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What Are Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

September 15th, 2011 | Posted by mllblog in Cancer Patients | Caregivers/Friends and Family - (0 Comments)

 September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. About 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 and approximately 15,400 will die from ovarian cancer (source).

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer (source):

  • Bloating
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
  • Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is one of our nonprofit partners. They offer many great services for patients. Check out their programs and services. Also, check out Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s KISS and Teal Campaign http://www.avonromance.com/kissandteal/

Another notable organization devoted to ovarian cancer is the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s. Their mission is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

 National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Programs:  

    * NOCC 1-888-OVARIAN (1-888-682-7426) toll free information and help line

  * Comprehensive on-line ovarian cancer resource www.ovarian.org

    * Publication and distribution of informational literature about the disease, its symptoms andrisk factors, treatment and care issues, and community outreach to diverse populations and healthcare providers throughout the United States

    * Availability of peer-to-peer support

    * Special education and awareness projects

    * Distribution of a national newsletter circulated to a grassroots national network of women living with ovarian cancer,families, friends, healthcare professionals, physicians, NOCC Chapters, supporters and the interested public

    * Physician and health care professionals education through a Symptom Card program and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs

    * Aggressive September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month national public information campaign and special public awareness and education projects

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Guest post on Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s Blog

August 10th, 2011 | Posted by mllblog in Cancer Patients | Caregivers/Friends and Family - (0 Comments)

Kim, Director of Strategic Partnerships for MyLifeLine.org,  and a breast cancer survivor, wrote a guest post for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s blog.  Check out the post on Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s blog  http://bit.ly/ndmKwm

ovarian cancer national alliance logo

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Unfair – poetry by a two time ovarian cancer survivor

June 14th, 2011 | Posted by mllblog in Cancer Patients | Poetry by Cancer Survivors - (1 Comments)

We’re starting a new feature on our blog with poetry written by cancer patients. Here’s the first one from Lynette.

Unfair

I have cancer, he does not

Until now forever one

Common life, we plan our future

With each other all the way

Cancer comes and draws a line

Separating him and me

 

I have cancer, he does not

All the focus goes on me

I’m the patient, he the carer

Doctors, scans, reports and treatment

All about my precious health

No-one asking how he is

 

I have cancer, he does not

He’s supportive, loving, patient

But it’s thrust now in our faces

That which couples always know

But they never want to look at

Death will surely part our ways

 

I have cancer, he does not

Not for us the sweet forgetting,

of the imminence of death

Every joy and love in this life

Now accompanied by this -

One day it will be no more

 

I have cancer, he does not

Feelings now are sharp as knives

Deeper love means deeper wounding

As I cherish every moment

Every look and voice and gesture

All unutterably dear

 ———

Lynette was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 08, at the age of 64. She had an operation and went on chemo for 6 months. It recurred in November 2010, and she is now going through her second lot of chemo. The poetry has been written since her recurrence, and the mylifeline site has been a great chance to share it with friends and family.

If you would like to submit a poem for our blog, please email blog@mylifeline.org with your poem and a short bio.

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The History Behind MyLifeLine.org Cancer Foundation

May 24th, 2011 | Posted by mllblog in Cancer Centers/Cancer Nonprofits | Cancer Patients | Caregivers/Friends and Family | MyLifeLine.org News - (0 Comments)

By Marcia Donziger, our Founder and Executive Director

I was 27 and thought I had a bladder infection.  Turned out to be a tumor on my right ovary. 

At first, my gynecologist was not concerned. 

“Could it be cancer?” I worried. 

“No”, she replied, “You’re too young to have cancer.”

I was married and trying to get pregnant at the time, so I scheduled surgery immediately to get it over with.  The doctor assured me the worst that could happen is I’d lose one ovary, and still be able to have children.  She was confident the tumor was benign.

On surgery day, I was wheeled into the pre-op room.  That’s when the medical assistant approached me with a legal form to sign, agreeing to the potential of having a hysterectomy.  My doctor and I never discussed this.

Five hours later, the surgery was over, and I was in the recovery room.  My body thrashed around in pain, and I still felt knives stabbing throughout my stomach and back.

That’s when my doctor broke the news. “I’m sorry, but you have Ovarian Cancer.  We had to do a complete Hysterectomy.”

Through the pain, I heard, “You have cancer.  You can’t have children.” 

The irony was that my doctor was six months pregnant.  Her belly at my eye level felt like multiple stabs in the heart.

Stage 3c Ovarian Cancer spread throughout my abdomen.  Infertility.  Followed by a bowel obstruction.  And six months of chemotherapy. 

One of things I struggled with most was keeping friends and family up-to-date with what was going on.  I felt the daily burden of not communicating effectively with those I loved who were so concerned. 

In 2007, I founded MyLifeLine.org to help all cancer patients and caregivers easily communicate with friends and family during the treatment process.  MyLifeLine.org Cancer Foundation believes a strong support community is critical for cancer patients.  We provide free, personal websites to cancer patients and caregivers to easily connect with family and friends, because no patient should ever feel alone. Learn more at www.mylifeline.org.

I would love to hear how an experience you’ve had with cancer inspired you to do something in the fight against cancer. Please share your comments.

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Partner Spotlight – Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

March 10th, 2011 | Posted by mllblog in Cancer Centers/Cancer Nonprofits | Cancer Patients | Caregivers/Friends and Family | MyLifeLine.org News - (0 Comments)

MyLifeLine.org is proud to announce a new partnership with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.  MyLifeLine.org now offers free personal websites to followers and constituents of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.  To sign up for a personal website go to http://mylifeline.org/signup/ocna/

ovarian cancer national alliance logo

Since its establishment in 1997, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has worked to save women’s lives. We fulfill our mission through advocacy, education, awareness, and community-building.

 

As the only national ovarian cancer organization in Washington, DC, the Alliance advocates for increased funding for research programs that will establish an early detection test and create better treatment programs for women with ovarian cancer. The federal government funds 90% of ovarian cancer research in the United States, making this a critical source of funding.

 

We educate women and health professionals about the risks, signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. One of our most popular programs, Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s LivesSM, brings ovarian cancer survivors into medical schools to talk about their experiences with the disease. The Alliance also offers a clinical trial matching service, to help women with ovarian cancer find possible new treatments.

 

Building community for women and men affected by ovarian cancer is another important goal for the Alliance. We were founded by local ovarian cancer groups in five states, and continue to work with a national network of Partner Members. Each year, we host a conference in Washington, DC, that brings together patients, researchers, caregivers and policy experts. We have begun to host regional conferences and webinars to reach cancer patients who are unable to travel to the capital for our conference.

 

Last but not least, the Alliance works to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Although this disease will affect one in 71 women, it is not well known. We work to raise the profile of ovarian cancer to that women will know the symptoms and be diagnosed early, when their odds of survival are much higher.

 

Underlying all our activities is our dedication to women with ovarian cancer, and our determination to advance their interests.

 

 

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