Researchers discover ovarian cancer biomarker
Posted from our friend Karen Ingalls
http://www.amazon.com/Outshine-An-Ovarian-Cancer-Memoir/dp/1592984622
CDC Symptom Diary Card
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Love
I gave my undivided attention to this PBS documentary about Lipizzaner Stallions. I had heard of these beautiful horses from my mother, and of course my adorable nieces, who loved and love horses.
I have a funny memory of mom being followed by one of grandpa's racing horses. She was laughing one of those panicky laughs while trying to keep away from him. He got out from inside the fence and was running up behind her along the long driveway. I think he liked mom's hair or thought she had carrots and apples. Anyway, it was pretty comical. Mom loved horses.
I have a funny memory of mom being followed by one of grandpa's racing horses. She was laughing one of those panicky laughs while trying to keep away from him. He got out from inside the fence and was running up behind her along the long driveway. I think he liked mom's hair or thought she had carrots and apples. Anyway, it was pretty comical. Mom loved horses.
What I found most interesting in this documentary was not just the complex history of this rare breed of horse but truly the love and care that is given to these beauties since their birth.
All I can think about is what love means and how do we show love. Why can't all humans receive this kind of love?
The horses are well fed, pampered, groomed, bathed and spoken to with gentle care, their entire lives.
They therefore learn to love back and trust.
It is so simple a concept, yet we humans have such a long way to go when it comes to loving one another.
Humans have great capacity to love, yet we don't always.
Imagine every child on the planet clean and bathed, well nourished and only treated with utmost kindness and love. Not ever a note of anger or violence to be experienced. Wow.
Just that alone could change the world. Imagine every elderly person and disabled person receiving the same. And everyone else. Love is the foundation of our existence.
Love,
Denise
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Support Her
I just found a very helpful study that confirms what we knew all along: social support, spiritual health and psychological health correlate with our quality of life, even moreso if you have ovarian cancer.
I am posting the link below, as I cannot copy it to my blog directly.
I am really fortunate in that my gyn oncologist has always placed my quality of life as her number one priority when it comes to my care. I currently have a counselor and my support network is open and listens to my needs. Cancer is complex, ovarian cancer is no exception. Adding cancer to your already complex life and to the lives of those around you brings about all kinds of opportunities for generosity, but also can bring about sadness and isolation.
If you have ovarian cancer and feel that you need more emotional support, you are not alone.
This article outlines areas of need and validates that supportive environments play a critical role in our quality of life. Not everyone gets the support they need, but personally I think it's not always because of lack of potential. Giving help and receiving help are sensitive issues in general. Caregivers and loved ones may not really know how to help and understanding cancer fatigue, for example, is almost impossible unless you know it yourself.
It is somewhat of a relief that this area of need is being studied as it relates to ovarian cancer. I hope to see more research and help in this area for all who are effected by ovarian cancer.
Peace and blessings to you!
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.3322/abstract
I am posting the link below, as I cannot copy it to my blog directly.
This may be a very useful article for your own knowledge and well being. It also may help you if you need a medical professional to have more empathy towards your overall well-being. It especially adds value in terms of communication with loved ones and caregivers.
I am really fortunate in that my gyn oncologist has always placed my quality of life as her number one priority when it comes to my care. I currently have a counselor and my support network is open and listens to my needs. Cancer is complex, ovarian cancer is no exception. Adding cancer to your already complex life and to the lives of those around you brings about all kinds of opportunities for generosity, but also can bring about sadness and isolation.
If you have ovarian cancer and feel that you need more emotional support, you are not alone.
This article outlines areas of need and validates that supportive environments play a critical role in our quality of life. Not everyone gets the support they need, but personally I think it's not always because of lack of potential. Giving help and receiving help are sensitive issues in general. Caregivers and loved ones may not really know how to help and understanding cancer fatigue, for example, is almost impossible unless you know it yourself.
It is somewhat of a relief that this area of need is being studied as it relates to ovarian cancer. I hope to see more research and help in this area for all who are effected by ovarian cancer.
I have believed since the beginning that psycho-spiritual-social treatment should be automatically included as needed in the overall treatment for ovarian cancer. Insurance should cover this as well. We have multitudes of support groups, both online and in community, available to us but the issues at hand can be so involved that a psychologist or psychiatrist may really be needed to help mend our open wounds.
Peace and blessings to you!
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.3322/abstract
Roland, K. B., Rodriguez, J. L., Patterson, J. R. and Trivers, K. F. (2013), A literature review of the social and psychological needs of ovarian cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 22: 2408–2418. doi:
10.1002/pon.3322
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