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For me, 13 is a lucky number. I lived for over thirty years in a home with an address number of 13. And today, I celebrate writing this blog, all 1147 posts, over the past 13 years.
As I approached this blogging anniversary I admit I have been thinking that it may be time to stop blogging. There have been many times over the past year when I had writer's block. I just couldn't come up with an idea that I thought would interest my readers or provide any insight into living and surviving ovarian cancer.
Being so many years out of treatment, I was starting to feel that my experience was no longer relevant to women who now have options to use Bevacizumab or Parp Inhibitors as maintenance therapies. I could read about the different types of therapies but I never took any maintenance therapy. This year women are struggled not only with a cancer diagnosis but having treatment during Covid -19. I did go for my annual cancer center visit in September but my appointment was never delayed or impacted in any way by COVID 19.
Then a few things happened.
I have had the opportunity to speak to two women on a monthly basis since July as a Cancer Hope Network volunteer. (I've been a CHN volunteer for over 10 years now.) While I can't share their stories, I will share that when I called them last week to wish them a Merry Christmas, one had good news because of good scan results while the other had not such good news. Yet both were glad I called so they could share their news. Both thanked me for listening and being available to answer their questions.
Then a women diagnosed with ovarian cancer reached out to me via direct message on Twitter. I answered a few of her questions and said I have written a blog for a number of years if she would like to read it and shared the link with her. A few days later I got another DM from her and she commented on how reading a few posts were so helpful.
Lastly, a fellow cancer advocate commented on my previous post "Stay the Course". She said "So often we think we have to do something huge or make sweeping changes. Sometimes, "staying the course" is enough. "
So I will do just that. I will stay the course and continue to write this blog in the hopes that I reach just one woman.
May all my readers have a Happy and Healthy and Safe 2021 !
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing.
2 comments:
I'm starting my third year taking Zjulia and will find out results of my annual scans tomorrow. Yes, stay the course. I found out years ago I have the BRCA 1 gene mutation and recently the third of my the daughters was tested and also found to be positive... So, 3 out of 3 are positive. Makes me sad, but I'm so thankful that options are available that were barely though of 10 years ago. Stay well!
Hi Karen,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, treatments options have improved over the past 10+ years. I am so happy to see these develop.
Stay safe and Happy New Year!
Dee
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