Suggestions for Ovarian Cancer Speech

jbeans888

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share some good news. I was contacted to give a speech about my story and to raise awareness for ovarian cancer. I will be speeking to approximately 45 girls and women. I will be stressing the importance of how and why it is the silent killer and how it is extremely important to know the warning signs and if you do have any signs do not ignor them. Since I am only 32 years old and my stage is 3c I also want to stress the importance that cancer of any kind doesn't discriminate in regards to age, race, religion, physically in shape people or not. I am just looking for any other suggestions as to what you think other people should know. The speech will be for approximately 50 mins so I welcome all comments and ideas. Thanks!

I posted the following on the Teal Warriors forum on Facebook.


Joyce :-)

mopar

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU, JOYCE!
I would talk a little about the symptoms that can present as 'something else', when you should see a doctor, and the kind of doctor you should see (gynecologic/oncologist). I think it's also important for people to get a good grip on family history. Sometimes we don't address that till after-the-fact. Then we find out that Mom had problems, or an aunt died of cancer, etc. Offering hope as well (maybe talk about some of the inspiring journeys on this site, new medical strides, etc.) is important.

Knowledge is definitely power! And I think this is a great opportunity for you. Be sure to let us know how it goes!

(((HUGS)))
Monika

carolyn45

Night sweats
Wonderful that you have this opportunity! I'd never heard of night sweats as a sign of tumor activity. I'd spent time in the Amazon and thought I might have a low grade infection due to parasites. Nothing that exotic--just tumors growing.

VictoriaSF

this is great!
hi Joyce! I think this is great thing to do. I think it is important to mention that we are our own advocates and it is important to be persistant with doctors. My doctor was telling me that it is ulcer, IBS, stress, etc..I was very bloaded but even that was not a red flag. at the time of surgery - i had 14 leters of ascites.Also - stage 3c ovarian cancer as primary, plus uterine cancer - but that was confined.
i was 44 at that time.
Also - i want to tell you - check page on facebook - cancer has cancer, or site www.cancerhascancer.org ( i think) it is non profit org established by Heather Rodriguez -ovarian cancer surv. She is 29 years old - very brave and amazing young lady. on her site you will find lots of inspiring stories.
good luck
victoria

AnneBehymer

wtg on spreading the word
You will be in my prays are you spread the word about ovarian cancer.

Anne

kikz

AnneBehymer said:

wtg on spreading the word
You will be in my prays are you spread the word about ovarian cancer.

Anne

This is great, Joyce
The most important thing is self awareness in recognizing the symptoms and getting them checked. Secondly I agree with Victoria that we must be persistent with our medical providers. As they said on Dr. Oz, make them prove to you that you do not have ovarian cancer. So many of us have experienced a wrong diagnosis which delayed our treatment sometimes for a long time. My primary noticed my stomach was hard at my regular checkup three months before I had any symptoms but she only asked if my stomach was always like that and I couldn't answer. Now I know that hardness was cancer.

Good luck on your speech and know that you may be saving someone's life.

Karen

Mwee

Hi Joyce
This is great news! You will be a great "face" to help raise awareness. If you are asked what they can do to help, I thought you might tell them to spread the word to all their friends, look for Teal walks that they can attend and maybe volunteer with a local support group. There are so many women who could benefit by having a chemo-buddy or having someone who could run errands or even give them a call offering support.

You go girl.... there's nothing like "paying it forward"!!
(((HUGS))) Maria

Tethys41

Great opportunity
It is wonderful that you have this opportunity to make a difference, how exciting. I know this is probably not your thing, but if it were me presenting to these women, I would definitely let the audience know that there are options beyond the traditional treatments. If they are faced with a diagnosis, and are not comfortable with conventional treatment options or conventional treatment options alone, they can find integrative or alternative therapies.

jbeans888

Tethys41 said:

Great opportunity
It is wonderful that you have this opportunity to make a difference, how exciting. I know this is probably not your thing, but if it were me presenting to these women, I would definitely let the audience know that there are options beyond the traditional treatments. If they are faced with a diagnosis, and are not comfortable with conventional treatment options or conventional treatment options alone, they can find integrative or alternative therapies.

Thanks for the comments I
Thanks for the comments I really appreciate it. I will look into alternative treatment are there any in particular other than the vitamin c iv?

Tethys41

jbeans888 said:

Thanks for the comments I
Thanks for the comments I really appreciate it. I will look into alternative treatment are there any in particular other than the vitamin c iv?

Integrative and alternative
The high dose IV vitamin C is a big one. The best advice I think you could give is to find an integrative doctor or naturopath to work with.

leesag

My suggestions:
symptoms
My suggestions:

symptoms that are often dismissed such as:
urinary incontinence - if you find you're using Poise pads, unlike Whoopie, you may have ovarian cancer.

Gall Bladder/Heartburn - Insist on an ultrasound, you either need gall bladder surgery or it could be cancer

Weird Periods - Make sure your doctor LOOKS at your ovaries, could be menopause but it could be cancer.


Additionally, if you are going to work with alternative treatments and the people who promote them, be sure you STRESS that the only treatments scientifically proven to consistently treat cancer are chemotherapy and radiation and all treatments should be thoroughly discussed with your oncologist. To rely solely on alternative treatments is often fatal. Case in point--Steve Jobs.

cfont11

Speech
This is such a great opportunity and you are so brave for doing this. My suggestions:

Symptoms - often misdiagnosed as colitis, IBS or divirticulitis. Keep demanding more tests from your doctors until your symptoms can be explained.

Gynecologist - ask for internal ultrasound to check ovaries if you have a cyst or family history of ova ca. Ask for CA125 blood test - alot of PCP's don't even know what this is. Get a good gynecologist and get a test.

Glad you will talk about age, there is perception that this only happens in your 50's and 60's.

Might want to talk about advances in chemo and how side effects can be treated as chemo is a very scary thing to face.

Best of luck, you'll do great.

Chris

EnglishGal

cfont11 said:

Speech
This is such a great opportunity and you are so brave for doing this. My suggestions:

Symptoms - often misdiagnosed as colitis, IBS or divirticulitis. Keep demanding more tests from your doctors until your symptoms can be explained.

Gynecologist - ask for internal ultrasound to check ovaries if you have a cyst or family history of ova ca. Ask for CA125 blood test - alot of PCP's don't even know what this is. Get a good gynecologist and get a test.

Glad you will talk about age, there is perception that this only happens in your 50's and 60's.

Might want to talk about advances in chemo and how side effects can be treated as chemo is a very scary thing to face.

Best of luck, you'll do great.

Chris

Have you given your speech yet?
HiJoyce, just wondering how you made out giving your speech?

Ann

jbeans888

EnglishGal said:

Have you given your speech yet?
HiJoyce, just wondering how you made out giving your speech?

Ann

Hi Ann,
Thanks for
Hi Ann,
Thanks for checking in. I haven't done the speech yet. It is on November 22nd. I am very excited because I have contact some organizations and they are sending me some handouts to go along with my speech. I will definitely let you know how it goes. On the other hand I have the Kids Kicking Cancer and today is our first outpatient class for kids that are dismissed from the hospital, but still want to do martial arts. I am excited because last week our class was on the local news. I find so encouraging to see kids and how strong they are while going thru cancers bumppy road.