09/04/2024
Happy Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month!
I know I have been a frequent flyer in your newsfeed recently, but this one is too important to let pass by. When I first mustered up the courage to share my cancer journey about a year ago- I immediately received messages from women I haven't spoken to in over 10 years. They confided in me their symptoms and asked for guidance/recommendations. It was extremely eye-opening to me, the internal struggles EVERYONE is facing. From that point forward, I knew I had an obligation at the very least, to spread awareness, make it a conversation and potentially save lives.
The facts below should immediately bring perspective to life. The symptoms are everyday "ailments"....1 in 76 women are going to be diagnosed with a terminal cancer!? How is this possible!? Ya'll- this affects every.single.person reading this... just think...it's your grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends.
PSA for every human---pay attention to your body- don't skip doctor's appointments. Use your health insurance. And most importantly, if time allows, get multiple opinions upon a diagnosis of something.
**Did you know** You can have your pathology slides read at MANY locations without needing a physical appointment?! (From the comfort of my home- my slides were read by MD Anderson(Texas), Wake Forest(Winston Salem), Sloan Kettering(New York) and Duke (Raleigh)...it CHANGED my life. It CHANGED my diagnosis. It CHANGED my treatment path--- Duke, MD Anderson and Sloan ALL agreed and changed my diagnosis...(for the better!)
Full transparency: It would be a whole lot easier to be a brand ambassador for my favorite pair of sunglasses...but apparently, life has other plans for what brand I will be representing.
Teal, is my new favorite color. Duke, is my new favorite doctor. Positivity & Gratitude, is my new outlook on life.
Cheers to ALL of you cancer survivors. Stay Positive. Keep Fighting. Make Memories. Love Hard & Live in Every Moment. ❤️
