Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

We are coming up on September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  Above is a beautiful stamp created by Amy Tedder, a 6 year Ovarian Cancer survivor.  You can read more about her from the link below.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/August-news-from-the-Ovarian-Cancer-National-Alliance.html?soid=1103664214012&aid=08nMv7XeHQE

In the past few weeks we learned about Wendy Schultz, wife of MSNBC host of the Ed Show, Ed Schultz.  Wendy has had surgery and is receiving treatment for ovarian cancer.  Our prayers and love and support go out to you Wendy and Ed.

Please watch the video, it is compelling and you can feel the love that Ed has for his dear wife.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/ed-schultz-wife-wendy-ovarian-cancer_n_1706873.html

Mom is doing so much better, yay.  We are just doing all we can to be there for her so that she can get back to a sense of normalcy while we have some sunshine in Seattle.  She has so many complications, yet she pushes on, no matter what.  No matter the pain, the swelling, the fatigue, the sugar changes, or whatever tries to block her way.  'We love you mom.

I have my second treatment with  Lipodox next Monday.  Ugh, but it must be done.  This last time around, the nausea was pretty bad.  Overall though, I could breathe.  No shortness of breath.  That was so scary when on the carboplatin, so thankful that is gone.  Today I am grateful for the Lipodox and will deal with the side effects, because I'm here to deal with the side effects I can say thank you to God.

I love you all!

Medications to treat Ovarian Cancer, returning to OC

Hello Family,


Last night I had a nightmare.  One of my old managers from the 1990's was in my dream and in the dream I was crying because I was being harassed.


It was so strange.  I was in a library that looked like a giant shopping mall.  I kept running from section to section because I was being chased by her, literally being forced to move because I wasn't "allowed" to educate myself.  I was forbidden to read or research information about my condition.  I guess I was trying to find out more information about a situation I was in, and she didn't want me to know my rights.  


It was like a game of hide and seek.  She would find me and make me leave the area and I would sneak back in and be caught again.  This happened over and over and over and over.  


When I'm on chemo my dreams are always very colorful and detailed and full of strong messages.  I always remember them in some way and often will continue the dream the next night.  


I'm literally remembering this dream as if it actually happened.  


I feel like it sums up a lot of life experiences for myself and so many others.  We get bullied all throughout our lives on different levels.  As kids, it's the bully who makes fun of you.  As you age, it turns into an awkward work situation or fellow parent on the school board or landlord from hell.  


We never really know though how significant these instances are until later in life.  I've had slumlords make my life very difficult and complicated.  I remember clearly the gal in school who gave me a hard time, changed me forever.  


As a patient, I remember a few health professionals who could use a lesson in decency.


Maybe my dream was a summation of all those experiences of when I could have either stood up for myself or researched something just a little more and gave myself more protection.  I didn't though, and when I did stand up, I always chose what seemed to be the "wrong" fight.


Now I am much much much better at choosing my battles.  I am more careful not to poke the wrong bear. I still make mistakes, but I make them less often.


All else is forgiven and tomorrow there will be a new battle.  Maybe I just needed a dream to collectively gather all of those moments in time into one event and just let it go.  


Cancer is enough for now.


On a different note, I came across a list of possible medications to treat OC and thought it would be good to re-issue it, thank you WebMD.


I know I saw this several years ago, but was too overwhelmed to really consider anything other than what was recommended by my fabulous gyn-onc, Dr. G.  I know I have been given the best chemo options considering my overall medical health.  I really trust my doctor.


For those of you who are new to ovarian cancer, this list may be useful just so that you are aware of all the options.


My recurrence is turning out to last longer than I had hoped, as my new Lipodox treatment plan continues into November.  I don't qualify for any trials because my medical condition is too complicated with having rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  RA is an auto-immune disease that effects multiple systems in the body, not just the joints.  


I feel fortunate that I have the Lipodox option and that SCCA  http://www.seattlecca.org/  was able to obtain this important medication.  The Doxil crisis sadly left many people without critical treatment. I AM so blessed. 


Love you ................ 

Considering taking medication to treat Ovarian Carcinoma? Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of Ovarian Carcinoma. Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs listed below.

Your search for Ovarian Carcinoma returned the following treatments.

DRUG NAME	INDICATION	TYPE	USER REVIEWS

Arimidex Oral			528 User Reviews
Femara Oral			376 User Reviews
tamoxifen Oral			350 User Reviews
Xeloda Oral			110 User Reviews
AVASTIN IV			110 User Reviews
hydroxyurea Oral			50 User Reviews
Hydrea Oral			48 User Reviews
anastrozole Oral			43 User Reviews
megestrol Oral			32 User Reviews
Taxotere IV			28 User Reviews
cisplatin IV			25 User Reviews
letrozole Oral			24 User Reviews
carboplatin IV			21 User Reviews
Adriamycin IV			19 User Reviews
Megace ES Oral			17 User Reviews
Gemzar IV			16 User Reviews
Doxil IV			15 User Reviews
cyclophosphamide Oral			11 User Reviews
gemcitabine IV			11 User Reviews
docetaxel IV			9 User Reviews
Megace Oral Oral			9 User Reviews
leuprolide SubQ			7 User Reviews
bevacizumab IV			5 User Reviews
cyclophosphamide IV			5 User Reviews
capecitabine Oral			4 User Reviews
topotecan IV			4 User Reviews
paclitaxel IV			3 User Reviews
melphalan Oral			3 User Reviews
doxorubicin IV			3 User Reviews
etoposide Oral			2 User Reviews
Alkeran Oral			2 User Reviews
Adriamycin PFS IV			1 User Reviews
Hexalen Oral			1 User Reviews
Hycamtin IV			1 User Reviews
Docefrez IV			Be the first to review it
Alkeran IV			Be the first to review it
melphalan IV			Be the first to review it
altretamine Oral			Be the first to review it
thiotepa Inj			Be the first to review it
doxorubicin liposomal IV			Be the first to review it
Onxol IV			Be the first to review it
Lipodox IV			Be the first to review it
Lipodox 50 IV			Be the first to review it

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Aurora Memorial: We must make a change: National training program required prior to purchasing a gun of any kind.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/07/23/us/20120723_SHOOTING.html?smid=pl-share

My deepest condolences to the families of the victims, survivors and families of the survivors of the shooting in Aurora Colorado.  My home state and America and people around the world mourn your loss.  God Speed and Peace Be with You.

I propose that all people who purchase guns be required to have completed a training course prior to making the purchase.  This should be a Federal requirement, and a national registry of all people who have taken the gun safety course, gun ownership and current residence must be streamlined into one system.

Nobody needs to buy a gun in a hurry and nobody should be able to buy a gun without prior training on safe operation, handling and ethical and legal use of their weapon.

If the shooter would have been required to get to physically present himself to a training program operator, pass an exam and get a license that is certified and notarized,  he never would have passed.

I am not a fan of taking away our right to bear arms, but owning an assault rifle is ridiculous.

We need a license to drive a car.  We need a license to operate machinery.  In this country, you must pass a test to be a notary public.  Guys who work construction can't operate a forklift without going through certification for crying out loud....................

YET, in this country we allow people to buy weapons without knowing that they are trained on safe and lawful use.

The rigor and planning and patience and good honor necessary to take the time to attend and pass these courses would improve safe use of guns around the country and also would be a great deterrent, making it harder for criminals to buy weapons.  How many children are injured because stupid adults leave guns loaded in the house, accessible to curious little people? How many people hurt themselves each year because they don't know what they are doing?

I am not a fan of hunting, I can't even kill a spider.  I take them outside.  But I do understand that some people hunt and that we have a constitutional right to own a weapon to help us protect ourselves.  To continue to allow people to buy weapons and ammunition without proof that they have been trained on that weapon is plain irresponsible.

Please share if you support this idea.

We must change the ease of access to guns and background checks are not enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!