Living

One of my closest friends is pregnant, and as much as I have always wanted to have a child (without any doubt in my mind), I will never be able...

We are extremely saddened to say that on August 9, 2024, Ellen Reed passed away. Ellen was a valued member of both the AdvancedOvarianCancer.net community and the SocialHealthNetwork.com community, and...

Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is one of the toughest things to happen to a woman. You are never prepared for all that comes with this and how it will...

In September 2018, I received a diagnosis of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Suddenly, cancer indeed took on a primary focus. I stopped working full-time, began researching, and came to terms...

No doubt, living with a cancer diagnosis can be incredibly isolating. There are so many complex issues that come with being diagnosed at a younger age—especially when it’s a gynecological...

Women have unique health needs that span the course of their lives. Luckily, when it comes to preventive healthcare, women are generally more proactive about getting regular health checkups than...

Some health issues affect only women. Other conditions may occur in anyone but affect women in a unique way. For example, women are more likely to die after a heart...

As time goes on in my cancer trajectory, I realize how a downward health spiral can easily affect how I feel, how I lead my life, and even the quality...

Through publicly sharing my ovarian cancer journey on multiple platforms over the past 3 years or so, I’ve admittedly received (and wholeheartedly accepted) numerous opportunities to speak with dozens of...

Sometimes when alone and feeling scared and rather sorry for myself, I ask how I got here. Foremost, I acknowledge my blessings. However, managing advanced ovarian cancer creates many obstacles...

Genetic testing looks for specific, potentially harmful hereditary changes, scientifically known as "genetic variances," in one's genes to provide a greater understanding of their overall health. This is particularly helpful...

Long ago, before we had laptops, Health Union, and the Social Health Network crew to turn to, I learned the importance of being well-informed and advocating for others. As a...

Just 2 weeks prior, I was watching picturesque sunsets, imagining my ideal future with my potential husband – and even children, too. The juxtaposition between then and this moment felt...

Metastases is a dirty word. For me and many others in the advanced ovarian cancer network, it defines a change, the spread of cancer cells from where they first formed...

It's that time of year when folks traditionally review the many events that bring meaning to their lives. We especially tend to revisit those occurring throughout this last year. Admittedly...

I was 29 years old, and my boyfriend Nick and I were on a dream vacation in St. Martin. As we were blissfully sitting on the beach, watching the sunset...

Sometimes, people admit they work best with a deadline or in crisis. It is so common to intellectualize things away rather than to face our reality and feelings. Occasionally, I...

There are many myths or misconceptions about ovarian cancer. Here are a few to be aware of as someone navigates a possible diagnosis. One myth is that ovarian cancer is...

Admittedly I am now and have always been a worrier. But, generally, people take on this style of being as the result of life experiences. This was my case when...

Suppose you have cancer and you are about to start IV chemotherapy. In that case, your oncologist may have given you the option to have a central line, such as...