2020 Blogger Challenge

I am pleased to once again accept Nancy Stordahl's invitation to take part in her  Bloh Hop and  Challenge. 

https://nancyspoint.com/calling-all-bloggers-blog-readers-its-a-summer-blog-hop/)

Staying close to home - and enjoying picking local strawberries.

2020 Blog Challenge Questions:

1. Who are you? Tell us whatever you want about you and your blog.

I started blogging in 2007, two years after I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. I had a hard time finding information and support so I decided to start to write about my journey and share important information with other women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

2. What has been your biggest blogging challenge during this pandemic, and how have you been tackling it (or trying to)?

I have only written 11 blog posts since March. I felt guilty writing about ovarian cancer news or personal posts when family, neighbors and friends were dealing with or worried about COVID-19.

It wasn’t until the virtual ASCO Annual meeting that I felt comfortable and I began writing again.  I was able to combine the two topics– COVID-19’s impact on cancer patients and survivors.  

3. What is something you’ve accomplished with your blog that you’re most proud of?

My blog opened doors for me. It led me to amazing opportunities as a patient advocate. Sharing my blog with a wider audience is what prompted me to  join Twitter ( @womenofteal) in 2012. It was the Twitter connection I made with Christina Lisazo  and some gyn oncs and a radiation oncologist that spearheaded the community for those impacted by gynecologic cancer with. Which led me to other advocacy oppo Christina and I created - #gyncsm (gyncsm.blogspot.com) . It also led to other opportunities – co-authoring a book, attending ASCO Annual Meetings and presenting at three medical conferences.

4. Share two of your best blogging tips.

First , it is ok to not click “post” as soon as you are done with writing. Save it, step away and come back to do some finishing touches. I do this because I have chemo brain. Many times, I am unable to find the right word so I usually leave blank spots and come back to it later.

Second, keep an ongoing list of interesting topics / writing prompts for just that time when you are struggling to find a good topic.

5. What is one of your blogging goals this year?

Review and update the pages on my blog.  

6. When things get hard, what keeps you blogging, even if not regularly?

Eventually a research study catches my eye or touches my soul and I say to myself – “You should share this.”

7. What is a dream you have for your blog?

My blog was a dream of mine, so I think it is more my dream of spending more time trying to explain my experience through art. I love to paint and sketch.

8. Share a link to a favorite post you’ve written that you want more people to read.

I wish more cancer patients, survivors caregivers would read about how to take part in Twitter communities and chats. There are so many awesome cancer communities ( #gyncsm , #btcm, bcsm, #lcsm, #ayacsm ) offering information , support and tips to their participants.

http://womenofteal.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-2019-guide-to-twitter.html

If you are a blogger - any  blog topic is acceptable why don't you join us.Check out how to take part in Nancy's post ( link above). And be sure to check out the other blogs in her list. 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Summer Blogger Challenge - Nancy's Point

I have followed Nancy's Point written by Nancy Stordahl for a while now. I  reviewed her book on this blog in 2016. When she posted a blogger challenge I thought - Why not.  So here goes.

How long have you been blogging (or reading blogs)?

I have been blogging since December of 2007. 

How has your blog changed?

This blog originally was more a way to share my experience as a late stage ovarian cancer survivor. As my role as an advocate became more research focused my blog has morphed into more of a place to hear the latest news about ovarian cancer research - from conferences like ASCO, AACR and SGO as well as newly published studies and clinical trial designs. I continued to weave my experience into a few blog posts a year. 

What is your biggest blogging challenge/frustration?

Finding the time to blog. 

What is your favorite post that you’ve written (or read)?

I think it is probably the one I wrote for the 10th Anniversary of writing this blog. http://womenofteal.blogspot.com/2017/12/reaching-milestone-this-blogs-10th.html

What are your goals for your blog? (Why do you read blogs?)

I hope to continue to share information about the latest research and approved drugs for ovarian cancer. 

How many blogs do you read on a regular basis? 

I probably read about a half a dozen - some by individuals I know and some blogs from organizations. 

How do you determine what to share and what not to share; in other words, do you have blog boundaries? (or comment boundaries)

I will only post things of interest to women diagnosed with cancer or relevant to my journey with the disease. I do not share any political commentary although I will share if I have written to Congress about a specific bill of importance to cancer patients. 

When things get hard, what keeps you blogging (or reading blogs)? 

I don't worry about blogging as much as I did initially. Sometimes I place an undue burden on myself such as when I say I will write something new every day during September - Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. I did that twice and it really stressed me out. So I just wait till I get and idea or read something I want to share to blog. 

What is your biggest Cancer Land pet peeve today, right now, this minute?

Biggest peeve - When I read articles online about the latest "cure" and it turns out the treatment has never been tried in humans.  

What one piece of advice would you offer to a new blogger?

Just do it! Start off with a simple layout and write about what is important to you. There is someone else out there who will benefit from what you write. 

Share something most people do not know about you. A secret sort of thing.

I love Disney World and my favorite character is Winnie the Pooh. I can't wait to see the latest movie. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love to paint quilts and dogs with an occasional  landscape. Painting relaxes me and makes me forget my worries.

 Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 

 

Is Cancer A Gift? A Book Review

Have you ever been asked if cancer was a gift?  I’ve thought about how I would answer the question many times. Sometimes I say, yes it has been a gift of sorts. It is not one I would buy myself but having cancer has certainly gifted me with a number of wonderful relationships and opportunities that I would never have had without my ovarian cancer diagnosis. Other times, I think cancer is the worst part of my life. I hate it and the organs it has taken, the lives it has taken, and the pain it still inflicts ten years later. 

Nancy Stordahl (@NancysPoint) writes the blog, Nancy’s Point (www.NancysPoint.com). I‘ve followed her on Twitter and read her blog for a few years. Recently she published a memoir about  being diagnosed with breast cancer. Nancy decided to take on the question of whether or not cancer is a gift not only inside her book but in it's title, Cancer Was Not a Gift & It Didn’t Make Me a Better Person. 

Why would I, an ovarian cancer survivor, want to read a book about breast cancer? What I’ve found over the past ten years is that regardless of the type of cancer, the lives of a person diagnosed with cancer or who had a loved one diagnosed with cancer have many things in common.  I also have a personal connection with breast cancer. Both my sister and my maternal aunt passed away from the disease. Lastly,  I wanted to hear Nancy's reasons for stating cancer was not a gift in her title. I already knew she disliked the term journey. (I use the term journey all the time to describe the time since my diagnosis ten years ago.)

Last week, I picked up the book and began reading. It was as if I had met Nancy for a cup of tea and she was telling me about herself  growing up, falling in love, facing her mother's cancer and her own. Although we grew up in different parts of the US our childhoods were similar. She was the youngest of three sisters as was I. We differ in that she had a younger brother.  Early in the book she described weaving Juicy Fruit gum wrappers into chains. I remember doing the same thing. I could smell the sweetness of the gum as I read that part of the book.  That was it , I couldn't put the book down.

Nancy chose to not only write about her breast cancer diagnosis (2010) in this memoir but also her mother's breast cancer diagnosis (2004).  She poignantly describes her mom's experience. She talks about learning of the BRCA2 mutation in her family and the impact this knowledge had on her and her family.  Reading the book you can feel the love Nancy had for her mother and how important it was for Nancy to be at her mother's side as her health declined.  Once again I felt this strong connection.  I thought about the last few days of my Aunt Dora's life. I also felt this strong need to be with her till the end. It just so happens that her mother's birthday is the same day as my Aunt's birthday - June 8th.

When Nancy learns that she has breast cancer she shares with the reader her darkest feelings of loneliness and fear.  She expresses her concern about hair loss and ability to work during treatment and she grieves the loss of her breasts in a way that we all can relate to. But her book is not gloomy rather it is frank. It is a story of a life. The loving relationship she has with husband and family is weaved into her story. Her need to protect them from the damage being caused by the "Deleterious  Mutation" and to have them understand her feelings of loss and fear is apparent. As is her love of her two dogs, her " secret keepers " who console her as she cries. 

 

She speaks about her role as caregiver and as patient.  She describes the waiting rooms with "answers to cancer in tidy 4x8  pamphlets. " and  how patients are asked to be "more adaptable than machines". She describes the actions of the doctors and nurses who get it right. And points out the ones whose don't.  A quick, "You'll be fine" on exiting the room may not be what a patient needs to hear. You are so right, Nancy.

I could go on and offer you more examples of why I loved this book so much but I want you to go to the order page on Nancy's site, order it, read it. This way you can smile, laugh and cry like I did as Nancy shares her story with you. 

"Cancer does not define me, not totally anyway." Very true, Nancy.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! Blessed to have Nancy share her story with the world.