Ovarian Cancer Anniversary

This past week I celebrated 7 years cancer-free! I am so grateful to God for all the days in those 7 years that He has allowed me to live! I have met some very special people in those years! I have had the blessing of seeing both my son and daughter graduate from High School! Wonderful experiences that I am so glad I didn't have to miss! Thank you, Lord, for these years! I pray that it has been worth it to You, Lord, to leave me here. Each anniversary of my diagnosis is a reminder that each day is a gift--how am I using this gift? Did I tell someone about Him today? Are my disciples built on a solid foundation of Jesus Christ that will last?
He has taught me so many lessons in these last years. I asked Him this week to prepare me for heaven, for that is where I'm going to spend the rest of my life...forever with Him!

For those of you who don't know my cancer story, here is a brief synopsis from our 2002 Christmas letter:
"On May 21, 2002, I (Wendy) went in to the doctor for relatively minor symptoms and by the end of the day was facing the diagnosis that I had two tumors, one very large, one smaller, appearing to be cancerous, yes, and appearing to have spread, and by those factors, appearing to have not been caught early, but to have progressed to some degree. Within three days, I was operated on and there now was only one tumor, it had not spread, and it was able to be completely removed. Further, when the tests came back, I was told that indeed the cancer, which was ovarian, had been caught early, a very rare event for ovarian cancer, and I was informed that I had a 90% chance of cancer not recurring."

In this anniversary month, I thought it would be a good thing to include a list of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, because they are very subtle, and can be mistaken for something else. Please go to the link below and read more--and tell your friends; you may be saving a life!

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate

Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies.

Other symptoms commonly reported may include: fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation and menstrual irregularities.

TAKE ACTION if any symptoms occur almost daily for more than a few weeks. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA 125 blood test. If ovarian cancer is suspected, consult a gynecologic oncologist.

Here is a link to the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance website and much helpful information:
http://www.mnovarian.org/symptoms.htm


Ovarian Cancer Facts
Ovarian Cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to women's health.
Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women living in the U.S. and the eighth most common cancer among U.S. women.
Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 out of 72 women.
Each year, approximately 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,000 women will die from the disease.
Ovarian Cancer is very treatable when it is detected early, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.
In cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 93% of women survive longer than five years.
Only 19% of the ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early stages.
The 5 year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer has been improving over the years. Women diagnosed with the disease from 1975-1979 experienced a 5 year survival rate of approximately 38%. Today the 5 year survival rate is 46%.

I pray that you may be in good health!
May God bless you all!