“Honor yourself, care for yourself and don’t feel ashamed to be selfish with your time. This also includes freeing yourself from always feeling like you have to be a hero. There’s a time and a place for tying that cape around your neck, but you also have the right to wallow as needed; just make sure you don’t set up camp there.”
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Jane
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Maria
"The first diagnosis was the hardest moment, the doctor said I basically had six months. I have a little girl, which at that moment was young (almost 3 years old). My husband, who is very strong, was devastated. It was a hard hard moment to get through. But after that, after rock bottom, all we had left was to stand up, so I did it, WE did it, as a family. And 3 years later, I’m still here living my life, seeing my little princess grow, and getting thanking God for letting me be here."
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Amy
Ovarian and Breast Cancer Grad- Rachel
"I will continue to communicate my blurb to every single news organization which continues to report solely on breast cancer. "If breast cancer is the ying then ovarian cancer is the yang. To report solely on breast cancer in the age of Angelina Jolie and the discovery of the BRCA genes is not only irresponsible, it’s infuriating. Next time please don’t follow everyone else’s lead, set the example.”
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Sherry
I wish that more people understood how dangerous OVCA is. That is has a frighteningly high recurrence rate, and that there is NO FORMAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. A Pap smear tests for cervical cancer, not ovarian. Because of this, you have to stay extra vigilant. If you feel off, ask your doctor for a transvaginal ultrasound. If you still feel off, ask them for a CA-125.
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Jenny
Double Major- Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer Grad- Amanda
"I wish people knew about the symptoms, the seriousness of the disease and overall just felt more comfortable talking about ovaries and gyn stuff in general. I've heard so many stories of women not truly knowing their family history because their relatives called it 'lady cancer' or something else. After my second diagnosis my genetic mutation was upgraded from a "variant of unknown significance" to BRCA2. I found that almost all the information was geared towards breast cancer. I also found that there was so many more resources for breast cancer patients, Ovarian cancer needs more!"
Ovarian Cancer Grad- Jennifer
"I wish more people were aware that there is more than one type of ovarian cancer. The cancer I had behaved very differently than the cancer postmenopausal women get, and has very different outcomes. And yes, I can still have kids (definitely the most-asked question when I tell someone I had ovarian cancer). I also wish more people were aware of how important it is to advocate for your own health, not just for ovarian cancer or even any cancer, but for life in general."