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Debra’s Sister’s Fight Like A Girl Story, As Told By Debra (Ovarian Cancer)

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May
20
2013
Debra's Sister's Story (Ovarian Cancer)LR

My story isn't about me, it's really about my sister. She is 52 years old this week and fighting Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. She is a rock! She gets up everyday with a great attitude. She has refocused her efforts on family, friends and making beautiful jewelry. She doesn’t always feel great, but most days she is able to ignore the pain and just be grateful for what she has. Her doctors adore her and even the cancer center psychologist is asking her to attend support groups to help others. I love her and respect her now,more than ever! She so rocks! Debra Colorado Submitted 8-11-2012 The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. … [Read more...]

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Terri’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Ovarian Cancer)

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May
10
2013
Melanie's Story (Ovarian cancer)LR

Hi, mine name is Terri. In 2010, I was diagnosed with stage 3b ovarian cancer and stage 1 endometrial cancer. My only symptom was my irregular heavy periods,which I had had for 30 years. I just thought menopause was kicking in. My surgery told a whole different story. I underwent a 6 hour surgery, including lymph node and omentum removal. My chemo treatments went on for six months, and my last yearly checkup was normal (thanks God daily)! I’m so grateful for a second chance. I’m writing this though mostly because I would never have survived had it not been for my friends and family. They surrounded me like a blanket, and made me a blanket with personalized notes of love and encouragement. (still my favorite snuggly thing). I had one friend who came over every day to my house to check on me, to keep me moving, and planning for it to be over. My sisters also made me some trinkets and a logo for supporting the fight against ovarian cancer. I plan on getting it tattooed on me … [Read more...]

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Kim’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Ovarian Cancer)

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Mar
23
2013
Kim's Ovarian Cancer Story

In the 11th month of my 47th year, I was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer. My ob-gyn first thought it was fibroids. She had me get a sonogram and a cancer antigen test. The sonogram came back with a mass in my left lower quadrant and the cancer antigen was 135. My doctor still thought it was fibroids but scheduled me the next week for surgery. This time she told me she was having an oncologist standing by. Long story short, it wasn’t fibroids. It was ovarian cancer. I ended up with a hysterectomy and 6 months of chemo. I started losing my hair after 2 weeks of chemo, and just went ahead and shaved it off. It was the one thing I was going to decide to do, not the cancer. A cancer diagnosis makes everything seem out of control. I fought like a girl and took control back, even if it was a small victory like shaving my head. I am now 2 years cancer-free! Never give up, always keep hope alive, and Fight it with everything you got! Kim Texas Submitted 2-29-12 The … [Read more...]

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Terry’s Fight Like a Girl Story (Ovarian Cancer)

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May
06
2012
Terry's Story (Ovarian Cancer) LR

I am a 46 year old ovarian cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in 2008 with stage 3C ovarian cancer. I was 43 at the time and I had just gotten over the flu in 2007.  I started having some pains in my side that caused me to double over and actually cry. My youngest son and my boyfriend were both here with me when this had happened. I originally thought I was gaining weight because I was getting too heavy around the mid-section and figured "ok, I will go on a diet and lose weight". Well, it turned out that wasn't the cause at all. After having the pain for 2 weeks, my boyfriend suggested that maybe it was cysts - that I had previously had - coming back. I made a doctor's appointment and went in.  He ordered an ultrasound and it showed 2 cysts - one on each ovary.  On the left one, it was a follicular (water filled) cyst and, on the right, it was a porcupine looking one that had started squeezing my ovary so much that it cut off the blood supply and caused me to keel over in … [Read more...]

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Are You at Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

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Jul
24
2011
Are You At Risk For Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is not the most common cancer in women, but it’s one of the most deadly. The reason ovarian cancer tops the list of most lethal cancers is because it’s usually not diagnosed until it has spread outside the ovaries where it can’t be easily treated. The key to conquering this form of cancer is for women to know their risk factors and see their gynecologist yearly for a check-up. What are the most common risk factors for ovarian cancer? Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer Some women are genetically predisposed to breast cancer, because they inherited one of two genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Having one of these two genes increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer in women. A woman with BRCA1 or BRCA2 has a lifetime risk for getting ovarian cancer as high as 40%. This is why women who have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, especially if the cancer occurred prior to menopause, should talk to their doctor about testing for these genes. If … [Read more...]

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Dodie’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Muscular Dystrophy and Ovarian Cancer)

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Apr
22
2011
Dodie Muscular Dystrophy Ovarian Cancer Story

I’m 45 yrs young, married for 22 yrs to a great man, and I have a 21 yr old daughter. I was born with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. Ended up with scoliosis from the LGMD.  Then diagnosed in Feb 2007 with Stage IIIC Ovarian Cancer - had 6 rounds of chemo, was declared cancer-free on Aug 15, 2007.  Went 10 months cancer-free only for a small spot to show up on my liver in June 2008.  Went through 3 rounds of chemo, new cat scan showed no cancer, but had 3 more treatments to stay on top of it. Stayed in remission 10 months again and I had a second recurrance. Started chemo again in Sept 2009, had a severe allergic reaction on Nov 4, 2009 (almost died), finished chemo in Dec 2009.  Had remission for a third time. Back on chemo for the 4th time since June 2010. Hope I’ll be back in remission for the 4th time - real soon. Bad thing is the chemo is making my muscular dystrophy progress faster than I ever wanted it to. With the hand that I’ve been dealt in life … [Read more...]

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Diane’s Fight Like A Girl Story (Kidney, Breast, and Ovarian Cancer)

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Oct
19
2010
Diane's Story (Kidney, Breast, Ovarian Cancer)

At age 45, I have battled cancer 4 times. My story with cancer began when I was 17 years old after a trip to the ER because I had the worst tummy ache of my life.  I had to be put through numerous tests that showed something I would later learn was known as a childhood form of a kidney cancer called a Wilm’s Tumor. I thought I was only going into surgery to have my kidney removed because it wasn’t working anymore without knowing why that had happened. After coming out of intensive care, one day in my room when I was alone, I asked a nurse if they found out what was wrong with my kidney - only to be told that I had cancer. She asked me if anybody had told me? I said NO! It didn’t really sink in that "I HAD CANCER" until I was being taken directly from that hospital to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where I lived at the time, to begin chemo. It was then that I realized it was indeed for real! It was very hard to go through as a teen, losing my hair, feeling so … [Read more...]

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Kim’s Story (Ovarian Cancer)

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Oct
11
2010
Teal Ribbon

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 and I was washed out. When I woke up from surgery, I was surrounded by my husband, three … [Read more...]

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Do Ovarian Cysts Increase Ovarian Cancer Risk?

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Oct
05
2010
Ovarian Cysts Cause Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cysts aren’t uncommon in women. The most common type of cyst on the ovary is called a functional cyst. This type of cyst basically consists of a collection of fluid inside the ovary. These cysts are benign, but many women fear that having an ovarian cyst increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Is this true? What Causes an Ovarian Cyst? Functional ovarian cysts form during the menstrual cycle. Normally, when an egg is released during ovulation, it’s surrounded by a protective follicle. As it’s released the fluid ruptures. If it fails to rupture as a result of a hormonal imbalance, the follicle swells with fluid and forms a smooth sac called a cyst. These cysts can become several inches in diameter in some cases. This isn’t the only type of ovarian cyst, but it’s the one doctors see most often in pre-menopausal women. Post-menopausal women get ovarian cysts too - with almost 15% of women having one at some point after the age of fifty. Ovarian cysts can also be … [Read more...]

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Member Spotlight: Meet Michelle

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Sep
10
2010
fight like a girl club member spotlight

September was the month I was diagnosed with cancer. I had awakened with terrible abdominal pain in my stomach and took myself into emergency.  As soon as I arrived I was admitted.  They ran many tests and came in to tell me that I had a large abdominal mass and it needed to be removed as soon as possible.  The next day I was scheduled for surgery. After 9 1/2 hours, they came out to tell my mom that they had removed a 7 1/2 pound tumor that had spread to both ovaries and to the large intestine.  My mom told me that they told her to go home and start making funeral arrangements - that I would be gone within 3 months.  When I awoke, my family was all around my bedside and a docter was there to give me the news.  At that point I couldn't say anything and, when my family went home, I cried hard.  The doctors told me that we could try chemo - it would have to be very aggressive - and it could cure me or it could kill me.  My thoughts were 'what do I have to lose?' I took a very … [Read more...]

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