Tag: ovarian cancer

STORMS: NATURE, HEALTH, LIFE

karenringalls8 Comments

There are three types of storms I have faced. For the past week, I have been facing the potential life-threatening threat from Hurricane Dorian. As I write this, the eye of the storm is 145 miles east of us and 100 miles east of Daytona Beach. We will not know the effects of it until the sun comes up, and it has moved further north.

A different storm has come into my life three times: ovarian cancer. September is National Ovarian Cancer Month so it is appropriate for me to promote awareness which can be diagnosed in any female of any age IF she has ovaries: reported cases of infants, preteens, teenagers, young and old women.

Know the symptoms: bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, change in bowels or urine, change in appetite, extreme fatigue, painful intercourse to name a few. Listen to your body and go see your gynecologist.

My award-winning book, Outshine is about the first few years of my journey with ovarian cancer. It is a book for anyone who is facing the storm of any cancer or life-threatening illness. It has been called a book of hope and inspiration. The theme of the book is the beauty of the soul, the real me and the real you, outshine the effects of cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Outshine-Ovarian-Cancer-Karen-Ingalls
All proceeds go to ovarian cancer research.

Storms of life can and will be a part of anyone’s life. Sometimes the storms are reflections of how we live or think about ourselves, personal events, and our faith. In the book Keep Yourself Full by Yecheilyah Ysrayl, the reader learns ways to be more contented, stronger, and wiser. Its message is self-love. This is a book that can help anyone face their personal storms.

Available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Yourself-Full-practical-restoring

My prayers are for all those who suffered from Hurricane Dorian, especially in the Bahamas. I am grateful for what I have learned and the people I have met through my eleven years of living with ovarian cancer. I applaud Ms. Ysrayl for writing about how she continues to rise above her personal storms.

ONE SMALL STEP…

karenringalls11 Comments

In July we began celebrating the fifty years since Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were the first humans to step onto the moon. It was a small step from the Lunar Module, but a giant step for further space exploration.

The thousands of men and women who contributed to this event are to be congratulated on their devotion, expertise, and time. It was not an easy task.

Apollo 11 Image Gallery–NASA

Many small steps have been made in the last few years with ovarian cancer. Immunotherapy, PARP inhibitors, and target therapy are new advances in the treatment of this cancer that is the 5th leading cause of death in women. Immunotherapy is being studied in many clinical trials. I refer you to https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2017/09/immunotherapy-and-ovarian-cancer-an-update/ for updated information.

As an ovarian cancer survivor for the past eleven years, I am thrilled to see giant leaps for women with ovarian cancer. The many years of small steps are coming up with advancements that are extending or saving lives. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/treating.html. The dedication of researchers and physicians and those who have participated in clinical trials are heroes and heroines. Thank you.

I recommend watching this video of hope Our Way Forward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVt3TbHvEME

Another example of small steps leading to change has been the acceptance of all people no matter their race, religion, political beliefs, or sexual identities. A collection of poems by Forrest Stepnowski called Journey to Rainbow’s End brings enlightenment to a topic that has divided families and nations. I encourage you to buy it at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CZ9GWCM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 The small steps by him and thousands of others is bringing us to a giant step forward.

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” –Maya Angelou

I welcome your comments. Perhaps share your memory of July 20, 1969; your experience or knowledge about cancer; and your thoughts about bias or acceptance in society. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Karen Ingalls