Webinar Info:UPDATE: Here is the link to the webinar on January 25th: https://youtu.be/ci6GIRh0OmA As a woman who knows that ovarian cancer comes and goes throughout survivorship I feel very threatened by the push towards removing the Affordable Care Act. I do rely on Medicare to provide coverage for my healthcare. Millions of people suffering with cancer and other long term chronic illnesses feel the same. Now that Donal Trump has officially been sworn in as our President we must forge ahead as one unified voice standing up for all of the vulnerable and explore our representatives in government to provide legislation that protects affordable healthcare for ALL! More opinions encouraged... Peace and Blessings! Denise Archuleta |
CDC Symptom Diary Card
Friday, January 20, 2017
Cancer Moonshot Webinar Jan 25th Please Register
Cancer Moonshot Webinar Link
Wednesday, December 07, 2016
Alarming Rate Of Depression In Medical Students
I came across an article about depression amongst medical students that needs to be shared. Unfortunately I am not surprised by this information. Students should be inspired and supported to perform at optimum levels, not browbeaten to prove their worth.
I used to work in healthcare as an occupational therapist before losing that career to rheumatoid arthritis. Healthcare settings can, certainly not always, be very abusive. I witnessed this first hand. This atmosphere is never good for patients.
Not everyone in the healthcare industry should be a person who provides patient services. There are alternative fields within healthcare, such as lab work, that are less directly involved with patients. But to take an eager, skilled, bright student and beat them down as part of medical boot camp is unethical in my mind. This approach to training kills students, doctors and patients.
Please pray for your medical care team.
Peace and Blessings,
Study: More than a quarter of medical students are depressed, suicidal
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/06/health/med-students-depression-suicide/index.html
Sunday, November 20, 2016
We Need Mercy
In the wake of the Presidential Election those of us with serious and potentially life threatening diseases are very concerned about what changes may come to the Affordable Care Act.
Pray that politicians know the heart of Jesus as they make critical decisions that will effect the health and outcome of millions of Americans across the USA. God asks us not to worship money and unfortunately money worshippers are running the healthcare system. This has to change. A for-profit healthcare model does not work.
Here are two links that you may find helpful today.
The first is the link to The Divine Mercy Chaplet on You Tube. I am praying this daily, and it will help you to learn this prayer. It is beautiful, calming and connects you in a special way to our Lord.
The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion
The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.
The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:
A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
The second is the link to Healthcare.gov https://www.healthcare.gov
Plus: I am nominated for a Best Health Blog contest by Healthline.com. I could use your vote
Hi Denise, Congratulations! Nobody Has Ovarian Cancer: The Soft Whispers of a Fierce Blow is nominated for Healthline’s Annual Best Health Blog Contest! Check it out here:
Every year we take a look at the top health blogs to honor & recognize them. This year things may look a little different, as we’ve updated the contest and taken strides to make sure everything runs smoothly & everyone has a good time voting for their favorites! The contest has a nomination period, starting now, until November 21st. After that, you can vote once per day for your favorite blog up until December 12th when the winner will be announced. Once voting begins, we’ll send you a reminder email so you can share with your followers. Remember, the blog with the most votes will receive a $1000 cash prize! Let me know if you have any questions. Congrats and good luck! Maegan -- Maegan Jones
Thank you Meagan Jones for the nomination.
God Bless You All
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Be The Light
Do you sometimes feel like this? Doing something other than the intended activity??? In this clip I thought I was taking a selfie...ha!
I was up all night with never ending flushes of hot flashes and night sweats. I am not sick, that I know of. Today it has been one hot flash after another, after another, after another. My ears won't stop ringing, I am exhausted beyond measure. I can't get comfortable in my own skin today. Not sure what is going on. I had an infusion of Rituxan and IVIG in the last few weeks, maybe that is it?
I can't focus. So I write in my blog hoping that it will help.
When I feel like I do today I rely on prayer and reflecting on my retreat experiences, along with looking through photos of happy times with loved ones. I don't have the energy to walk outside today.
This little clip was taken at a retreat center near Carroll, IA. I drove Sr. Anne Marie back home from our retreat for women with cancer. She had injured her back. It was an honor. Tiring indeed, but well worth it because I had precious 1:1 time with our Sister in Mary. I knew that she would bring along an abundance of protection for us with her guardian angels.
My mind and heart wander frequently to the memories of our retreat because those times nurtured my spirit and replenished hope for my future, no matter how it is revealed.
Please say a prayer for all those suffering with pain and angst from cancer or any other chronic condition, for those people are in need of light.
Be the light.
God Bless you!
Visit Sr. Anne Marie's retreat:
Sunday, October 16, 2016
A Prayer For Peace In Time Of Sickness
A Prayer For Peace In Time Of Sickness
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Divine Healer,
grant me peace of mind
and perfect trust in You
in my time of distress.
Give me control over my fears.
Grant that I may be cooperative
and patient with Your Will,
trusting that You will restore me to full health.
Tuesday, October 04, 2016
Reflections On Our Retreat
Reflections On Our Retreat:
The richness of this past retreat for women with cancer cannot be expressed or summarized in just one post.
I walked away feeling so much lighter as we had released some of our spiritual and emotional baggage!
This retreat is: A Place of God's Love and our Blessed Mother's Love
A space of quiet calm where God’s voice can be felt and heard.
A place to see old friends and feel their hope and courage.
Where one newly diagnosed woman was being comforted by her sisters and the Lord, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother.
Where a woman who feels she is coming to the peak of her life on earth says she is now ready for the angels, after being in chemo for 6 years straight.
Where women who are NED living with the scars of cancer are seeking solace.
Where women who are in treatment now wait scan results with greater peace and strength knowing there are no bad outcomes because our ultimate destiny is with the Lord.
Part One:
We are immortal! This sinks in as I calm down from the tediousness of traveling to Corpus Christi. The first night we gather for dinner, talk a little amongst ourselves, to get oriented to this place of peace. I call it my "oasis of hope". It was wonderful to see familiar faces and to see new faces. We take a deep breath of relief knowing that for the next 3.5 days we get to "Be with God" without interruption. We will get to know our Blessed Mother and learn about how she helps us to reach our Lord, especially in times of sorrow and pain.
Our first talk with Sr. Anne Marie is powerful, a gentle yet striking reminder that living on earth is not the endpoint of our lives. Our immortality is the foundation upon which the remainder of the retreat rests. What matters to God is not our jobs, our income, our fashion, our hair, our cars, our clutter…..what matters to God and matters to each other is HOW WE LOVE. How we love effects the manner in which we enter into our immortality.
How I interpret this:
Our baggage and emotions can and do interfere with how we love. Releasing baggage frees us to live and Love greatly.
Before I go to bed and upon awakening in the morning and during the day I check myself: How did I love today? When I interact with family how did I love? When I speak to my doctors and nurses, how did I love? When I go to the store and greet my neighbor, how did I love? These things matter and the energy we give is the energy we receive. This effects our health, our pain and our outlook on our lives. I am choosing to Love as much as possible. I have not always been this way, especially when I was angry about my diagnosis.
Ask yourself: How did I love today? That is my question to you for now.
Peace and Blessings,
Servivorgirl
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Physician Assisted Suicide Is Not For Me
It is time for a serious discussion. Colorado is now opening up the option to allow physician assisted suicide for "terminally ill" patients and this is the wrong move.
As a cancer patient I am opposed to physician assisted suicide. As a person of compassion I am opposed to physician assisted suicide. As a child of God I am against physician assisted suicide. As a human being I am opposed to physician assisted suicide.
Let me tell you why.
First trust that I know what stands before me in terms of suffering a death from ovarian cancer or its treatment side effects. Lying in bed with a swollen belly suffering concurrent system failure. I do not want to have this pain and suffering but I know that hospice and ongoing palliative care beforehand will minimize the pain. Maybe I will be graced with a death in the middle of my dreams and all my worries are for not......but that is not for me to decide.
Humanity, life itself exists in conception, birth, and natural death. We are advanced now and have more and more resources than ever before to support a person moving from this earthly life so that their final days can be in peace with family and friends, to help them, hold their hand as they make this most precious transition.
The desire to control our lives and our bodies is so strong that we will go to immoral lengths to maintain this illusion of control, going beyond reasonable and ethical means to achieve it.
To induce premature death is wrong in every way conceivable by me. I look at this from a spiritual view and it is obvious to me that such actions are against God's Will. From a human perspective it is cruel and inhumane to deny any living person the right to pass naturally for in this process we also are allowed very special and unique graces that prepare us for eternal life. This process allows everyone to grow and love beyond what they could have imagined and this can be done in a way that is not unruly and unbearable. Medicine has now advanced to allow for dying in peace without prematurely killing someone before the time has come naturally.
I need you to hold my hand as I go, not counsel me on taking a death drug so that everyone else can feel better about my death. The fear of death is so strong that we as a culture have fabricated in our minds that it is "ok" to kill someone before they are ready to go as some form of dangerously misguided compassion.
To help form some sort of boundary: If a person requires super extraordinary means to live of course they need to be let go to pass from earth naturally. If a person is terminally ill and suffering as they are on their way to die naturally, we are obligated as children of God and in all matters of human compassion and dignity to provide the best comfort care possible so that person is most restful and peaceful as they die.
Please do not tell me that you have given up on me and that you do not want to be with me as I go in a natural way. Please do not abandon me in my hour of need.
God created me. God is not to blame for any suffering I endure, either now or when my time to go has arrived. God, through the death of His son our Lord Jesus Christ, knows fully and understands every detail of pain, angst, fear and suffering. By living the Way of the Cross with Jesus I find comfort in my own suffering. What this means is not that it is "okay" or "easy", no it is the opposite: pain is pain. What this means to me is that there is purpose in this suffering, for each moment that I endure any form of suffering brings me closer to Jesus who suffered for all of us.
Knowing God and loving God is the way to learning how to face our death, to face our fears and to face our pain.
We are not here on this planet to kill each other, as some sort of mercy killing. No no no. We are born to be loving and to help each other, to serve each other. If we stay on that track we will not abandon each other in their time of death but do the opposite: We will embrace this most holy time and support that person as they pass naturally from this earth into eternity. THAT is Love!
So instead of voting to support physician assisted suicide, vote to provide more resources to those who are dying and their families to afford time off from work, to make sure their are no financial barriers to palliative medications and to increase services covered by Medicare and Hospice that allow for companion care, nurses aides and paid family leave.
On a side note: At the heart of this problem is the independent nature of the typical "American" person. If you are from an ethnic family, such as an hispanic or asian culture, there is an automatic response within these cultures to adapt to changes within the family. They move their parents to live with children as the parents age. This process allows for the aging to have the support they need. People are honored more than money. Making America Great again SHOULD mean enabling families to continue to honor their loved ones, NOT just acquire wealth and property. Richness comes from people, love, relationships and loving God.
Our "independent" culture is not prepared to increase and maintain the resources necessary to allow for a terminally ill person to die naturally, painlessly, with their loved ones able to be at their side on a daily basis. Never give up on believing in the true value of life and the life of those you love. They deserve to die naturally, supported with care to make this process as painless as possible, so that they can spend time enjoying each drop of sun, each drop of rain, sharing memories and smiles, and to say goodbye without haste.
On another side note: I know that people in the medical profession are probably the most hardened when it comes to experiencing angst with human suffering, I understand that. Take advantage of all possible resources available to help you, as a person of compassion, cope with the ongoing exposure to suffering. Your job is very important and if you are burning out seek a chance to work in a different area for awhile. Your heart and love is important, take care of yourself if you are facing too much suffering.
Strengthen our culture of LIFE!
As a cancer patient I am opposed to physician assisted suicide. As a person of compassion I am opposed to physician assisted suicide. As a child of God I am against physician assisted suicide. As a human being I am opposed to physician assisted suicide.
Let me tell you why.
First trust that I know what stands before me in terms of suffering a death from ovarian cancer or its treatment side effects. Lying in bed with a swollen belly suffering concurrent system failure. I do not want to have this pain and suffering but I know that hospice and ongoing palliative care beforehand will minimize the pain. Maybe I will be graced with a death in the middle of my dreams and all my worries are for not......but that is not for me to decide.
Humanity, life itself exists in conception, birth, and natural death. We are advanced now and have more and more resources than ever before to support a person moving from this earthly life so that their final days can be in peace with family and friends, to help them, hold their hand as they make this most precious transition.
The desire to control our lives and our bodies is so strong that we will go to immoral lengths to maintain this illusion of control, going beyond reasonable and ethical means to achieve it.
To induce premature death is wrong in every way conceivable by me. I look at this from a spiritual view and it is obvious to me that such actions are against God's Will. From a human perspective it is cruel and inhumane to deny any living person the right to pass naturally for in this process we also are allowed very special and unique graces that prepare us for eternal life. This process allows everyone to grow and love beyond what they could have imagined and this can be done in a way that is not unruly and unbearable. Medicine has now advanced to allow for dying in peace without prematurely killing someone before the time has come naturally.
I need you to hold my hand as I go, not counsel me on taking a death drug so that everyone else can feel better about my death. The fear of death is so strong that we as a culture have fabricated in our minds that it is "ok" to kill someone before they are ready to go as some form of dangerously misguided compassion.
To help form some sort of boundary: If a person requires super extraordinary means to live of course they need to be let go to pass from earth naturally. If a person is terminally ill and suffering as they are on their way to die naturally, we are obligated as children of God and in all matters of human compassion and dignity to provide the best comfort care possible so that person is most restful and peaceful as they die.
Please do not tell me that you have given up on me and that you do not want to be with me as I go in a natural way. Please do not abandon me in my hour of need.
God created me. God is not to blame for any suffering I endure, either now or when my time to go has arrived. God, through the death of His son our Lord Jesus Christ, knows fully and understands every detail of pain, angst, fear and suffering. By living the Way of the Cross with Jesus I find comfort in my own suffering. What this means is not that it is "okay" or "easy", no it is the opposite: pain is pain. What this means to me is that there is purpose in this suffering, for each moment that I endure any form of suffering brings me closer to Jesus who suffered for all of us.
Knowing God and loving God is the way to learning how to face our death, to face our fears and to face our pain.
We are not here on this planet to kill each other, as some sort of mercy killing. No no no. We are born to be loving and to help each other, to serve each other. If we stay on that track we will not abandon each other in their time of death but do the opposite: We will embrace this most holy time and support that person as they pass naturally from this earth into eternity. THAT is Love!
So instead of voting to support physician assisted suicide, vote to provide more resources to those who are dying and their families to afford time off from work, to make sure their are no financial barriers to palliative medications and to increase services covered by Medicare and Hospice that allow for companion care, nurses aides and paid family leave.
On a side note: At the heart of this problem is the independent nature of the typical "American" person. If you are from an ethnic family, such as an hispanic or asian culture, there is an automatic response within these cultures to adapt to changes within the family. They move their parents to live with children as the parents age. This process allows for the aging to have the support they need. People are honored more than money. Making America Great again SHOULD mean enabling families to continue to honor their loved ones, NOT just acquire wealth and property. Richness comes from people, love, relationships and loving God.
Our "independent" culture is not prepared to increase and maintain the resources necessary to allow for a terminally ill person to die naturally, painlessly, with their loved ones able to be at their side on a daily basis. Never give up on believing in the true value of life and the life of those you love. They deserve to die naturally, supported with care to make this process as painless as possible, so that they can spend time enjoying each drop of sun, each drop of rain, sharing memories and smiles, and to say goodbye without haste.
On another side note: I know that people in the medical profession are probably the most hardened when it comes to experiencing angst with human suffering, I understand that. Take advantage of all possible resources available to help you, as a person of compassion, cope with the ongoing exposure to suffering. Your job is very important and if you are burning out seek a chance to work in a different area for awhile. Your heart and love is important, take care of yourself if you are facing too much suffering.
Strengthen our culture of LIFE!
http://news.nd.edu/news/61556-nd-expert-gov-jerry-brown-s-assisted-suicide-decision-selfish-and-short-sighted/
Democrats For Life of Colorado Video Feed Against Assisted Suicide
God Bless you!
Link to November Ballot measures: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/ballotContactList.html
VOTE "NO" on Prop 106
Democrats For Life of Colorado Video Feed Against Assisted Suicide
God Bless you!
Link to November Ballot measures: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/ballotContactList.html
VOTE "NO" on Prop 106
Thursday, September 01, 2016
Food For Thought On Ostracization
Food For Thought:
I started researching this today because I saw an article about how isolation can
lead to an early death.
lead to an early death.
Being ignored is a form of ostracization, a slow social death. Something to think about as we ignore the elderly, the sick, the homeless, those who aren't cool enough, those who aren't rich enough, those who are not "like" whoever thinks they are so important that everyone
must be like them to be worthy of their time.
I personally know women who have experienced this and it is unfair because when someone is on the receiving end of being ostracized, there is no two-way communication, no chance for reconciliation.
And if you are in a position of being isolated, ostracized or abandoned, please seek counseling and participate in discussion groups, church activities, community activities and find old friends who can be there with you to help strengthen you heart.
Prayer is a wonderful way to offset the effects of loneliness.
Peace and Blessings
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
People Magazine Article Gene Wilder Saying Goodbye To Gilda
"For us, it all started on the first Sunday in January 1986. We were driving to play tennis in Los Angeles at a friend's house. Gilda began to feel what she described as a fog rolling in. She said, ''I can't keep my eyes open. I think I'm going to fall asleep.'' She lay back and looked like she had taken a sleeping pill. We made it to the tennis courts, and once she started playing, it went away. "
That extreme, extreme fatigue was one of my early symptoms. Please link to this article posted in People Magazine, a heartfelt interview with our now dearly departed Gene Wilder.
http://www.people.com/article/gene-wilder-tearful-goodbye-gilda-radner
http://www.people.com/article/gene-wilder-tearful-goodbye-gilda-radner
Peace and Blessings
Monday, August 22, 2016
Liquid Biopsies Improve Ovarian Cancer Recurrence Detection
Liquid Biopsies Improve Ovarian Cancer Recurrence Detection
Compliments of Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance research news.
http://www.colo-ovariancancer.org
Peace and Blessings
Compliments of Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance research news.
http://www.colo-ovariancancer.org
Peace and Blessings
Thursday, July 28, 2016
7 Year Cancerversary. New N.E.D.
I have to admit I am having a little difficulty concentrating because I just watched the Democratic National Convention and then stumbled across a live Periscope feed of Blake Shelton playing at the Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado. Wow! Love him! Talk about contrasting experiences. He is now playing "Footloose", HA. I am having a blast.
Earlier today a new friend from the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance and I drove to Evergreen for lunch. Evergreen is a quaint mountain town not too far from Denver. It was very refreshing to get some mountain air and look at a beautiful stream.
It is my 7 year cancerversary! Praise God. This time exactly 7 years ago I was headed to bed after prepping for my surgery. My dearly departed mom and her sister were with me the night before and took me to my surgery in the wee hours of the morning. All I felt was their love and my fear, and I prayed for God's mercy to shine upon my suffering and to relieve me of this awful cancer.
Here I am today, going to lunch with a friend, watching political history be made and catching Blake Shelton via a technology that did not exist 7 years ago. Crazy.
I have learned that people living with cancer cannot look back but must look forward and reach out to as many resources as possible. This is critical because your condition is going to change, moving towards the better and then towards the worse, and then the better......etc. It is just that, a constant adjustment to condition, treatments, surgeries, side effects new and renewed, and blessed breaks from the suffering. This is not predictable necessarily so other people have a heck of a time being able to plan how to be there to support you. It forces us all to be flexible, to live in the here and now and to be patient.
Not everyone wants to be patient, or flexible. Living in the present is no small task, especially if you came into ovarian cancer possibly as a result of medical neglect, like I did. We go over and over and over and over the steps that led to this disaster. You may remember my story is defined by being told several times that I was "too young to have ovarian cancer" so they never looked when I kept telling them my symptoms. Other things happened as well but it took a lot out of me and my family dealing with my rage. I am so very sorry for that still. Especially that my mom listened so much. My cancer hurt her in so many ways. God rest her soul.
Psychological counseling is necessary in most cases of cancer care, I personally believe. It is just too much to try to ask a single person or family to bear on their own. Cancer offers no certainty and everyone in the patient circle of support is effected, and in different ways. I wish that psychological and spiritual counseling were mandatory offerings for patients and their loved ones. One day I hope.
My faith in our Lord Jesus Christ has sustained me this whole time and without Him I am not sure I would have survived. He brought to me the gynonc and care providers I needed to heal and still does.
I am currently on a break from Avastin for several reasons. The first thing is that my recent scan showed no evidence of disease. Glory be to God. I am thrilled. I cannot believe it. Avastin has chipped away the tumors one tiny dot at a time. Amazing! My recurrence began in early 2012.
After having 45 or 46 Avastin treatments my blood pressure has begun to rise and my urine protein is increasing. Those are concerning to my gynonc, and to me, so this is a good time to take a temporary break.
I battle extreme fatigue. An example: I volunteered for World Vision this past Monday at an event to enroll people in their child refugee support program. I was there for 5 hours. Afterwards I slept 14 hours straight through, not hearing 3 separate alarms. This makes it very difficult to work, but I am looking for part time work to begin in October. I am hopeful.
The plan is to go on maintenance Avastin in 3 months because that is what is needed to keep ovarian cancer from spinning out of control. Cancer cells adapt and can become less responsive to treatments over time. It is very risky to stop Avastin for too long but I need to rest and to recover from all of the many treatments that I have had.
I thoroughly enjoy the treatment team and my new gynonc at Anschutz Cancer Pavillion. They are caring, thorough, professional and well staffed. It is an NCI designated research center so I feel that they can handle any special needs a patient may have. Praise God.
I still rely on my therapy cat, Marilyn. She is my little angel. She likes to play chase after her morning meal, ha. That means two or three jolts across the apartment. I need the exercise.
I still take things a day at a time but can make longer term plans now. I can see myself enjoying next summer, WOW. I start and end my days with Our Lord's Prayer and Hail Mary. I give thanks at every meal. I go to Mass because I love God and need God in my life for without Him, nothing works. He keeps me hopeful and steady in this world of unpredictability. If someone gets upset with me or targets me I take a breath and then pray for them, doing all I can to not get entangled in anything negative. It is not completely unavoidable but I do the best I can.
As always I am eternally grateful to family and friends who have stood by me through thick and thin over these past 7 years and thank them from the bottom of my heart. Each day is a gift from God, a miracle in the making and I pray that each of you gets to experience that "joy" of light each and every day.
God Bless you for all of your love, prayers and support.
Denise
Earlier today a new friend from the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance and I drove to Evergreen for lunch. Evergreen is a quaint mountain town not too far from Denver. It was very refreshing to get some mountain air and look at a beautiful stream.
It is my 7 year cancerversary! Praise God. This time exactly 7 years ago I was headed to bed after prepping for my surgery. My dearly departed mom and her sister were with me the night before and took me to my surgery in the wee hours of the morning. All I felt was their love and my fear, and I prayed for God's mercy to shine upon my suffering and to relieve me of this awful cancer.
Here I am today, going to lunch with a friend, watching political history be made and catching Blake Shelton via a technology that did not exist 7 years ago. Crazy.
I have learned that people living with cancer cannot look back but must look forward and reach out to as many resources as possible. This is critical because your condition is going to change, moving towards the better and then towards the worse, and then the better......etc. It is just that, a constant adjustment to condition, treatments, surgeries, side effects new and renewed, and blessed breaks from the suffering. This is not predictable necessarily so other people have a heck of a time being able to plan how to be there to support you. It forces us all to be flexible, to live in the here and now and to be patient.
Not everyone wants to be patient, or flexible. Living in the present is no small task, especially if you came into ovarian cancer possibly as a result of medical neglect, like I did. We go over and over and over and over the steps that led to this disaster. You may remember my story is defined by being told several times that I was "too young to have ovarian cancer" so they never looked when I kept telling them my symptoms. Other things happened as well but it took a lot out of me and my family dealing with my rage. I am so very sorry for that still. Especially that my mom listened so much. My cancer hurt her in so many ways. God rest her soul.
Psychological counseling is necessary in most cases of cancer care, I personally believe. It is just too much to try to ask a single person or family to bear on their own. Cancer offers no certainty and everyone in the patient circle of support is effected, and in different ways. I wish that psychological and spiritual counseling were mandatory offerings for patients and their loved ones. One day I hope.
My faith in our Lord Jesus Christ has sustained me this whole time and without Him I am not sure I would have survived. He brought to me the gynonc and care providers I needed to heal and still does.
I am currently on a break from Avastin for several reasons. The first thing is that my recent scan showed no evidence of disease. Glory be to God. I am thrilled. I cannot believe it. Avastin has chipped away the tumors one tiny dot at a time. Amazing! My recurrence began in early 2012.
After having 45 or 46 Avastin treatments my blood pressure has begun to rise and my urine protein is increasing. Those are concerning to my gynonc, and to me, so this is a good time to take a temporary break.
I battle extreme fatigue. An example: I volunteered for World Vision this past Monday at an event to enroll people in their child refugee support program. I was there for 5 hours. Afterwards I slept 14 hours straight through, not hearing 3 separate alarms. This makes it very difficult to work, but I am looking for part time work to begin in October. I am hopeful.
The plan is to go on maintenance Avastin in 3 months because that is what is needed to keep ovarian cancer from spinning out of control. Cancer cells adapt and can become less responsive to treatments over time. It is very risky to stop Avastin for too long but I need to rest and to recover from all of the many treatments that I have had.
I thoroughly enjoy the treatment team and my new gynonc at Anschutz Cancer Pavillion. They are caring, thorough, professional and well staffed. It is an NCI designated research center so I feel that they can handle any special needs a patient may have. Praise God.
I still rely on my therapy cat, Marilyn. She is my little angel. She likes to play chase after her morning meal, ha. That means two or three jolts across the apartment. I need the exercise.
I still take things a day at a time but can make longer term plans now. I can see myself enjoying next summer, WOW. I start and end my days with Our Lord's Prayer and Hail Mary. I give thanks at every meal. I go to Mass because I love God and need God in my life for without Him, nothing works. He keeps me hopeful and steady in this world of unpredictability. If someone gets upset with me or targets me I take a breath and then pray for them, doing all I can to not get entangled in anything negative. It is not completely unavoidable but I do the best I can.
As always I am eternally grateful to family and friends who have stood by me through thick and thin over these past 7 years and thank them from the bottom of my heart. Each day is a gift from God, a miracle in the making and I pray that each of you gets to experience that "joy" of light each and every day.
God Bless you for all of your love, prayers and support.
Denise
Thursday, July 21, 2016
My Love For Soap
Taking a break from talking about cancer to share a a "little happy". My 7 year cancerversary is next week and I have a very interesting story to share with you then.
For now please take a moment to hear this little story about another way I can share my love for soap with you.
My personal webpage is https://DeniseArchuleta.po.sh/
You know how much I love soap so for me this is just fun. I hope you find this fun too.
Peace and Blessings!
Monday, June 27, 2016
Fragrant Cold Pack Hack To Relieve Hot Flashes
I have been having hot flashes since 2008, ridiculous I know. I started having them in a severe way approximately 9 months or so before my diagnostic surgery. My bosses at work were a little perplexed at my sudden need to stand outside in the cold multiple times per day, HA. I was told to "monitor" the situation because it could be early menopause. Well, unfortunately it was not just early menopause.
So fast forward to the current day, summer heat and me trying to minimize my electric bill and you have one uncomfortable mama. So in the past 7 or 8 years I have tried many remedies to reduce or eliminate these disruptive hot flashes. In addition to this cold pack I keep some cute oriental hand fans on hand to make the air around me breezy if I am not using a fan.
Hormone patches are a no-no for me because of my BRCA1 mutation. It is imperative to avoid them in order to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.
Hot flashes love me, they never want to take a break. They arrive every hour or two, and come on with a frenzy if I am talking about anything uncomfortable, rushing to get out the door, or being active for any reason. Exercising comes with all kinds of fun extra sweating. I have night sweats EVERY night. If preceeded by an anxious conversation or thought, the hot flashes are combined with nausea and panting. Sort of a "fear" feeling that paralyzes me temporarily. My face turns tomato red and I sweat terribly. Yuck a wucka woo!
Otherwise I look normal. HA
So here are a few photos showing how I make this little neck wrap that is kept in the freezer at home.
I apply this directly to the back of my neck but if your skin is sensitive, you should cover this wrap with cheese cloth or a very thin dish towel/cloth to protect your skin from the direct cold.
This fragrant cold pack feels GREAT on the back of my neck and speeds up the hot flash recovery time. I only need to have it on for a few minutes at a time. It works quickly.
If you are anticipating a hot flash coming on, place this on the back of your neck right away to lessen the severity of this unwanted experience (that is if you have time to run to the freezer) ;-)
This cold pack smells AMAZING!
Place about 1 cup of water in a stainless steel bowl. Add just a few drops of Rosemary Essential Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil if you like. Gently mix the oils and water together.
Place the clean large washcloth in the bowl to soak up the water and essential oil mixture.
Wring out the washcloth and place it on a clean surface. Straighten and then roll the cloth into a tube shape starting at one of the corners.
Form the cloth roll into the shape of a horse-shoe and freeze. Store in a clean ziplock bag once frozen for re-use.
This fragrant compress will gently rest on the back of your neck when you are in urgent need of hot flash relief.
I have placed a few links that provide some education about the benefits of Rosemary and Peppermint Essential Oils. You can use the essential or fragrance oil of your choice if you have any on hand, or no oil at all. It is up to you. I recommend researching the oil beforehand just as a precaution.
I hope you find this cold pack helpful to provide some relief from those uncomfortable and sometimes intrusive hot flashes.
Peace and Blessings,
Denise
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