September is ovarian cancer awareness month.
This cause is very near and dear to my heart because I lost my Mother seven years ago due to ovarian cancer. Her cancer was a blessing and a curse all at the same time. Here is her story:
The week before Christmas, 1997, my Mother ended up in the emergency room in immense pain from what she thought was pleurisy. She had been sick with the flu and was concerned she may be getting pneumonia. This was not the case, the doctors upon doing x-rays of her chest found several masses. Unsure what these masses were they decided to do exploratory surgery. When the surgeon came out we were informed that she had cancer and it had spread throughout her entire body. You see that’s the thing about ovarian cancer, its quiet and sneaky.
We were told that she had maybe six months to live.
My Mother on the other hand was not given a time frame. When she woke up and found out she had cancer she told the doctor she didn’t want to know how long she had, she only wanted to know what she needed to do to fight it, and fight she did! She had surgery to remove what they could and began chemotherapy immediately.
She spent the next four years undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She baffled her doctors and showed them what “6 months” could be. This time was a gift from God.
Ultimately six months turned into seven years. During those seven years she and I went from having almost no relationship to having one of the best relationships any Mother and Daughter could have.
She became my best friend.
Her positive attitude allowed her to survive and even thrive well past what doctors expected. She never gave up, and when the end did draw near she was at peace with it. While I deeply miss her now, her cancer was a bittersweet blessing in disguise. Had she not gotten sick we may have never worked on our relationship.
Ovarian Cancer is one of the hardest cancers to test for.
This is why it is so important that as women we get our regular checkups with our gynecologist.
Had my Mother’s cancer been found earlier it may not have cost her her life.
Peace, Love and happy Blogging
Misty
Bodynsoil says
September 8, 2011 at 4:01 amWow I am so sorry for your loss, such a hard long road for your mother to travel. The one light in your story is the rejuvenation of your relationship with your mother, that part was wonderful..
Jody - Fit at 53 says
September 8, 2011 at 6:21 amMisty, thank you so much for haring & I know it must be painful BUT you did rekindle the relationship & so happy that you had some good years with your mom. I understand as my mom dies from a rare cancer too & one that is usually misdiagnosed as my mom’s was for 8 months being told nothing was wrong with her.
HUGS to you!!!!!!!!!!
Hannah says
September 8, 2011 at 6:52 amStories like this make me sob and call my mom. All month long I am reminded how fortunate we are that hers was found early. Thanks for sharing Misty. So happy you had the time to repair your relationship. Hugs!
Laurie says
September 8, 2011 at 7:00 amSimply beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
addy says
September 8, 2011 at 7:32 amMisty thank you so very much for sharing your story. It is the story of your family’s journey through some of the best and worst of conditions. Your message is an important one – please keep sharing with all who will listen.
messymimi says
September 8, 2011 at 9:07 amPlease accept my condolences for the loss of your mother.
This is one cancer that makes me angry, that it takes so many, so fast.
lee / fitville says
September 8, 2011 at 10:39 amMisty, I’m wondering how old you were when you and your mom went through this. Thanks for sharing your story. We never know what hand is going to be dealt us but we have some choices about how we’re going to play it. Here’s to your mom!
Misty @ Life Off the D List says
September 8, 2011 at 11:56 amWhen she was first Diagnosed I was 16
Shelley B says
September 8, 2011 at 1:35 pmVery sorry for your loss, Misty. Thank you for sharing your mother’s story. What a strong, determined woman she was!
Michael Smith says
September 8, 2011 at 11:14 pmAwfully enlightening thanks, I do believe your current readers would certainly want way more information along these lines keep up the good hard work.
Johnny Smith says
September 8, 2011 at 11:42 pmAwfully useful cheers, I think your subscribers might probably want a lot more reviews like that continue the good hard work.
Andrew Smith says
September 8, 2011 at 11:47 pmAstonishingly beneficial bless you, I do think your followers could perhaps want a great deal more posts like this keep up the great hard work.
Michael Smith says
September 9, 2011 at 12:30 amTruly enlightening thanks, I believe your current readers could perhaps want a lot more blog posts similar to this continue the great effort.
Legally Fabulous says
September 9, 2011 at 10:31 amThanks for this post… my mom has had ovarian cancer twice now… the second time just 2 years ago. She’s 53 years old and had a hysterectomy long before her first cancer diagnosis… who knew you could get ovarian cancer without any ovaries? But you can. Cancer sucks.
charlotte says
September 9, 2011 at 1:34 pmBeautiful. What a touching tribute, Misty! Thank you for sharing your mom with us…
Jeanne Nelson says
September 9, 2011 at 8:00 pmSo proud of you, Misty, and your Mom is too!!! Love you with all of my heart and soul! For all those reading, … pay attn to your body … and research the symptoms of Ovarian CA, the Silent Killer that took Misty’s Mom (my Sister)! It comes “in the nite” and moves quickly without much warning.
Susan says
September 10, 2011 at 6:25 amGreat guest post. The best way to beat cancer is to discover it early. Regular check-ups and being forthcoming with our doctors isn’t something we can just brush off. Amazing that your mom went on to live so long after her diagnosis. I always like to look at it not as losing someone too soon, but getting extra time with someone we love, which is indeed a blessing xo
Robby says
September 10, 2011 at 10:44 amThank you for the reminder. I called my OBGYN and made an appointment.
Misty @ Life Off the D List says
September 11, 2011 at 9:25 pmI’m glad you made an appointment Robby! Ovarian Cancer fights dirty and never fights fair.
Sarah says
September 10, 2011 at 3:29 pmI lost a friend at church to ovarian cancer only a couple of months ago. She had been fighting it for 4 years.
Her cancer was not found early enough either – she experienced bloating and put it down to the menopause – when it was finally checked she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
I can only echo what you said and say ladies, please get symptoms checked by your doctor if they are recurring whatever they are, and raise awareness of this difficult to diagnose cancer with your friends.
CraftChick says
September 11, 2011 at 7:33 pmThank you so much for sharing. My father lived well past the time the doctors said he would have, and while I miss him everyday, I too am thankful we had the time to have a closer relationship.
shannon says
September 12, 2011 at 11:56 amwhat a great post. i had a friend lose her mom from ovarian cancer 2 years ago. so quick. definitely need more awareness!
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