Odd Girl Out

leesag
leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I just needed to post this, because you all have given such me a feeling of community that I forget how rare this cancer is. I went to a Look Good/Feel Better session at my cancer center, and of course, we began by introducing ourselves. For some reason, almost everyone began with the kind of cancer they had. (which is wrong on so many levels, but that's a subject for another post). So, rather than give you the other details...this is how the introductions went.

Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Ovarian, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast, Breast


This how WRONG my self image is...(I have to sigh and laugh a little at this part) I got home and told my husband..."It was like the first day of high school all over again, only instead of having the wrong clothes, I have the wrong CANCER!"

I'm definitely investing in the t-shirt at zazzle that says:

Women's Cancer. It's not always Pink. Reach Out and Feel the Teal!




OY and Vey!

Hugs!
Leesa
«1

Comments

  • Susan523
    Susan523 Member Posts: 231 Member
    #2
    I felt that way, too
    When I went to that Look Good/Feel Better, I was also the only one without Breast cancer.
    And at that time, I was the only one with hair, as I hadn't begun chemo yet, but just had my surgery. I remember them showing me their 'ports', and describing what chemo was doing to them, and what I was in for.

    You're right; I felt totally out of place, and you described it perfectly. I just didn't "fit in", or atleast I felt that way.

    I like it. I want one of those shirts, too!

    ~Susan xoxo

    p.s. they have a support group for "breast cancer". None for ovarian or uteran, but they do say we're "welcome to join in". I never have~
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #3
    Oy and Vey indeed :)
    I think we should head for that post on why it "was wrong on so many levels" that everyone started off on labeling themselves by the type of cancer that they have! :) Oh, Leesa...
    you made me laugh today!
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #4
    Look Good/Feel Better
    Leesa,

    My first time around with treatment I was getting ready to go on the elevator to the floor where the Look Good/Feel Better session was to be held when my chemo started to leak on me!!

    Instead I ended up having to take off my jeans (got a blue pair of surgical pants now), nurses tried to measure the amount of chemo I had lost to see if there needed to be any adjustments made!

    Never did make it to one of those sessions.

    Libby ☺
  • wonderingalice
    wonderingalice Member Posts: 49
    #5
    Enough Pink
    Hi Leesa,

    I know that since my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer (UPSC), I have become sensitive in this way, too.

    I can't help but feel a bit resentful that all this money and publicity is going into Race for the Cure and other organized fundraisers, and yet there is so little good research on my mom's type of cancer because it isn't common enough.

    Most people are also so surprised that my mom is now undergoing second-line chemo, because they have the idea that uterine cancer is easily treatable (and its more common types are).

    It's funny how much we want to belong...even in the context of disease type.

    ~ Al.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #6
    not all the same
    I went to look good feel better and they did not introduce themselves by type of cancer. It must be up to the instructor. People always assume I have breast cancer.

    I love the shirt. I think I will get one too.
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #7
    Hi Leesa
    I have my "Look good feel better" thing week so I expect the same will happen to me.

    Here in the UK as you know when I talk about a teal ribbon, so no knows what I am talking about!!!! I ordered some teal ribbons from the US & they came the other day. Because Race for Life" is all about ladies cancer (or breast cancer!!)I will certainly be educating the organisors of "Race for Life". "Race for Life" is pink pink pink so I might find myself one day dropping a letter to the organisors to enlighten on the "other" cancers that are women only and need awareness promoting.

    My teal ribbons - I am dishing them out to my lady runners and my son and male supporterd will also wear them.

    Looking forward to the pamper day anyway :)
    Tina xxxxxx
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #8
    they can find people for you
    Leesa, my Mom had the same experience as you, plus being the oldest person in the room! Anyway, she asked the coordinators to get her in touch with other Ovarian survivors, and the two of us eventually had lunch with a wonderful lady who's a five year survivor and ovarian cancer awareness activist. I do think the coordinators keep lists and can be good resources for networking you with non-breast cancer people. Ask!
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #9
    Oh Leesa!
    I love you!!!!
    k:)
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #10
    LOL
    Leesa,
    You are so funny! At my class no one even mentioned what type of cancer. We had a good time. Sorry your class was too pink!
    Mary
  • dorion
    dorion Member Posts: 183
    #11
    MK_4Dani said:

    LOL
    Leesa,
    You are so funny! At my class no one even mentioned what type of cancer. We had a good time. Sorry your class was too pink!
    Mary

    u nut!!!
    oh Leesa. you gave me a good laugh you nut! I needed that this morning. But ain't the truth, I would tell everyone that I have "breast cancer envy" so much attention is focued on breast cancer that they don't even know about us. And all this fundraising drives they have for breast cancer. What about US??! I love you girl!!!

    Linda

    Thanks for the laugh, I'm still laughing
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    dorion said:

    u nut!!!
    oh Leesa. you gave me a good laugh you nut! I needed that this morning. But ain't the truth, I would tell everyone that I have "breast cancer envy" so much attention is focued on breast cancer that they don't even know about us. And all this fundraising drives they have for breast cancer. What about US??! I love you girl!!!

    Linda

    Thanks for the laugh, I'm still laughing

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • minky1225
    minky1225 Member Posts: 70
    #13
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    You're great!
    I can't wait to tell Mom about this one!!! She's gonna get a kick out of this!
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #14
    I went to the Look Good/Feel
    I went to the Look Good/Feel Better thing in January. I was the only one who showed up - literally. The ACS rep forgot to put it on her calendar. The stylist was there and she gave me a bag of makeup. Nice stuff, too.

    I was hoping for more of a peer group event, but there was a whole plate of cookies, just for the two of us!

    Carlene
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #15
    Hee,hee,hee,
    I know that
    Hee,hee,hee,

    I know that scenario all too well. The wrong cancer... you are a hoot!

    I too want to invest in teal, everyone I've met seems to think that every woman who is a cancer survivor, is a "breast cancer" survivor!!!

    Also, check this out ladies; I am now a certified "Look Good Feel Better" volunteer to help ladies battling the effects of cancer i.e., skin changes, hair loss, etc., by offering makeup and other types of beauty tips. LOL!

    The ladies all drop their mouths open when they discover I too am a cancer patient/survivor there in all my full bald regalia. They're like..."but why are you volunteering to help US?", if you have cancer too?

    I tell them, "well who better deary to know what you are going through than someone who's been there and done that too!" Ha, ha, ha they it's so special but I feel good helping them because I absolutely know what they are feeling and to also not focus on me for a change is such a wonderful break! I love it!

    I will definitely do my part. not to focus on types of cancers or cancer colors and the likes that's for sure.

    Sharon
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #16
    msfanciful said:

    Hee,hee,hee,
    I know that
    Hee,hee,hee,

    I know that scenario all too well. The wrong cancer... you are a hoot!

    I too want to invest in teal, everyone I've met seems to think that every woman who is a cancer survivor, is a "breast cancer" survivor!!!

    Also, check this out ladies; I am now a certified "Look Good Feel Better" volunteer to help ladies battling the effects of cancer i.e., skin changes, hair loss, etc., by offering makeup and other types of beauty tips. LOL!

    The ladies all drop their mouths open when they discover I too am a cancer patient/survivor there in all my full bald regalia. They're like..."but why are you volunteering to help US?", if you have cancer too?

    I tell them, "well who better deary to know what you are going through than someone who's been there and done that too!" Ha, ha, ha they it's so special but I feel good helping them because I absolutely know what they are feeling and to also not focus on me for a change is such a wonderful break! I love it!

    I will definitely do my part. not to focus on types of cancers or cancer colors and the likes that's for sure.

    Sharon

    Giving something back
    Sharon I really admire you for doing the volunteering. It is true that by helping others does take the focus of yourself for a while. I have thought about voluteering at our local hospice because I KNOW what people are going through and I know I will be able to be detached enough to offer help and advice.

    Breast cancer - yes I get that. I've mentioned before that there is no where in the UK to buy any other cancer ribbons but PINK. I've send off to the US for some small teal pins for me and my friends to wear when we do "Race for life"

    Tina
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #17
    Tina Brown said:

    Giving something back
    Sharon I really admire you for doing the volunteering. It is true that by helping others does take the focus of yourself for a while. I have thought about voluteering at our local hospice because I KNOW what people are going through and I know I will be able to be detached enough to offer help and advice.

    Breast cancer - yes I get that. I've mentioned before that there is no where in the UK to buy any other cancer ribbons but PINK. I've send off to the US for some small teal pins for me and my friends to wear when we do "Race for life"

    Tina

    exactly
    Tina,

    I too have thought about volunteering at Hospice. I am REALLY thinking about it. And helping others does take the focus off of yourself! ☺

    I have teal bracelets, shoestrings, etc. You can email the cancer society and they are more than happy to send teal bracelets, etc. I have spoken to two ladies groups about ovarian cancer and got information to hand out. They were very happy to have someone make others aware of ovarian cancer that has first hand experience!!

    Living for Eternity,
    Libby
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #18
    LPack said:

    exactly
    Tina,

    I too have thought about volunteering at Hospice. I am REALLY thinking about it. And helping others does take the focus off of yourself! ☺

    I have teal bracelets, shoestrings, etc. You can email the cancer society and they are more than happy to send teal bracelets, etc. I have spoken to two ladies groups about ovarian cancer and got information to hand out. They were very happy to have someone make others aware of ovarian cancer that has first hand experience!!

    Living for Eternity,
    Libby

    email
    what email address did you use for the cancer society?
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #19
    nancy591 said:

    email
    what email address did you use for the cancer society?

    address
    Nancy,

    Here is the email address. The bracelets are jelly and are $2.50 each I believe but since I was speaking I got all my materials free of charge.
    nocc@ovarian.org


    And here is the website with materials.
    www.ovarian.org

    Libby
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #20
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #21
    msfanciful said:

    Hee,hee,hee,
    I know that
    Hee,hee,hee,

    I know that scenario all too well. The wrong cancer... you are a hoot!

    I too want to invest in teal, everyone I've met seems to think that every woman who is a cancer survivor, is a "breast cancer" survivor!!!

    Also, check this out ladies; I am now a certified "Look Good Feel Better" volunteer to help ladies battling the effects of cancer i.e., skin changes, hair loss, etc., by offering makeup and other types of beauty tips. LOL!

    The ladies all drop their mouths open when they discover I too am a cancer patient/survivor there in all my full bald regalia. They're like..."but why are you volunteering to help US?", if you have cancer too?

    I tell them, "well who better deary to know what you are going through than someone who's been there and done that too!" Ha, ha, ha they it's so special but I feel good helping them because I absolutely know what they are feeling and to also not focus on me for a change is such a wonderful break! I love it!

    I will definitely do my part. not to focus on types of cancers or cancer colors and the likes that's for sure.

    Sharon

    Congrats on your
    Congrats on your certification, Sharon...

    I think it would be great to have a "been-there-done-that" girl do the program.

    Carlene

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