How to Help a Loved One in Denial About Their IllnessGetting the news that you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness can be scary. Finding out that your illness may be terminal or is terminal can be terrifying for...reactionscomments
Conversations with a Chaplain: A Chaplain’s Day-to-DayRev. Isaac Dusenbury is a chaplain at Duke University Hospital. He completed his chaplain residency at Duke University Hospital’s Surgical and Intensive Care Unit and graduated from the Divinity School...reactionscomments
Unique is for Unicorn: When Cancer is RareUnique forms of cancer are what I categorize as "rare." When I was first diagnosed, the thought of it being rare hadn't crossed my mind. All of the research I...reactionscomments
Cancer and Loss (Part 2)I think there are two forms of grief that come with a cancer diagnosis - the loss of who you once were that you so badly wish at times you...reactionscomments
Conversations with a Chaplain: A Chaplain’s Role in Supportive CareRev. Isaac Dusenbury is a chaplain at Duke University Hospital. He completed his chaplain residency at Duke University Hospital’s Surgical and Intensive Care Unit and graduated from the Divinity School...reactionscomments
The “New Normal”: When the Battle Armor Comes OffThis article was originally published on LungCancer.net by Rebecca Palpant-Shimkets. My “new normal,” a phrase often used in cancer circles to describe life in survivorship, completely took me by surprise...reactionscomments
Balancing A Healthy Diet During Ovarian Cancer TreatmentProper nutrition to support your body during ovarian cancer treatment is essential to help maintain strength and well-being. That is because your body is undergoing many changes from drugs and...reactionscomments
How Do I Know If My Sadness Is Depression?This article was originally published on LungCancer.net by Lora Rhodes, MSW, LSW. As a social worker in a cancer center, I often have people say to me, “Of course, I’m...reactions1comment
No Evidence of Disease (NED)...Now What?This article was originally published on LungCancer.net. NED or “no evidence of disease” is the goal when someone is going through treatment for ovarian cancer. Doctors rarely use the word...reactionscomments
Tips for Tackling ScanxietyOne thing you can surely expect when being treated or monitored for cancer is scans. While there is no true screener that can diagnose ovarian cancer, scans help doctors locate...reactionscomments
Telling Loved Ones About Your Ovarian Cancer DiagnosisThis article was originally published on LungCancer.net. Dealing with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer on your own can be quite hard. There are many important decisions to consider, and much...reactionscomments
Early Stage Ovarian Cancer MythsWe never think something can happen to us until it does. However, we have all experienced this phenomenon before whether it’s failing a test, winning a race, losing a loved...reactionscomments
4 Simple Steps to Making the Most of Your AppointmentsThis article was originally published on LungCancer.net by Alison Petok, MSW, LCSW, MPH. Hearing that you have cancer for the first time can be incredibly overwhelming. In fact, many patients...reactionscomments
Cancer and Loss (Part 1)The truth is when you're diagnosed with cancer, you will experience various forms of loss. For those of us with ovarian cancer specifically, that can mean anything from the parts of...reactionscomments
Survivor's Guilt - Angry TogetherDedication: This article is dedicated to my godfather. Thank you, John, for teaching me about love, compassion, and authenticity. I am one of the lucky ones. Specifically, I am one...reactionscomments
Navigating Dating Post Ovarian CancerAfter signing my life away on the surgical consent form to remove my tumor ASAP, I went home and contemplated all the questions. Would I ever be able to have...reactionscomments
The Importance of Annual Gynecological Exams"Annual Exams Save Lives" has become one of my most-touted phrases since being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2019. While many - including medical professionals and gynecologists alike -...reactions1comment
The Dangerous Bias of Assuming You Have a Male Sexual PartnerI've never been a woman who likes to toot her horn when it comes to talking about my sexuality, but since I've become an ovarian cancer thriver I've got something...reactions3comments
Navigating the HolidaysThe holidays are an interesting time of year without a cancer diagnosis - I think people either love them or hate them, there's really no in-between. I fall into the latter...reactionscomments
You Gotta Eat and You'll Need HelpBefore cancer, I took care of everyone in the caregiver sense. I ran a solo business and saw 25+ clients per week, I was the housewife who took care of...reactions1comment
