September is OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

I am not sure where the month of August went and here we are starting September. If you have followed me for any period of time you are probably already aware that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Teal is the awareness color for ovarian cancer. 

Teal Awareness Ribbon for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 

 Let me start with these important facts:

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer. 

Approximately 20,890 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the US in 2025. *

Approximately 12,730 women will die in the US in 2025 due to  ovarian cancer.* 

 

I have been an advocate for ovarian cancer research for 15+ years.  While we have made strides in treatments( VEGF inhibitors, Anti-body drug conjugates,  immunotherapies) there is no cure.  That is why raising funds for research is so important. 

This year due to NIH funding cuts raising awareness of ovarian cancer and more importantly funds for research take on a greater urgency. I will be posting symptom and risk information as well as other resources throughout the month in my small effort to raise awareness.  

I will be raising funds for research this year by walking on Sept 28, 2025 at the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation walk at Loantaka Brook Park in Morristown. Join me, my family and friends as we walk as Team Determined. We are walking to honor the memory of a dear friend, Mary Lu, who passed away in July due to ovarian cancer. Donate to Team Determined at https://www.classy.org/team/766060. 

If you live in other areas of the country, check to see if there will be walks or other fundraising events being run by ovarian cancer organizations by you. Or donate to support research through OCRA or Foundation for Women's Cancer .

Thank you in advance. 

 Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!  

* https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/key-statistics.html

 

 

Walking Alone But With A Purpose

September is ovarian cancer as well as gynecologic cancer awareness month. Each year since my diagnosis, I commit to doing an activity related to raising awareness and funds for research. This year on Sept 8th I registered for and walked the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation Walk in Morristown, NJ. Since 2006, I have been involved with KOH through walking, serving on the Board of the Foundation and donating to support research. 

It was a cool crisp September morning with a beautiful blue sky when I arrived at the park to walk. I said hello to a number Board members and other supporters I have known for years. This year, I was planning to walk with a friend who is currently in treatment for a recurrence of ovarian cancer but she was unable to join me.  As the DJ played music and the Board members welcomed everyone to the event the families and teams including dogs wearing teal gathered at the starting line.  

I waited behind a bit and then I started to walk by myself. I got passed a few times by others but I continued to walk the paved path through the woods. There was so much to see!  

There was a great blue heron that flew over, a white heron by one of the three ponds I passed,  a golden retriever puppy being trained in the open area by the pond, different types of wild flowers  trees, and fungus. The time alone gave me time to reflect. I thought how walking alone - though surrounded by lots of other people - was similar to facing  an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Even though we can have a wonderful caregiver, and support from family and friends, we face our diagnosis alone. We may discuss with our doctors treatment options but we ultimately make that final decision. We get brought into surgery by ourselves. We enter the CT machine by ourselves. We may even read our test results on the portal by ourselves. The choices we have to make are not always easy but women make the best decisions they can. 

I got about 2 miles from the start and decided it was time to turn around. I walked a short way back and ran into a friend and his son. His wife died from ovarian cancer a few years ago. It was good to catch up with them. And I thought to myself how good it is to have the support and love of family and friends when you are diagnosed with cancer even if we face so much alone.

Special thanks to my family and friends who donated over $500 in support of ovarian cancer research.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

A Radio Interview !

 

Alka Agrawal and I met through the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey's Cancer Community Action Board. Alka is the general manager of EBC Radio 1170 radio located in Monmouth Junction, NJ.

EBC Radio is the largest South Asian radio station in the United States through radio,  app and website. They have over 500,000 listeners.

Alka invited me to tell her listeners about my experience with ovarian cancer and the importance of raising awareness of ovarian cancers and all gynecologic cancers during September, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month. I was a bit nervous at first having never been on the radio before but Alka made me feel comfortable.  I shared how I was diagnosed, considered a clinical trial and my cancer treatments. I also shared my involvement in cancer advocacy.  I spoke mainly about ovarian cancer but did talk about the five main gynecologic cancers - ovarian, uterine/endometrial, cervical,vaginal and vulvar.

I was honored to share my story with the South Asian community in NJ and across the country through EBC Radio.

If you click the arrow below you may listen to a clip from my interview. Correction : The American Cancer Society estimates that ~ 19,710 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer the US in 2023. They also estimate that ~650 women in NJ will be diagnosed with the disease. That would be 3% not 1/3.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Mixed Feelings During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. 

There is so much more information available today for women to learn and be aware of the disease than back in 2005 when I was first diagnosed .Ovarian cancer organizations are doing awareness campaigns and raising funds for research this month and throughout the year. I makes me so happy to see graphics like these on social media. (NOCC, OCRA, Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance and  Norma Leah Ovarian Cancer Initiative. 

 

Don't get me wrong I am so happy there is a month to highlight Gynecologic Cancers and  Ovarian Cancer in particular. But being a survivor during this month can be difficult. It brings a wide range of emotions from happiness to sadness to feelings of anxiety and gratefulness. It doesn't help that September is also the month for my annual visit to see my gyn onc.

It is a time where thoughts of my diagnosis, recurrence and treatments are front and center - every single day. 

It brings back memories of what it felt like to hear I had stage 3 ovarian cancer. I remember the issues I had  recovering from surgery, all the side effects from chemo and trying to find a new way to live as a cancer survivor. I think about feeling good about having a normal CA-125 yet finding out that a  CT scan showed a recurrence. I think about the decision I made to do surgery first and then chemo when I recurred. I think about the time I spent in the hospital when I had a serious reaction to the Carboplatin I took during recurrence.  I think about my feelings while in the hospital when I realized that I could no longer use a treatment that was the best for me. 

I am sad when I think about women who lost their lives to ovarian cancer through these past 16 years as I continued moving forward:

Gail, Lois, Sandy, Grace, Erika, Pamela, Rita Kay, Carol, Jean, Janice, Terry W, Shari...

I think of the women I have spoken to as a peer to peer support person for Cancer Hope Network. There  are some I no longer have to call or email. The connections are strong even if the only thing we had in common was our disease.

I think of my fellow survivors who deal every day with side effects from treatment and fear of recurrence.  There are those who have had multiple recurrences and have had multiple different types of treatment We support each other because we "get it". Thank you to each and every one of them in my little network in NJ and online. 

 I am grateful for the gynecologic oncologists, nurse practitioners, social workers and pharmacist who treat women. And lastly I am grateful for all those researchers who chose to make their life's work understand how ovarian cancer develops and spreads and the best way to treat it. 

So as I work through these feeling during this year's awareness month, I wish you good health. 

Take care,

Dee

Every Day is a blessing! I am blessed to have family by my side through it all.

 

OC Awareness Month and Memories

This September seems to be flying by. It is hard to believe that we are already at day 10 of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

In the past, I would post almost every day about symptoms, types of ovarian cancers, genetic mutations in ovarian cancer, treatments, awareness organizations, and fundraisers. This year since I missed 10 days already, I will shoot for 4 - one per week.

This year is different in so many ways due to the COVID -19 pandemic. Educational events are postponed, cancelled or offered online. Fundraising events involving large crowds are not taking place. Instead there are banquets and auctions on Zoom. Walks, runs and rides to raise funds for research are all virtual.  I won't be walking with family and friends on the boardwalk to support research through the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Instead I will be walking by myself, mask on, around my town on Saturday, September 26th.

While we don't yet have a screening test for ovarian cancer, I am happy to see some progress being made in treatments for women with ovarian cancer using PARP inhibitors. I am excited to see teal ribbons in towns in every state in the nation. (Teal is the awareness color of ovarian cancer.) I love to see photos of buildings and bridges outlined in teal lights. Survivors and their families are doing their best to raise funds and awareness of the disease by painting their nails and toes teal, wearing teal ribbon pins and earrings and teal t-shirts and tying teal ribbons around trees and lightposts.

To be honest with you though as much as this month makes me smile with all the teal and fundraising but it also makes me sad. Over the past fifteen years, friendships with many women who were also ovarian cancer survivors came easy. We met at in-person support groups or on Facebook or Twitter or the old ACOR listserv. We volunteered to serve on Boards of local OC awareness organizations. We sat at the same table at fundraising events and would hang awareness ribbons. Many of my friend's lives were cut short due to ovarian cancer, taken too soon from their families and their communities. Janice Lopez is one of those teal women . 

Sparacio and Lopez Families

Our families would gather together in late August to hang teal ribbons in Edison, NJ. We were both diagnosed in 2005 with similar symptoms. We sported our short haircuts together as we hung ribbons back in 2008. But on September 6th, eleven years ago ovarian cancer took her from her family. To honor her they formed the Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation. They continue to raise funds for research  and I continue to support their mission.

This year Elie, (in the stroller in the photo) Janice's granddaughter created a PSA for her family's Foundation. Please take a moment to watch. 

I urge you to support ovarian cancer research this month. You can make a difference and save women's lives.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

A Multitude of Feelings

September came to an end at here we are at almost the midpoint of October. I had been thinking about this post for quite a long time now but was unsure of how to even begin.

In a book I was reading by Elizabeth Berg one of the characters stated she had a multitude of feelings and I thought to myself that is just what I need to call my post about September.

September brings a multitude of feelings to me. I love the Fall so the crisp cooler air is wonderful.  The September of 2005 I was just getting my head around being diagnosed with stage 3b ovarian cancer. I was in 2nd / 3rd cycle of chemotherapy and I remember the windows being open and hearing kids outside playing while I rested.

September also brings out the teal ribbons and walks and other events to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. I have seen an increase in the number of buildings that turn teal so many times during September and that makes me happy.

 At one event I to took part in I told a story about how the support group at my cancer center started and I felt proud to be a part of exactly the type of support other women diagnosed with ovarian cancer need. I was so happy to talk about my gyn oncs who spearheaded my advocacy work by pointing me toward the LiveSTRONG organization.  But during the talk I also mentioned my sister who died from breast cancer in 1995. Right as I said those words I knew I was tearing up.  I had to stop take a big deep breath and continue. Yes,  all these years later I still miss picking up the phone and talking to her.

At the final KOH walk, while walking along the Jersey shore boardwalk I was overwhelmed by the fact that here it was 2019 and I was alive. I had beat the odds and in the 35% of women diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer who lived 5 years. And I felt grateful for my family and friends and especially my "teal sisters"  who walk this cancer journey with me. They understand how years later I can still be anxious and even scared when I need bloodwork or have a doctor visit. Sure I deal with neuropathy , digestive issues and chemo brain but gosh darn it I am still here!

I was glad going into the last event a fundraiser to support research in Ovarian Cancer at my cancer center. This one was run by my friends at Graceful Hope Foundation. Seeing the support and old friends was wonderful. But there is always that time during the dinner when we have to remember those women who died due to ovarian cancer . And they mentioned Dawn. And it hit me again I shook my head up and down and teared up as I thought we lost yet another wonderful mother , sister and friend . It is sad to think back to all the women brought together by this disease who were my friends -  Gail, Lois, Patty, Sharon, Pam, Rita Kay, Carole, Janice, Corinne, Linda Ellen, Jayne and many more.

Even after so many years I experience a multitude of feelings in September.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

You Need to Know That...

An estimated 22,530 women will be diagnosed in the U. S. in 2019 

An estimated 13,980 women will die from the disease in 2019. 

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer.

There are symptoms:

Bloating, 

Feeling Full quickly, 

Frequent Urination, 

Abdominal/ Pelvic Pain, 

Fatigue

A women's risk of ovarian cancer in the U.S. is 1 in 7. 

The risks to develop ovarian cancer are :

Middle age or older ( half of the women diagnosed are over 63 yrs.)

BRCA mutation or Lynch Syndrome

Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish 

Have endometriosis

Never gave birth

Sources: CDC, American Cancer Society , OCRA

I hope you will consider sharing this information and donating to support ovarian cancer research. Thanks! 

Dee
Every day is a Blessing!

What Will You Do During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?

September is right around the corner.

Did you know that September is Gyn Cancer Awareness Month in the US? Gynecologic cancers include Ovarian  Cervical, Vaginal, Vulvar, Endometrial/Uterine, Primary Peritoneal and Fallopian Tube cancers.

During September things can get really busy as the number of awareness events increases exponentially.

On Wednesday, September 11th the #gyncsm community, which I co-founded with Christina Lizaso, will celebrate the community's 6th Anniversary. Our topic will be The Breast and Ovarian Cancer Connection. Join us and a representative from the National Society of Genetic Counselors at 9pm Eastern Time.

This year there are a number of awareness and fundraising events in NJ that you can participate in.

I already mentioned the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Patient Education event on September 12thin the previous blog post. Check it out here.

There is an Education event sponsored by Summit Medical Group on September 7, 2019. For more info and to register  call 908-277-8889 or sign up online at: summitmedicalgroup.com/events 
 

 As for walks I will be doing the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundations walk in Bradley Beach on September 28, 2019. They also hold a walk in Morristown ( Sept. 15) and Lyndhurst (Sept. 22) . Check their website ( https://kohnj.org/funded-research/) for research they have supported.
If you would like to donate to the walk please visit https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/2226659

The NJ Chapter of NOCC is joining the Downtown West Orange Alliance for the  Mayor's 5 K and Walk. You can find more information at http://ovarian.org/component/events/event/955

The Teal Tea is holding Falling For Teal Fashion Show on Sept 22nd. You may find more info at https://www.tealtea.org/event-falling-for-teal-fashion-show .

Graceful Hope will be holding their 6th Annual benefit dinner to benefit Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ in Elizabeth on September 28th. See their Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/GRACEfulHope/

For my Central and South Jersey Friends , the Sandy Rollman Foundation is holding a number of events in September including an Ovarian Cancer Awareness night at the Phillies (9/12) , a General Hospital Philly events (9/14) and OvaryAct Gala (9/20). Please check their website for more information ( https://sandyovarian.org/ ).

Of course you can help raise awareness by hanging teal ribbons. See the Turn the Towns Teal website for how you can help ( https://www.turnthetownsteal.org/ ).

If you are holding an event in NJ to raise awareness or funds for research . Please let me know and I will update this post.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Raising Awareness with an Ocean View

Due to personal commitments and a knee injury it took me until the end of September before I could take part in an in-person event for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I have been taking part in Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation walks for almost 10 years now. Why do I choose these walks in particular? ( There are three KOH walks a year in NJ.) As a cancer research advocate I strongly support KOH foundation because it focuses on raising funds to find an early detection test and better treatments of ovarian cancer research.

This third KOH walk took place on the Boardwalk in Avon-by-the-Sea and continued into neighboring Belmar. It was a beautiful day for a walk. Although I didn't walk based on the advice of my physical therapist my husband registered and walked 5 miles.

It was wonderful meeting up with the ovarian cancer survivors I have gotten to know but at the same time it was bitter sweet as  I remembered Erika, Grace, Carole, Gail M., Lois, Shari, and Pam.

Enjoy these photos.

The beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

President Lynn welcoming the walkers

Symptom signs were found on the beach.

A bagpipe group leads the returning walkers

One of many signs.

Passing of the torch from Ovarian to Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dee 

Every Day is a Blessing!

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Reflections

Earlier today I took part in a #WEGOHealthChat. The topic was how advocates share their story online. I tweeted that I felt being sincere and sharing both the physical and emotional side was important.

I should practice what I preach. So here I go. Let's talk about September - Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Having a month dedicated to all gynecologic cancers and ovarian cancer in particular makes me very happy.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness month is a good thing. Women, young and old and their primary care physicians need to be aware of the disease and its symptoms. Read more about the symptoms here .

I enjoy seeing TEAL, the awareness color of ovarian cancer,  on buildings, bridges, billboards and on ribbons all over town. I found teal on my vacation.

Teal quilt at the Oregon Trail Museum

The awareness walks and other events that raise funds for ovarian cancer research are also important. You can find OCRFA partners as well as NOCC Chapters running events in most states in the US this month.  Research is key to finding a cure and more effective treatments and some of these events are ways to raise funds for research. There were few events in NJ when I was first diagnosed in 2005. This year,  I could take part in an awareness / fundraising event every weekend and even during the week. I appreciate all the work being done by these organizations to support women diagnosed with all types of ovarian cancer.  If my knee cooperates, I hope to be walking later this month in the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation Valerie O'Rouke Foley Avon walk,  which raises funds for research.

But I am going to be honest with you I don't always feel happy.  There are times during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month when I feel SAD. I am sad when I look at my blog's Memorial Wall and see the names of  50 women and this only includes women I knew in real life not others I interacted with but I never met.

And  I am sad when I see those "walking in memory of " signs you wear during awareness walks.  I love being honored when friends add me to their "walking in honor of" list but I miss my friends. I miss Carole, Pam, Rita Kay, Lois, Courtney and so many others.

The first year the Stand-Up to Cancer show was broadcast, I was happy to see such a strong focus on cancer research. As my advocacy work increased I made friends with many who were diagnosed with cancers other then ovarian. Some even attended the broadcast.  Even now I am glad to see the  research being supported by this event but when I see the some of the presentations and hear the stories, I feel overwhelmed with sadness for those no longer with us. This year I didn't watch the Stand-Up to Cancer show. I decided I needed to take a break.

Is it "survivors guilt"? Maybe. Once the month ends I am sure the emotions I feel now will cease.  They usually do.

Do any other survivors feel happiness along with sadness this month?


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

I Took a Break

September,  Ovarian Cancer Awareness month is a very emotionally and physically draining month for me. I spend a good deal of time thinking about and talking about ovarian cancer - symptoms, treatments, statistics. I posted to this blog every day as well as shared information from other organizations  in daily promotions on Facebook and Twitter. I attended fundraising walks and other events to raise funds for ovarian cancer research.

In the middle of the month I had an appointment with my gyn onc for my 6 month check-up. I also had a CT scan since my CA-125 has been creeping. I dealt with so many emotions including the fear I might have recurred. The exam and CT report were good so I am set for 6 more months.

But during this month of ovarian cancer, I remembered. I remembered women who became my friends over the past 12 years who have died because of this disease - like Janice, Carol, Jane, Sherry and the list goes on. It made me angry and sad.

I know that when that happens I need to take a break. And that is what I did. I stepped away and concentrated on family ( visits with kids and grandsons)  and other non-cancer things such as beginning work on two paintings. I recharged my batteries to begin my advocacy work again.

And then last week,  I got this in the mail !

As a Patient Advocate Member of ASCO I was chosen as a 2016 Advocacy Champion - Speaker's Club for legislative advocacy work ( e-mails , tweets and blog posts)  that I did for ASCO on cancer research and funding issues in 2016. I don't do what I do to be recognized but it felt good to be appreciated.

If you are a patient advocate you should consider joining ASCO. You will be able to network with the top oncologists in the world and stay on top of the latest research in precision medicine.  Check out this membership page for more information https://www.asco.org/membership. 

I'll be posting more ovarian cancer research news in a few days.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Day 26 A Month of Teal : Twitter Images for Advocacy

I use twitter to raise awareness of ovarian cancer both as an individual and as the co-moderator of the #gyncsm ( gyn cancer social media) chat.  Over the past few weeks I have compiled a few Tweets which shared informative images. Thank you OCRFA, SGO, NOCC, Foundation for Women's Cancer and the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation for these images.

1 in 75 women will develop #ovariancancer in her lifetime. RT to raise awareness. Full infographic: https://t.co/zwyObnxGFP #30DaysofTeal pic.twitter.com/Y5Cp5A37uU

— ocrfa (@ocrfa) September 13, 2017

Full image

Know the risk factors of ovarian cancer. Retweet this graphic to save a life! #knowovarian #nocc pic.twitter.com/xOXNqowO9l

— Natl Ovarian Cancer (@NOCC_National) September 18, 2017

We are proud to join the @NOCC_National to help bring awareness to the deadliest of all gynecological cancers. #KnowOvarian #OvarianCancer pic.twitter.com/No5JPODPvX

— Stand Up To Cancer (@SU2C) September 11, 2017

Not enough women know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Share this image to save a life! #knowovarian #nocc pic.twitter.com/F7aqi6u5gT

— Natl Ovarian Cancer (@NOCC_National) September 4, 2017

Do you know the five main gynecologic cancers? #sharethepurplelove #GCAM #EndWomensCancer pic.twitter.com/YqtwCCvygV

— FdtnForWomensCancer (@GYNCancer) September 15, 2017

Do you know the symptoms of #ovariancancer? #sharethepurplelove #EndWomensCancer #GCAM pic.twitter.com/vDSl8Z3CPq

— FdtnForWomensCancer (@GYNCancer) September 11, 2017

Celebrate the survivor in your life during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (#GCAM) https://t.co/LGlpcKA6vU

— SGO (@SGO_org) September 7, 2017

#Philly don't miss this sight one week from today as #boathouserow goes teal for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! It's breathtaking! pic.twitter.com/ypXuDcJ0BM

— Sandy Rollman FDN (@srocf) September 13, 2017

Ladies. This Stat is Shocking! @srocf @RobinSCohen Want U 2 Know! RT RT RT Until blue in the Face. pic.twitter.com/eW9TkvxRSw

— William deVry (@WilliamdeVry1) September 11, 2017

Have you seen any photos or graphics that you feel have helped to raise awareness this month? Please share a link in the comments below.  

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

A Month of Teal - Ovarian and Gyn Cancer Awareness Month

Hello September!

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness (#OCAM) month as well as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (#GCAM) . Today, September 1st is National Wear Teal* Day. I am sporting some teal toes. What are you wearing that is teal?  

Feel free to share the graphic below, which I created, with your friends on social media. 

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
*Teal is the  awareness color for ovarian cancer.

September - A Busy Awareness Month

Earlier today I realized that almost 30 days have gone by without posting to this blog. My best laid plans to keep up with posting just did not work out.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This year more so than in the past I spent a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter posting information about awareness events and information on ovarian cancer. I posted for myself as Women of Teal (@womenofteal) and for the Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation (KOH) (@koh_nj) .

In addition to the work I did at home on the computer I also attended two KOH events as well as an event that my friends, the Lopez family, held for their foundation, the Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

On Sept 18th I manned the Survivors Table at KOH's Gail MacNeil Morristown Walk. There were special survivor t-shirts, beads and notebooks for survivors. I was so happy to meet eight women who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I created a large kaleidoscope image that the women could sign with their date of diagnosis. Eleven women who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer signed the image.

I also got a pleasant surprise. I was awarded the KOH Spirit of Courage Award.

Some of the many walkers at the Gail MacNeil Morristown KOH Walk

Lynn Franklin , President of KOH awarded me the Spirit of Hope Award. 

The next Saturday I attended the Avon-by-the-Sea KOH walk, once again manning the Survivor Table. The day was rainy but that did not stop over 700 walkers from walking the boardwalk at the Jersey shore to help raise funds for ovarian cancer research.

Walkers on the beach waiting for the walk to start.

Bagpipes on the Boardwalk.

I was so happy to add more names to the kaleidoscope image.

Then on Sunday, September 25th, I attended the Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation 3rd Concert for the Cure. It was an amazing afternoon listening to the Encore Orchestra of NJ and some amazing Broadway vocalists. Once again I was blessed to be honored by the Foundation and received their first Teal Champion Award.

What a month for me!  I appreciate the awards and being able to share some fun times with my husband and friends. Yet there were times during this month that I felt sad. Sad because so many women who were my friends and advocacy colleagues were not with me at these events as they had been in the past.  I missed Carole, Janice, Gail, Pam and others. It is in their memory that the advocacy work that I do takes on a special meaning for me.


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

NJ Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Events

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. You can raise awareness and funds for research by taking part in one of these events held throughout the state of NJ. Organization's whose events are featured in this post include: Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation, The NOCC New Jersey Chapter and The Teal Tea Foundation.

If you are organizing an  event in NJ please e-mail me and I will include your information in this post.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation 
Sunday Sept. 25,2016

3rd Annual Concert for a Cure - The Encore Orchestra of NJ

Purchase tickets online at http://www.jlocf.org/

~~~~

Kaleidoscope of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation Events:



Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 - The Gail MacNeil Morristown Walk
Loantaka Brook Reservation, 468 South St. Entrance, Morristown, NJ
 DOGS WELCOME! 
 
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 -  Avon Walk
On the Boardwalk at 600 Ocean Avenue, Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ
Sorry, no dogs allowed - Special Passing The Torch presentation  (see below)

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 - The Diane Castle Lyndhurst Walk -
Richard W. DeKorte Park,  Valleybrook Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ
Sorry, no dogs allowed

Online registration : http://kohnj.org/walkathon.html

~~~~~
 
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition-NJ Chapter Events:

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016
Sky Blue FC / NOCC Night

Buy tickets on this website:
www.tiny.cc/GroupPortal
(CASE SENSITIVE) password: skybluenocc

 Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 
Music

 Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016
Mayor's 5K Run/Walk 

Registration 
http://walkforovariancancer.com/ 

~~~~ 
 
Teal Tea Foundation 

Sunday Sept. 18, 2016 

Color Me Teal Run/Walk 
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/color-me-teal-runwalk-tickets-26665500229

Today Begins Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

This month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I am taking the #GynCan Challenge sponsored by the Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Network .  In addition to information on ovarian cancer and my thoughts about being an ovarian cancer survivor I will also share some information about the other “Below the Belt” women’s cancers - cervical, uterine(endometrial),vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal.

Every woman is at risk for ovarian cancer! 

 Let's start with this informational video by the Foundation for Women's Cancer. 

 

I invite you to check by each day to learn some important facts about gynecologic cancers.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing ! 

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: September Events

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness month and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

There are many ovarian cancer awareness organizations in NJ holding events over the next few weeks toraise awareness and funds for research. Check below for an event near you.

August 30

Teal Tender Hearts For Ovarian Cancer Awareness 

Hoboken, NJ

September 1-30 

 Turn the Towns Teal 

Teal Awareness Ribbons

Statewide

September 9

Teal Tea Foundation

Third Annual Awareness Tea

 Princeton, NJ

September 13

Teal Tender Hearts for Ovarian Cancer Awareness  

Walk For Ovarian Cancer, A Celebration of Life 

Newark ,NJ

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation 

The Gail MacNeil Morristown Walk - Loantaka Park  

Morristown,NJ

September 19

Janice Lopez Ovarian Cancer Foundation    

Concert for a Cure

Edison,  NJ

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Dance for Life 
A Bollywood and Zumba Dance Workout
with Arya Dance Academy
Monmouth Junction , NJ

September 20

Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation

Lyndhurst Walk - Richard W. DeKorte Park

Lyndhurst, NJ

Teal Tea Foundation

3rd Annual 5k Fun Run and Walk

Ewing , NJ 

September 26

Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation

Avon By the Sea Walk- On the Boardwalk

Avon by the Sea, NJ 

Teal Tea Foundation

Comedy Club Night 

Bristol , PA

September 27 
NOCC - New Jersey Chapter
West Orange, NJ
Registration here.

If you know of other events taking place in NJ please contact me with the information and I will update the page OR simply include the information in the comment section of this post. Thanks!

Dee 

Every Day is a Blessing   

As September Comes To An End

It is hard to believe that September 2014 is coming to an end. I was away for the first half of the month so I missed doing my usual awareness activities. 

I did though still hang my teal ribbon flag and join Graceful Hope for their walk. And on Thursday, I went to the Lunch and Learn at the Cancer Support Community of Central New Jersey. Dr Tchabo, Atlantic Health, spoke about the latest research and treatments for ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and uterine cancer. Although I missed a few events, I experienced a lot of what September as ovarian cancer awareness month means to a survivor- learning about the disease, raising awareness, honoring fellow teal sisters and remembering the lives cut short by the disease.

This morning I was thinking to myself how things have changed in the past 9 years. It has been a gradual change but I think a change for the better. Teal ribbons on trees are no longer rare thanks to thousands of  Turn the Towns Teal Foundation volunteers throughout the state and country. This year more news channels had segments focusing on ovarian cancer like this segment on channel 7 featuring my friend, Valisia LeKae.

More newspapers throughout the country shared stories about walks and focused on stories of survivors. 

Kaleidoscope of Hope Avon, NJ Walk- photo:J. Flaherty

Buildings and bridges in places like Philadephia, Birmingham, Huntsville and around the US were bathed in teal lights. 

Boathouse Row Philadelphia, PA - photo Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation

Even with this awareness the 5 year relative survival rate (SEER data) for ovarian cancer is 44.6% and for women with late stage disease the rate drops to 27%. 

What can I do? What can you do? September may come to a close but I will not stop raising awareness of this disease. I hope you won't stop either. I will continue sharing information about symptoms. I will continue to stress that women, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, be treated by gynecologic oncologists. I will still tell women that every woman is a risk. And I will continue all year long to advocate for more funding for ovarian cancer.

In another 9 years I want to be able to write "The 5 year relative survival rate for ovarian cancer has risen dramatically from  44.6% to over 80% ". 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!