Today is the last day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. But for those of us who are soldiers in the war on ovarian cancer awareness the fight continues. Awareness never ends!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Today is TEAL Tuesday, TEAL we find a cure!!
As an ovarian cancer survivor I am an advocate of awareness, education and research. Early detection and a CURE are my passion. Stir up the gift of God which is with you. 2 Timothy 1:6
Monday, September 28, 2009
I can smile today, because I woke up!!
It took me a while to come around to the thought that cancer would be a part of my life forever. Being a cancer survivor has helped me to be thankful and appreciative of all the small things in life. There are a million little things I notice and appreciate. Like a comfortable Spring-like or Autumn-like day, eating chocolate, hugs, sunshine and a kiss. I am thankful and appreciative of my husband’s love and support, my family, friends, co-workers and laughter for healing the soul. I made it through the night and woke up to a brand new day!!"I can smile today, because I woke up!!" Make today awesome!
Stir up the gift of God which is with you. 2 Timothy 1:6
Stir up the gift of God which is with you. 2 Timothy 1:6
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Facts about Ovarian Cancer
**Ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to women's health.
**Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women.
**Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 out of 57 women.
**It is expected that 20,180 women will be diagnosed in 2009.
**An estimated 15,310 American women will die from ovarian cancer in 2009.
**Currently, 50% of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die from it within five years; among African American women only 48 percent survive five years or more.
**Ovarian cancer is very treatable when it is detected early, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.
**In cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 90% of women will survive longer than five years.
**Only 25% of ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early stages.
**When diagnosed in advanced stages, the chance of five-year survival is only about 25%.
**Raising public awareness of ovarian cancer by educating doctors and women about the disease could save lives.
**More ovarian cancer research is needed- to develop early detection tools, better therapies, cures, and to prevent the disease.
**Much more needs to be learned about what causes ovarian cancer and how to prevent it.
**90% of women diagnosed do not have a family history that puts them at higher risk.
**Ovarian cancer research is DRASTICALLY UNDER-FUNDED. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) spent close to $70 million in 2001 on ovarian cancer research, $407.5 million on breast cancer research, $150.3 million on lung cancer research, and $136.5 million on prostate cancer.
Turning this whisper into a SHOUT!!!
**Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women.
**Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 out of 57 women.
**It is expected that 20,180 women will be diagnosed in 2009.
**An estimated 15,310 American women will die from ovarian cancer in 2009.
**Currently, 50% of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die from it within five years; among African American women only 48 percent survive five years or more.
**Ovarian cancer is very treatable when it is detected early, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.
**In cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 90% of women will survive longer than five years.
**Only 25% of ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early stages.
**When diagnosed in advanced stages, the chance of five-year survival is only about 25%.
**Raising public awareness of ovarian cancer by educating doctors and women about the disease could save lives.
**More ovarian cancer research is needed- to develop early detection tools, better therapies, cures, and to prevent the disease.
**Much more needs to be learned about what causes ovarian cancer and how to prevent it.
**90% of women diagnosed do not have a family history that puts them at higher risk.
**Ovarian cancer research is DRASTICALLY UNDER-FUNDED. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) spent close to $70 million in 2001 on ovarian cancer research, $407.5 million on breast cancer research, $150.3 million on lung cancer research, and $136.5 million on prostate cancer.
Turning this whisper into a SHOUT!!!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Separating fact from fiction ,if you or someone you know have ovaries PLEASE READ!!!!
Myth: The Pap test can diagnose ovarian cancer.
Fact: A Pap test only diagnoses cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
Myth: Ovarian cancer has no symptoms.
Fact: Symptoms may include persistent and progressive abdominal pain, bloating, or discomfort; nausea, indigestion, or gas; urinary frequency; constipation, or diarrhea; abnormal vaginal bleeding; unusual fatigue; unexplained weight loss or gain; and shortness of breath. There may also be pain with intercourse. Most symptoms are not gynecologic.
Myth: There are no risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Fact: Risk factors for this disease include increasing age; family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer; personal history of breast cancer; never bearing a child or having a child later in life; and using talc in the genital area for several years. Use of high-dose estrogen without progesterone for long periods of time (10 years) is a risk factor. However, today combination therapy (estrogen and progesterone) is more common.
Myth: A high CA-125 blood level always indicates ovarian cancer.
Fact: It is not uncommon for pre-menopausal women to have a high CA-125 level because of non-cancerous conditions such as uterine fibroids, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, or endometriosis. The CA-125 blood test is more accurate in post-menopausal women. Currently, no screening test is 100% accurate in detecting ovarian cancer.
Myth: If ovarian cancer does not run in my family, I cannot get it.
Fact: All women are at risk for ovarian cancer. Only 10% of cases are hereditary (inherited).
Myth: Ovarian cancer has no cure.
Fact: If ovarian cancer is detected early and treated properly, there is a 90% chance of survival for at least five years. However, only about one quarter of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed early. Late diagnosis is associated with significantly lower survival rates—about 25%.
Myth: Women who have their ovaries removed cannot get ovarian cancer.
Fact: Women who have their ovaries removed can't get ovarian cancer unless a bit of undetected cancer spread before the removal. This is a rare event. In addition, a rare type of cancer called primary peritoneal carcinoma, a close relative of ovarian cancer, can develop when there are no ovaries. Primary peritoneal carcinoma starts in the inside lining of the abdomen and pelvis. It looks similar to ovarian cancer under the microscope. It also has the same symptoms, spreads in a similar pattern, and is treated the same way as ovarian cancer.
Myth: Ovarian cancer can be prevented.
Fact: Currently, there is no way to prevent ovarian cancer with 100% certainty. However, several things can help reduce the risk:
-Prophylactic oophorectomy—having both ovaries removed along with the fallopian tubes as a preventive measure—can reduce risk by more than 80%.
-Taking oral contraceptives for at least five years can reduce risk by 50%
-Pregnancy and breast-feeding, tubal ligation (tying the fallopian tubes), and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can all reduce risk.
Myth: Having ovarian cysts increase your risk of ovarian cancer.
Fact: Most cysts develop from the changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and the production and release of eggs from the ovaries. Most cysts are harmless and go away on their own. However, some can be cancerous.
Note: If you find yourself in the greater Atlanta Georgia area on Saturday September 26, 2009 come out to the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance “Overcome Ovarian Cancer” 5k walk at 9:00am at Sanctuary Park in Alpharetta. Come out and join us for this year's event. It will be a truly exciting and successful day for gynecological cancer survivors, their families, caregivers and friends and you need to be a part of it all. Visit gaovariancancer.org for more information!
Fact: A Pap test only diagnoses cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
Myth: Ovarian cancer has no symptoms.
Fact: Symptoms may include persistent and progressive abdominal pain, bloating, or discomfort; nausea, indigestion, or gas; urinary frequency; constipation, or diarrhea; abnormal vaginal bleeding; unusual fatigue; unexplained weight loss or gain; and shortness of breath. There may also be pain with intercourse. Most symptoms are not gynecologic.
Myth: There are no risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Fact: Risk factors for this disease include increasing age; family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer; personal history of breast cancer; never bearing a child or having a child later in life; and using talc in the genital area for several years. Use of high-dose estrogen without progesterone for long periods of time (10 years) is a risk factor. However, today combination therapy (estrogen and progesterone) is more common.
Myth: A high CA-125 blood level always indicates ovarian cancer.
Fact: It is not uncommon for pre-menopausal women to have a high CA-125 level because of non-cancerous conditions such as uterine fibroids, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, or endometriosis. The CA-125 blood test is more accurate in post-menopausal women. Currently, no screening test is 100% accurate in detecting ovarian cancer.
Myth: If ovarian cancer does not run in my family, I cannot get it.
Fact: All women are at risk for ovarian cancer. Only 10% of cases are hereditary (inherited).
Myth: Ovarian cancer has no cure.
Fact: If ovarian cancer is detected early and treated properly, there is a 90% chance of survival for at least five years. However, only about one quarter of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed early. Late diagnosis is associated with significantly lower survival rates—about 25%.
Myth: Women who have their ovaries removed cannot get ovarian cancer.
Fact: Women who have their ovaries removed can't get ovarian cancer unless a bit of undetected cancer spread before the removal. This is a rare event. In addition, a rare type of cancer called primary peritoneal carcinoma, a close relative of ovarian cancer, can develop when there are no ovaries. Primary peritoneal carcinoma starts in the inside lining of the abdomen and pelvis. It looks similar to ovarian cancer under the microscope. It also has the same symptoms, spreads in a similar pattern, and is treated the same way as ovarian cancer.
Myth: Ovarian cancer can be prevented.
Fact: Currently, there is no way to prevent ovarian cancer with 100% certainty. However, several things can help reduce the risk:
-Prophylactic oophorectomy—having both ovaries removed along with the fallopian tubes as a preventive measure—can reduce risk by more than 80%.
-Taking oral contraceptives for at least five years can reduce risk by 50%
-Pregnancy and breast-feeding, tubal ligation (tying the fallopian tubes), and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can all reduce risk.
Myth: Having ovarian cysts increase your risk of ovarian cancer.
Fact: Most cysts develop from the changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and the production and release of eggs from the ovaries. Most cysts are harmless and go away on their own. However, some can be cancerous.
Note: If you find yourself in the greater Atlanta Georgia area on Saturday September 26, 2009 come out to the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance “Overcome Ovarian Cancer” 5k walk at 9:00am at Sanctuary Park in Alpharetta. Come out and join us for this year's event. It will be a truly exciting and successful day for gynecological cancer survivors, their families, caregivers and friends and you need to be a part of it all. Visit gaovariancancer.org for more information!
Monday, September 21, 2009
My Inspiration
My inspiration during this my cancer journey has been God, Jesus Christ my personal savior and myself Kimberly Marshon Simmons-Emory. Wow, never a million years did I think I would be an inspiration to me. When I would think about people who inspire, me Kimberly Marshon Simmons-Emory was never at the top of the list or even in the top 10, 20 or 100 for that matter. And then came along the big “C” and flipped the script.
Sometimes life seems so unfair it’s hard to imagine that things will ever get better, but every day brings another chance to make new choices and go forward. Listen to the wisdom deep within you and have faith that tomorrow will bring you closer to the answers don’t wait for someone else to encourage or inspire you. Inspire and encourage yourself, believe that you have the power, the nerve, and the audacity to make things change. You will know instinctively through the grace of GOD what to do. Keep your faith, especially in God and yourself! Remember there is a saying that says "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
The lyrics to one of my favorite gospel songs "Encourage Yourself" by Donald Lawrence and the Tri City Singers say:
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
No matter how you feel speak the words you will be healed.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
The pressure is all around but God is present help.
The enemy created walls but remember giants they do fall.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
As I minister to you oh I minister to myself.
Life can hurt you sooo till you feel there's nothing left.
No matter how you feel speak the word and you will be healed.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
Supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken, and never, ever giving up hope! It’s the GOD in me!
Sometimes life seems so unfair it’s hard to imagine that things will ever get better, but every day brings another chance to make new choices and go forward. Listen to the wisdom deep within you and have faith that tomorrow will bring you closer to the answers don’t wait for someone else to encourage or inspire you. Inspire and encourage yourself, believe that you have the power, the nerve, and the audacity to make things change. You will know instinctively through the grace of GOD what to do. Keep your faith, especially in God and yourself! Remember there is a saying that says "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
The lyrics to one of my favorite gospel songs "Encourage Yourself" by Donald Lawrence and the Tri City Singers say:
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
No matter how you feel speak the words you will be healed.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
The pressure is all around but God is present help.
The enemy created walls but remember giants they do fall.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
As I minister to you oh I minister to myself.
Life can hurt you sooo till you feel there's nothing left.
No matter how you feel speak the word and you will be healed.
Speak over yourself encourage yourself in the lord.
Supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken, and never, ever giving up hope! It’s the GOD in me!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Not only surviving, but Living!
Ovarian Cancer snuck into my life with illusive persistence. At the time of my diagnosis I had already endured months of pain and anxiety. My relationships were changing and my emotions were in a constant state of turmoil. It is little wonder that this disease is sometimes called the silent killer. My diagnosis came three days after I had lost my dear beloved Auntie Nora. My Libra sister, I was born two days after her birthday on Oct. 12. Since I had lost my parents, my mother in 1995 and my father in 1999, I could always count on her for support and advice. She always held a very special place in my heart. Devastated by her death I was contemplating putting off the surgery until after her funeral but on the advice of my doctor, trusted family members and friends I decided to have the surgery. So on March 17, 2006 my left ovary, fallopian tube, omentum and appendix were removed.
When I woke up from sugary, I was surrounded by my husband, three of my cousins, a very dear friend and my doctor. The pain in their eyes was so evident. The doctor had sent my tumor to pathology but he was already pretty sure it was cancer. My God I was face-to-face with ovarian cancer! The next four months were tough for me and everybody around me. There is nothing good I can say about chemotherapy, it sucked! My chemotherapy regime was very aggressive and I needed help from my mother-in-law and aunt. So they came from Cleveland, Ohio and Augusta, Georgia to stay with us for a while. I had three twenty-one day cycles of the worst chemo drugs imaginable (Etopiside, Bleomycin and Cisplatin). I was very sick from the chemotherapy. All of my hair fell out and I always nauseous and tired.
Now, three years later I am the happiest I have ever been in my life; the happiest I have ever been with my inner self. Sure, I still have some really bad days. Days when I fear getting sick again and days when I feel that my friends have no burdens of their own. I know I have climbed mountains and everyday gets a bit easier. I continue to move further and further away from those horrible days three years ago. I realize how truly blessed we all are to have life. I realize how lucky I am to be in this world, to have my strong, supportive, and sometimes loving family (LOL) and so many old and new totally amazing friends.
When I woke up from sugary, I was surrounded by my husband, three of my cousins, a very dear friend and my doctor. The pain in their eyes was so evident. The doctor had sent my tumor to pathology but he was already pretty sure it was cancer. My God I was face-to-face with ovarian cancer! The next four months were tough for me and everybody around me. There is nothing good I can say about chemotherapy, it sucked! My chemotherapy regime was very aggressive and I needed help from my mother-in-law and aunt. So they came from Cleveland, Ohio and Augusta, Georgia to stay with us for a while. I had three twenty-one day cycles of the worst chemo drugs imaginable (Etopiside, Bleomycin and Cisplatin). I was very sick from the chemotherapy. All of my hair fell out and I always nauseous and tired.
Now, three years later I am the happiest I have ever been in my life; the happiest I have ever been with my inner self. Sure, I still have some really bad days. Days when I fear getting sick again and days when I feel that my friends have no burdens of their own. I know I have climbed mountains and everyday gets a bit easier. I continue to move further and further away from those horrible days three years ago. I realize how truly blessed we all are to have life. I realize how lucky I am to be in this world, to have my strong, supportive, and sometimes loving family (LOL) and so many old and new totally amazing friends.
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