared at the Edison Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Press Conference

This morning for the third year in a row, Mayor Jun Choi called a press conference to proclaim Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Edison. Below is a draft of the speech I gave at the press conference.

Thank you Mayor Choi, for giving me another opportunity to talk about ovarian cancer. I am pleased to see Edison be part of the Turn the Towns Teal campaign for the third year in a row.

Why do I come back each year to hang teal ribbons?

My answer is - Sharon, Lyn, & Thelma.

Sharon, Lyn, & Thelma are three friends who lost their lives to ovarian cancer since last September. Then there is Gail - KOH founder and a driving force behind the Turn the Town Teal campaign. Sadly she passed away last year after an eleven year battle with OC.

Then there is Janice and I.

Janice and I are Edison residents and survivors of recurrent ovarian cancer. OC affects not only the women who are diagnosed; but the families and the communities these women are a part of. Janice is unable to be with us today because she is in treatment. Raising Awareness is the reason why the Lopez and Sparacio families and friends return each year to hang Teal ribbons.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In 2005, I along with over 21,000 other women in the United States was diagnosed with OC. Of those ~21000 almost 700 women were diagnosed in NJ.

OC causes more deaths than any other gynecological cancer and it has no screening test. A Pap test does not test for ovarian cancer but rather cervical cancer. It is this lack of a screening test that makes OC awareness in Sept so important.

Research has shown that there are subtle symptoms associated with OC but they are vague and mimic other disorders and diseases. When women see these teal ribbons they should think about these symptoms

Bloating

Abdominal or pelvic pain

Difficulty eating and

Urinary urgency

If those symptoms occur daily for more than a two weeks women should see a doctor, preferably a gynecologist.

I had some weight gain before I was diagnosed but the most predominant symptom was abdominal pain. I mentioned the pain to my gynecologist at my annual physical and after reviewing the results of tests I had she sent me to the gynecological oncologists at Cancer Institute of NJ in New Brunswick. In July 2005 I had surgery and was diagnosed with stage 3 epithelial ovarian cancer. Two weeks later, I entered a clinical trial at CINJ and after 9 cycles I was told I has no sign of disease.

Last October after more than 2 and half-years in remission my cancer returned; this time on my liver and Spleen. Last November I had surgery and in January began chemotherapy finishing in April after having 6 treatments.

Over the past 4 years I became active with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the northern NJ National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and became a board member of the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, which raises funds for ovarian cancer research.

Members of KOH, NOCC their family and friends are making a difference by hanging teal ribbons and raising awareness of Ovarian Cancer throughout NJ.

LiveSTRONG

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.