Outshine Ovarian Cancer Anniversary

Karen Ingalls (@kareningalls1) recently celebrated a blog anniversary at Outshine Ovarian Cancer. I have been following along with Karen and her story for quite some time and have read her book Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir.  Outshine is an inspiring book that not only chronicles her battle with ovarian cancer but shows a deep faith and spirit.

Karen had a giveaway to celebrate the anniversary of her blog. I was a lucky winner of this beautiful plaque that now graces a shelf in my office alongside a photo of myself in my early days of illness and a beautiful glass that belonged to my paternal grandfather (one of the few possessions of his that I am able to have in my home).  The plaque reads: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength…Phil 4:13 .  Thank you Karen for such a lovely gift.

Since writing Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir, Karen has had a recurrence of cancer and gone through yet another round of treatment. Karen is a brave lady and I am happy to call her a friend despite never meeting in person.

Ovarian Cancer: The Whispering Disease

 

 

 

 ANGELINA JOLIE,

    CHARLOTTE EMILY(PIERCE BROSNAN’S DAUGHTER),

         EMILY KNERR (9 YEARS OLD),

               CAROL CHANNING,

                      KATHY BATES,

                             CORETTA SCOTT KING,

 

       AND 250,000 WOMEN WORLDWIDE THIS YEAR

WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER.

 

This cancer does not discriminate as to age, fame or fortune, education, general health, or race. It is a world problem that will claim the lives of 140,000 women this year.

 

Early detection is key to survival. 

PLEASE, if any one of these symptoms occur daily for 2 weeks, see your gynecologist. Keep track of them on a chart similar to this one, or download Dr. Oz’s chart at:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/ovarian-cancer-one-sheet

 

PELVIC OR ABDOMINAL PAIN 

     Rate your pain from mild to severe:  

1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10

 

DIFFICULTY EATING OR FEELING FULL QUICKLY

      How much do you eat before feeling full:  

           100%     75%     50%     25%

 

FREQUENCY TO URINATE

      How often do you urinate:

             (1-3)    (4-6)    (7-9)    (10 or more)

 

BLOATING OF ABDOMEN

      Measure your abdomen to determine any increase in girth:

             (1-2″)     (2-4″)    (3-4″)    (5 or more inches)

 

CIRCLE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

                       

       Painful intercourse    Unexplained weight gain   Change in bowels

                        

       Increased fatigue        Persistent indigestion, nausea or gas

 

CIRCLE IF HAVE A FAMILY OR PERSONAL HISTORY WITH THE FOLLOWING:

                       

                        Breast Cancer    

                                                  Colon Cancer   

                                                                        Ovarian Cancer

 

A pelvic and rectal examination, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA125 blood test are the recommended procedures to determine if ovarian cancer might be present. PLEASE see a gynecologic oncologist if this cancer is suspected due to your symptoms, family history, and test results. BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE.

 

                      SHARE THIS BLOG WITH EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW…

                                             LET’S GET THE WORD OUT…

                        SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL OVARIAN CANCER GROUPS

 

 

Karen Ingalls is a retired registered nurse with a master’s degree in human development and psychology. She is the author of two books and numerous magazine and journal articles. 

All proceeds for her award winning book, “Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir,” go to gynecologic cancer research. http://www.outshineovariancancer.com

 

Her weekly blog is about health/wellness, relationships, spirituality and cancer. http://www.outshineovariancancer.blogspot.com

 

FEAR!

In March I read a blog post that my friend Karen Ingalls had on her blog outshineovariancancer.  The title of the blog post was For No Fear: You Must Know Fear.  The title intrigued me and I would have loved to have found this back in the days when I was so fearful; fearful of living another day, fearful that I wouldn’t live another day, fearful of the next reaction, etc.

Thank you Karen for sharing such a wonderful post with us.

 

Cervical Cancer: Is it Preventable?

My dear friend, fellow blogger, and cancer survivor, Karen Ingalls (Outshine:  My Ovarian Cancer Memoir) posted that January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  I have had my own scare with the possibility of ovarian cancer many years ago.

Please take a moment to check out Karen’s post at Outshine Ovarian Cancer.