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It is hard to fathom...I was diagnosed October 2000 and am 6 months shy of being clear of ovarian cancer for almost 9 years....after being diagnosed with stage 3c...and being brca1+...and having a huge family hx of deaths from ovca...I am grateful...I am shocked...I am wanting to do more...I honor each and every one of you...why was I spared??? all I can do is pay each day...do what I can to help another woman...
hugs
K
hey Spunky -
you're helping by simply speaking up and spreading hope. there is nothing like hearing from a survivor that has gotten through it and who is thriving. i'm 15 months in remission and struggle to stay positive, as the 15 months have been a bit rocky and not without a couple of scares (my CA125, which has never been totally reliable for me just recently doubled from 6 to 12 but my CT scans were clear)...
i am slowly learning that it helps to talk and LAUGH and to get involved, so you stop getting caught up in the stress/worry/etc... It's a work in progress! :)
Thanks for sharing!
Spunky,
Yes, the juicer is well worth the money!! I have had mine for over 5 years now and it is still going. I use it 1-3 times a day.
The Green Star is the best, in my opinion, as the juice does not start oxidizing while juicing, meaning you can actually make it ahead of time and it should stay fresh for 6-12 hours in a container that is sealed. Make sure there is as little air as possible. I just found that out recently... therefore, I make my juices in the a.m. now. The other types of juicers, the parts on the machine cause the juice to begin to oxidize while it is being juiced... therefore, you cannot store it... must drink before losing the nutrients.
Greens provide you with enzymes that allow you to digest the rest of your food easier w/o putting stress on the immune system. The green juice also gives you energy!
Terri
I would have to agree with you on the stress thing-if for no other reason-stress is never a good thing and toxic people can take a walk-don't need anything but good juju around me...:-)~
As to dietary issues-whatever makes you feel better-for me, it is Chai Tea...not big on wheat grass, LOL...
The message is-live-just don't lay around waiting for the cancer to finish you off-fight back-fight with all your might-so whatever makes you feel alive-do it...so long as it is not illegal or immoral...
I have always wanted to buy a juicer-wondered if the cost justifys the product?
K
Dear Spunky and all the others,
I was diagnosed in 1997 with Stage IV ovarian. After 1 year of chemo AND finding records from my first gyno that I had ovarian 1 year prior (most likely stage I or II), that was never signed off on (radiologist suggested a biopsy... I never heard about it)... anyway, after a bit more than a year of chemo, I was cancer free for almost 5 years. I than was in a stressful relationship and the cancer came back. Who knows, but stress will do it. I am still fighting. I am on chemo, although I eat good, exercise and find more ways everyday to beat this thing. I feel good. Most of my friends look at it as living with a chronic disease. They call me the "energizer bunny", as I have more energy than most of my friends and all of my family. I green juice daily and stay away from coffee, sugar, white flours and meat. I am vegan and in the best shape and health I have ever been in. I tell people I am the healthiest sick person.
So, yes, there IS HOPE... much HOPE. We can do it. We can prove this is beatable.
Best to all of you... and Sandy, you just keep up the great health. I hope to have my recipe book out soon!!
Terri
Anything I can do to be of support and a shoulder whenever you need or want...I am here...
Ovarian Cancer-it is creepy and crawly...it works it's way in slowly but surely...it is something we have to fight back at with all our might...Do not let it take your spirit-do not let it take your joi de vive from you!
Live like you are living...not like you have ovca...do what you must to be safe from secondary illnesses, but live...live live live...do whatever you enjoy-don't let a cancer diagnosis take your life from the moment you are diagnosed...try to think like it is a chronic thing...like something if you take your meds you can deal with it...it will get hard sometimes-being sick sucks big time-but allow those sucky days to be just that-sucky days-and that is ok-then when you feel better-live it up...
Will keep these postings close to my heart...
Kendal
New here and have been going through two days of ...??? searching the net for GOOD stories to give me hope. I'm stage IIIc (surg last Dec, finished chemo in April) and have been fairly *ok* mentally for the most. But I heard @ a member of my support group (Gilda's Club) having a recurrance and it really hit me. I KNOW the odds and all that, but still.....
So, I allowed myself a day or two to kinda freak out and the like, and I came across your survivor story.
ThankyouTHANKyouthankYOU and wishing you more years of good health!!
*hug*
I wanted to answer your post/question, albeit a tad late...
Do I ever forget? the answer to that would be No...sometimes the cancer seems like a wierd dream and I wonder sometimes if it was real? I wonder this because I came through it all virtually unscathed...which strikes me as a little odd considering this is not the "norm" for stage3c ovarian cancer...that said, I do not ever forget...because had it not been for the cancer I would likely not be the better person I have become...I am no angel, not by any means, but I no longer live like life revolves around me and my needs...which is what I did for most of my life...I was a spoiled brat who took advantage of what I could most of the time...the cancer was not one of those wake up calls, like, oh my, I had better change my ways or I am going to Hell...it was more like, wow...why in the world am I healthy when so many other women are fighting this day in and day out.
I realized I was very lucky and that good fortune is not meant to be squandered...I began living outside of myself for the first time and realized how good it felt to help others...that reward was and is so much more fulfilling than self gratification...Giving just feels so much better than taking...truly...I got something huge...I am just trying to live a better life...kind of a Pay it forward life...
The cancer was real...It will always be real...and I will never forget because of women such as yourself that remind me of what it means to be courageous and have grace...
Stay in touch...
K
Hi Spunky,
Boy your thoughts mirror mine exactly! I too wish there was something more I can do. Hope you enjoy many more years of good health and continue to be a positive inspiration for someone- even if it’s one person at time.
Stay spunky! XOXOXOX....
Well...prophylactic mastectomy...have I considered it?
the answer to that would be yes...right now, no...I kinda like the ones I have and I figure I can live with them a while longer or until the start to droop in which case I will allow myself a new set...maybe when I hit 50 as a birthday present to myself...LOL
Seriously, I have no health insurance at the present time and have not had for the last 2 years...so I am living on a wing and a prayer...So far so good...
supposedly BRCA carriers respond better and fare much better than non BRCA carriers...any truth to this I wonder? Is this why I have not had any recurrences? who knows...Stay in touch please...it is good to have someone who understands...
all the best...K
Spunky,
I'm curious if you considered prophylactic mastectomy since you are BRCA 1 positive. I'm BRCA2 positive and more than 2 1/2 years since my Stage IIIc diagnosis -- and doing well. Just wondering if I need to do something so I don't get breast cancer as well. By the way, no cancer in my immediate family and I have 2 sisters and a mother who are all healthy as horses!
Jan
Love to hear that kind of news. gives us all hope!!!!!
Oh, My ex sister-inlaw had ovc stage 111 20 years ago. No recurrence either. she's going strong.
Dear Spunky-
Your experiences are so reassuring and hopeful. Despite everything going well since my diagnosis (3c) in October of this past year, it is hard to rember that we are all individuals and successes do occur (like yours).
Congrats and thank you for giving us all hope,
Christina
Wow Spunky. Thank you for sharing positive stories. I try to read the positive ones because there is so much negativity about cancer. I can only hope that we can all live long lives. Prayer and luck always helps.
Take care,
Mary
Thank you, Spunky!!!!!
Thank you for the hope to all of us that it is possible.
I feel very blessed that I have been in remission for 1 1/2 years with Stage IIIc......but constantly have that fear like all of us on this site.
I always wonder why.....but my faith instills in me that there is a bigger picture to all of this.
God Bless
Mary Ann
Spunky66,
Thank you for sharing, I look for the positive sites and how long people have been in remission. Thank you Thank you Thank you, and God Bless you and Yea to your 9 years!!!! What life changes have you done? Food, Stress...Job? and how did you remain in the positive light? it is so hard to remain positive when positive is not around...Thanks again and God Bless you.
Stacy
I wish I could say that I am a healthy eater and everything...the fact is that I live off of Starbucks Iced coffee and beef jerkey...the coffee to get me going at work...(I work as a CNA at a nursing home) and the jerkey as it is portable...protein on the go! LOL
I take vitamin C,D & B12 when I remember to...not so good at that kind of thing...calcium supplements are in the bathroom drawer but usually forget those too...I am SO not the poster child for what to do right...for some reason I am just plain lucky...that is it...my immune system never did recover but I don't really get sick all too often...I am lucky...despite the lack of care I give my body...more lucky than I should be...
Keep in touch!
Kendal
You are an inspiration! Thank you for sharing.
Have you chagned anything in your diet? Any vitamins?
God Bless,
Marilyn
I'm new to the website, diagnosed Feb 08, and so grateful to have access to this wonderful group of women sharing their stories. Yours is great.
Oh my...tears fill up my eyes when I read these posts...Thank you all so much for your kind words...I am also not the poster child for what to do to avoid cancer but I do try to eat well...not big on junk food and soda...my vice would be Chai Tea...
It is painful to watch so many endure trying times when I came through it all virtually unscathed...I do not focus on having had the cancer but always remember that I am one fortunate woman and it is from the bottom of my heart that I share my story with the hopes it may be of some benefit to someone...My email is always available and I make my cell available as well...woman to woman...survivor to survivor, voice to voice and heart to heart...
Sadly I have not been on the old laptop lately as I have been under the weather and just taking it easy...but rest assured that I do read each week and post as often as I am able...
much love
K
Congratulations! Loved reading about how many people you have inspired just here today...you can include me in on that number!
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