Saturday, August 21, 2010

Happy Birthday Mom...


I spent today thinking of my mother. She loved birthdays, and made sure we all had big parties, with all of the family together. We did the same for her. Today passed without a party.. just flowers for her grave...

The world keeps changing, and the days keep passing.

There is still no early detection, or cure, for ovarian cancer.

I still believe our biggest hope is awareness.. We have to make sure that every woman knows the symptoms of this disease and what to do. We have to make sure that people continue to care and hope enough to find the answers...

Loreal continues to spread awareness and donate to research.
Kelly Ripa and Electrolux and Power Balance are committed to the same.

When I started writing this journal, there were very few companies that were involved with ovarian cancer awareness or research. If you look at the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund site, you will see that there are now many.

I will continue to write here and do my part.. As small as my part is- I can't forget what Mom said to me.. "If just one person is helped by what has happened to me, then everything will be okay.."

Happy Birthday Mom.. I miss you more than words can say.........

(written September of 2005) I have learned much in the last nine months. I have read that ovarian cancer whispers. I say it screams. It just needs someone to listen. The American Cancer Society statistics for ovarian cancer estimate that there will be 22,220 new cases and 16,210 deaths in 2005. This is a death rate FOUR TIMES that of breast cancer.Almost 70 percent of women with the common epithelial ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced in stage. The 5-year survival rate for these women is only 15 to 20 percent. This is unacceptable. Women need to be made more aware of the symptoms, and doctors need to listen to their patients. Especially when the patient tells them that they fear they have ovca, as my mother did for almost a year before she was finally diagnosed. It’s so sad and senseless when a woman knows the symptoms but can’t get anyone to listen to what she is saying.

©JsDaughter