Sharing a Cancer Diagnosis - Sometimes It Takes Time

When I was first diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2005 , I told my family and close friends. I told my employer, a local all boys high school, about my surgery and treatment. I even had a letter to my students published in the school newspaper. In the letter I told them I had ovarian cancer, that I was going take part in a clinical trial, that I would be bald , and why I would not be able to teach while I was in treatment. I also asked my students to share information about ovarian cancer with their mom, grandmas, sisters and aunts.

Because I was enrolled in that clinical trial, I was asked in early 2006 to share my story in the Star-Ledger, a state-wide newspaper. I spoke to the reporter for about a half hour and then she asked me if she could use my full name and send a photographer to my house to take some photos. I was ok with having a photo taken. I was bald and pale but that really didn't bother me that much. But at that time, two short months after my diagnosis I was just not ready to share my story with more than my local community.What I was not ready to do was to have one of my students read about the survival rate and think I would not survive. I don't think even I wanted to face those statistics at that time. So I declined having my story published.

How things have changed during the past few years. I found my voice. I think making it through that first year and end up in remission gave me the strength to become an ovarian cancer advocate. Since that first request I have told my story in this blog, on two different ovarian cancer foundation websites, in NJ Monthly, on the TV show Good Morning NY, at a number of ovarian cancer foundation events and in numerous local and state newspapers. I kept telling my story even after I recurred in 2008. Why ? Because women need to know that others do survive a late stage ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Yet there are other women who do not want to share their story. It is their right to share as much or as little of their journey as they would like. And you know ... that is ok.

So why did I choose today to write about sharing a cancer diagnosis? A number of business news shows this morning reported that Apple CEO, Steven Jobs was taking a medical leave of absence. There was lots of speculation as too why he needed the leave including his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, how he looked at the last meeting and his liver transplant. CNBC interviewed and ethicist regarding what information Apple should or should not release about this leave. An Apple media release stated that Steve Jobs will still be involved in important decisions but the COO , Tim Cook, will be responsible for the day to day operations.

Steve Jobs might be a CEO but he is also a person with a family. So folks let us give him a little room to deal with whatever is causing him to take this leave. When the time is right for Steve Jobs to share with the world what is happening he will. And we need to respect him as a survivor to make that choice.

Dee

Ever Day is a Blessing!

The Clearity Foundation & Molecular Profiling for Ovarian Cancer Patients

Yesterday I read a post on Libby's H*O*P*E Blog called

Caris Life Sciences Launches Molecular Profiling Service For Ovarian Cancer Patients

I learned about the launch of a new profiling test for ovarian cancer patients produced by Caris Life Sciences. Please hop on over to Libby's H*O*P*E and read Paul's excellent summary of this service.

The article also included a note about the Clearity Foundation. The Foundation a 501(3) (c) non-profit provides molecular profiling tests at no cost to ovarian cancer survivors. The Foundation was founded my Dr. Laura Shawver who was diagosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. When a woman provides her tumor for a molecular profile or "Blueprint" she agrees to have her data become part of the larger database. For more information please contact the Foundation at info@clearityfoundation.org

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! I am so pleased to learn that more research is being done to understand the molecular profile of different types of ovarian cancer cells.

Teal Tea Foundation Fundraiser- Jan. 18th

Rosa's Ristorante Fundraiser

Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Anytime between 11:00am and 10:00pm.
3442 S. Broad Street
Hamilton, NJ 08610
609-581-0953
Please let staff know you are there to support the Teal Tea Foundation! Take Out Too!

For more info about the Teal Tea Foundation please click here.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.

Pink Roses Teal Magnolias- Survivor's Group for Women

UPDATED 1/14/11

Pink Roses Teal Magnolias

Survivor's Group for Women

Join us in Voorhees on January 24 as we kick-off the Survivor's Group for Women, a special 8-week program for women cancer survivors who have completed chemotherapy, are undergoing radiation, surgery, or hormone therapy. The group focuses on issues related to treatment during and survival after cancer.

Series Topics:
Role Changes
Coping
Anxiety and Worry
Depression
Body Image
Sexuality
Relationship Issues
Stress Management

Presented by: Cooper Cancer Institute
Registration: Please call Behavioral Medicine 856-673-4254
Start Date: Monday, January 24th, 6PM - 7PM
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: 900 Centennial Blvd., Building 1, Suite A, Voorhees NJ 08043
Cost: $32 for the entire 8-week program.
Cash or checks accepted; please make checks payable to The Cooper Cancer Institute.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

NCCN Ovarian Cancer Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network just release a new version of the Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer Patients. It includes chapters on diagnoses, treatment, types of Ovarian Cancers, follow-up, recurrence and clinical trials . The document is informative and easy to read and navigate. You can read the online version here.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

Bridge to Wellness- A Program for Cancer Patients and Caregivers

I've written about the Elixir Fund in the past. The Fund provides comfort and care to cancer patients and their caregivers in NJ and LA.

The Fund is sponsoring a new program called Bridge to Wellness at Four Winds Yoga in Pennington, NJ. The six week seminar series introduces patients and caregivers to complimentary therapies to help reduce stress and manage side-effects. So if you always wanted to learn about Meditation, Massage, Jin Shin Juytsu, Yoga, Acupuncture or Tai Chi this series is for you! The series begins on February 21st and all sessions run from 7-8:30pm. The cost of the series is $30. Registration is required. Please call 800-494-9228. Sure sounds like a great way to take a break from cancer.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

A New Beginning a Few Days Late

Hello 2011! I hope the start to everyone's year has been good so far. Mine certainly has.

I know I should have written an entry sooner but "Writing on my blog more frequently" was one of 2010 's New Year resolutions. So what are my resolutions this year? Well, I don't have any. This is probably the first time ever I haven't had any resolutions to break. Does that mean I don't have any area's that need improvement ? Nope , I am just pretty content with where I am in life right now. Sure my primary care doctor would probably say that I should go on a weight loss program of some sort to help with my high blood pressure. And my gyn-onc and friends would probably say I should be out there walking more. Nick would probably say I should cook at home more. Terry and Andy would probably say I should visit more and Matt would say I should bug him a little less about calling. Ok everyone, I hear you all. I'll try in all areas but without a New Year's resolution list.

I've been thinking about why I have begun to think this way. Is it because I am a bit older? Is it because I survived cancer and a recurrence. I really don't know. Honestly , back in 2005 I did not think I would celebrate the beginning of 2006 and here I have celebrated the beginning of 2011. I do know that being a cancer survivor has changed how I look at things and do things. Some family and friends would say that has been a good thing. Some would say I have become way too opinionated for them. But that is who I am in 2011.

So without resolutions , what do I look forward to in the year ahead? I want to spend time with those I love. I don't really care what it is we do as long as we do it together.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!