Monday, April 24, 2006
Day One
My first post. I'm following in my mother's foosteps. She was diagnosed with OC at the age of 66 and battled for 2 1/2 years before succumbing. She was on chemotherapy most of that time, and had a colostomy and ileostomy eventually.
I was diagnosed at the age of 56 and have had two surgeries also, both to remove tumor. Also. radiation therapy for a small vaginal cuff tumor that could not be removed completely during surgery. After a 3-month break due to surgery and radiation, I will be resuming chemotherapy.
My CA125 began at 880 before my first surgery, and has not yet dropped below 22. The last value was 28, after surgery.
I will discuss my nutritional and other "nonconventional" strategies in future postings.
I would love to hear from some fellow survivors about their experiences.
I was diagnosed at the age of 56 and have had two surgeries also, both to remove tumor. Also. radiation therapy for a small vaginal cuff tumor that could not be removed completely during surgery. After a 3-month break due to surgery and radiation, I will be resuming chemotherapy.
My CA125 began at 880 before my first surgery, and has not yet dropped below 22. The last value was 28, after surgery.
I will discuss my nutritional and other "nonconventional" strategies in future postings.
I would love to hear from some fellow survivors about their experiences.
Why an ovarian cancer journal?
Ovarian cancer has been a part of my life since my diagnosis in June 2005. Of necessity, much of my time and energy is focused on treatment and dealing with the effects of treatment. I spend many hours researching, sharing my findings with others, talking with my support group friends and family. I journal almost daily. My family and friends request regular updates. This blog was created as a forum for sharing my thoughts about my ovarian cancer journey, links to new information I run across that may be of interest to other OC survivors, and my assessment of that information in some cases. As a pharmacist, I get a lot of questions from fellow cancer patients about both conventional and alternative therapies. I encourage advocacy to help achieve a higher level of funding for the neglected aspects of cancer research, particularly prevention and early detection.
There is another important reason for creating this wondow into my life. Reading about the reality of this disease for the women who did not know until it was too late, might help galvanize action in some small way. Cancer is no longer an abstraction when you see what the individual struggles are on a day-by-day basis. It is my hope and prayer that I can help save the life of one woman, but just as importantly, help in the effort to save many lives.
There is another important reason for creating this wondow into my life. Reading about the reality of this disease for the women who did not know until it was too late, might help galvanize action in some small way. Cancer is no longer an abstraction when you see what the individual struggles are on a day-by-day basis. It is my hope and prayer that I can help save the life of one woman, but just as importantly, help in the effort to save many lives.
