So I just got a mass email from OCNA asking if I want to tell my story on Oprah. I was so excited that Oprah was finally going to do a story about OC. I clicked on the link to her page, and what do I read? They are looking for a woman in her 30's or 40's who has recently had chemo for Breast or OC and now has a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH BUT DOESN'T FEEL AS PRETTY AS SHE USED TO BE BEFORE CHEMO (I am paraphrasing a bit here).
This is NOT a story about OC.
How many of us have a 'CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH"??? Yes, I know that Stage 1 folks will probably get that, but since 75% of us are diagnosed at Stage 3 or 4, we will never hear those words!!!
How many of us are in our 30's or 40's? I know, I know, you young ones are out there but it is definitely a disease of older women! Although I am only 50.
OMG----I am so pissed. What a joke.
Jeanie
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SO MAD! OPRAH IS OUT OF HER MIND
- By jeaniet
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 4:53 pm · 74 replies
- In Awareness and fundraising events
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Surgery Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Taxotere Chemotherapy Infertility Ovarian cysts
74 replies
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- Newest first
- By tex2step
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 5:17 pm
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I felt the same way when I read the email...... I am 61 yrs old and don't feel that I am finished! Does Oprah know that many of us are growing back our hair after chemo -which many breast cancer survivors never have to experience!
I guess that we have to try an educate even the mighty Oprah and her staff! What a shame.......
- By lovemnms
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 5:41 pm
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Hi,
I guess Oprah doesn't get it!
She could have had a cross section of ages and had each tell their story and how it has affected their lives.
- By abbaschild
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 6:05 pm
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Maybe you should send an email off to the Oprah show and enlighten the staff! Maybe it will get to her. Who knows??? She's all for getting the information out to the people, right? It would be interesting to see if she would be interested in learning the truth about ovca!
Go for it, girlfriend!!!
Blessings and hugs!!!
- By jeaniet
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 6:36 pm
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I sent her an email a year ago, for OC Awareness Month, with statistics and info. Never heard anything. I know other women emailed her too, last September.
Jeanie
- By melf
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm
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I would be willing to bet that this is going to be a makeover show. And, you know, if we were among those chosen we would thank our lucky stars to be included. But you are correct, how many of us fit that bill?
Perhaps everyone that received the mass mailing could send a very polite note back stating why they dont fit in to her request and educate her that way.
Melissa
- By songbird78
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm
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Just remember THIS is Oprah, its going to be like a "pretty me make me over to feel good about myself show" thats what Oprah does folks.
And they always tend to pick pretty folks anyway for these shows...
Id email them, but after reading that I laughed cause its typical Oprah.
- By Shearaw
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 7:24 pm
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I got the mailing, too. Most of Oprah's staff are young energetic women. I'm willing to bet that they have no awareness of the true nature of OvCa. They will be educated quite a bit if we write submissions that don't meet their preconceived notions. I am 57, and I sent in an app anyway :-) I prefaced it with a statement about being the median age for OvCa diagnoses. Usually her makeover shows also involve some awareness of an issue at hand. Hey, if one woman has an earlier diagnosis because they are now more aware of OvCa symptoms from hearing the story of some women in our club, that is a small step. In truth, I never watched Oprah, as I worked full time and raised a family. Then I had many months of treatment with a lot of TV and reading time. Yes, some shows are trite, but, I found many of the shows interesting to me. The OvCa primary demographic is the same primary demographic as the Oprah show. She could make a difference, if even in a small way.
- By Shamrock2009
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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I am 62 and submitted the form. I enlightened them that the average age of someone diagnosed with OvCa is 63. I also let them know that breast cancer gets plenty of publicity but OvCa kills a much higher % of women.
- By Patricia123
- Posted September 3, 2009 at 9:25 pm
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You know how I look is so low on my totem pole right now. I just want to live. There is something profoundly disturbing about this. ANd usually I don't get disturbed.
It reminds me of asking some Mother whose kids have died in a fire a month ago if she has gotten "closure" or interviewing a parent of a kid murdered and asking how they feel.
We are all in a lifeboat here, it is leaking a bit and I am not worried about how my hair looks. Some days yes but most days I just want to keep on living and loving the people around me.
- By mfgibby
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 7:29 am
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I for one would reply to the email just to get my story out there. Then try to talk to the producers about Sept. being ovarian cancer awareness month. I was lucky I had BC first took BRCA test and when that came back + I have my ovaries removed, so I dodged the OC bullet. Before BC, 3 yrs ago I requested a hysterrectomy based on family history and problems at that time w/my ovarian cysts. I was told that since my mom died at 29 her ovarian cancer was from a virus!!!!!! I had nothing to worry about. Well 3 yrs later I had BC and BRCA2+ test results.
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 8:41 am
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I also got that e-mail and it is a joke. I agree that it will turn out to be a makeover show. Oprah is slipping in her ratings and maybe this is why. Bring out the real issues that women need to learn about and hear directly. I'm sure both she and her staff are clueless about ovca. Almost no one with ovca gets a clean bill of health - are they kidding???? They are looking for a needle in a hatstack. Some clever 20-something year old probably thought of this and the only doctor she probably goes to is her dentist to get her teeth whitened.
- By sunny07882
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 9:34 am
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Isnt any media attention..good for fundraising and education/awareness?
Lets look at it from that perspective..............
- By sunny07882
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 9:34 am
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Isnt any media attention..good for fundraising and education/awareness?
Lets look at it from that perspective..............
- By melf
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 9:55 am
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I got to thinking last thing about Oprah, you know, as long as she has someone on her show that can tell of the symptoms etc...and remind her that most of us dont get out alive, then we have publicity about the disease. Thats our main goal, isnt it?
Melissa
- By Annette1
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 10:01 am
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I guess you can blame me for the email from OCNA. I saw the invite on Oprah's website and asked the OCNA staff if we chould submit a bunch of OvCa stories to get visibility for the disease. I speak to thousands of women with OvCa and I think they (we) are beautiful, so I never imagined that we wouldn't have suitable candidates for the show. I'm just looking for national media opportunities for the disease.
I've been to the Oprah show and it was my observation that the producers are very good at what they do. They try to balance happy stories with serious ones but ultimately are trying to convey messages that address different dimensions of women's lives. And it's not just about pretty, young women. The show I attended was about mothers who lost children to preventable accidents. Believe me, no one felt pretty that day.
I agree with the comments that we just need to get the disease looked at by the media. Honestly, how many of you knew about ovarian cancer before you were diagnosed. Not me!
Sorry if the email inviting you to get on the show offended anyone. We saw it as an opportunity to bring the faces of ovarian cancer to one of the most influential venues for women's awareness.
- By melf
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 10:04 am
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AND on her website this morning I noticed that she has placed the Loreal Hope collection in the spotlight. So I guess in Oprahs own way, she is helping to further the cause.
Maybe we could thank her for not being like the breast loving, clueless male executive who sells ladies accessories.
My two cents for the day. Im off now to send my thanks to Oprah for at least bringing the topic up.
Melissa
- By melf
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 10:06 am
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Thank you Annette1- You did a good thing in my opinion. Others will see the good as well.
Melissa
- By LilySue
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 10:27 am
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I saw the email yesterday and the activist in me said "great way to get the word out." The woman in me said "yes, I don't look the way I did pre-ovarian cancer and a makeover would be nice. But hey, I am 60 and they aren't looking for old fat ladies." I thought about it when when my Mom sent me the email and she said "get out there and tell your story." When I told her they were looking for someone in their 30s to 40s, she said, well you were diagnosed at 48 and you are a prime example of what survival is all about. Can you tell my Mom is proud of me?
So, bottom line, at least the staff at Oprah's is getting the word out. That is HUGE and a long time coming. So what if it is a makeover show? If the right people are selected (those who are passionate about the cause and awareness), they can tell their stories in a way that gets the message out. Maybe Oprah herself will have an AH-HA moment when she hears that she is approaching the median age for ovarian cancer. So let them slap a little lipstick on you and get out there and tell the world your story - it could save a life. I doubt the makeovers can overpower that message.
Annette, thanks for the email. Now we just need to find the "right" people for this and nominate them in a way that the Oprah staff selects them. Maybe OCNA could call the Oprah staff and tell them the need to select a more mature woman who is more representative of the demographics of the disease.
My two cents worth.
LilySue
- By stldaisy
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 10:52 am
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You're right, Annette and I didn't know anything about OC before being diagnosed either. The only thing I knew was that it was a killer, and I only knew that from having read Gilda Radner's book years ago.
It has been interesting for me in traversing this site that there ARE so many YOUNG women who are being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. I mean, our group is very diverse! So what does it matter what age of person is interviewed? As long as it gets some women's attention.
- By Connie4
- Posted September 4, 2009 at 12:45 pm
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Well, this tells me why my story that I tried to submit to Oprah yesterday didn't work. I'm too old - 62. What a laugh. I won't waste my time on Oprah ever again. Feel pretty? That is sheer stupidity. That would be laughable if it weren't so ridiculous. Thank you for letting me know why Oprah wouldn't accept my story. I worked two hours trying to get it to her. I, too, wrote a year ago to Oprah trying to get our stories of ovarian cancer survivors onto one of her shows to help save women's lives with that life-saving information. Never heard anything back either. Does she even care about other women or are just the elite important to her?
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