Living

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...

Rest is freedom from activity or labor. It is a state of motionlessness or inactivity. This includes not moving your body and resting your mind. Many times, our minds and...

No matter how difficult to accept, we all know life has limits. That is, there is a beginning and an end. Even the noblest will someday die. Death is not...

Different treatments and appointments are part of fighting cancer. But keeping up with these commitments can be quite hard. Studies show that one of the biggest hurdles can be getting...

Winter holidays are filled with miracles of birth and light. Although we sometimes overdo it, is it possible we all need a prescribed time to bring joy into our lives?...

As a therapist, I'm bewildered when I hear the message, "It's me. It's not you." People use this statement to indicate ownership of an interpersonal problem. However, does taking responsibility...

I realize now, more than ever, that we are the sum of all our experiences. As a result, we create meaning in every highly-stressful event and those that bring great...

Improving your physical fitness has a host of benefits, regardless of whether you have cancer. Walking, swimming, biking, dancing, jogging, or skiing can help you manage many of the physical...

Welcome to the Teal Club! The moment you received your ovarian cancer diagnosis, you became a member! You now join the many people successfully surviving this every day! When you...

Four years ago, I learned that my life was about to change. Like many others, I discovered I had advanced ovarian cancer with a life expectancy of about 4 years...

Ovarian cancer can affect anyone who has female reproductive organs. We often assume that all people with ovarian cancer are women, but this is not always the case. We interviewed...

This morning, I remembered an experience from long ago. My children were just 2 and 3. Although so very young, they attended Montessori preschool. Like many mothers, I dropped them...

My code throughout life includes accepting responsibility for my words and actions. I see this way of being as an essential virtue at home and work. As a therapist, I...

At this time in my life, I hear more about friends and family facing cancer. Yet, for many years I have known that this disease could easily be part of...