Ovarian Cancer Survivor Guest Blogger Joanie Shawhan

Cancer: A Word that Strikes Terror by Ovarian Cancer Survivor Joanie Shawhan

Are there certain words that trigger pressure in your chest or tightness in your throat? For me, that word is cancer. I am an ovarian cancer survivor.

My Ovarian Cancer Survivor Story

During the summer of 2006, Every time I had another bout of nausea, I brushed thoughts of ovarian cancer from my mind. Surely these spells were too infrequent to be cancer. But in September, I rolled over in bed and felt a grapefruit-size mass in my abdomen. I closed my eyes and dismissed the whispers of ovarian cancer.

Several weeks later, I almost shot off the table when my physical therapist palpated my spine to isolate the location of my back pain. It’s not in my back, it’s jabbing through my abdomen! My gynecologist suspected a uterine fibroid and ordered an ultrasound. Even in the dark room, I saw the ultrasound tech lock her eyes on mine. Something is seriously wrong.

Gripping the ultrasound report in her hand, my doctor said, “You have ovarian cancer, the size of a cantaloupe.” She rattled off all that needed to be done—scheduling tests and surgery. I barely heard her words. Was she talking to me? When I walked into the hospital on surgery day, I exchanged my scrubs and nurse shoes for tieback gowns and skid-free slipper socks. The surgeon removed a volleyball-size tumor—ovarian cancer.

Today, I am cancer-free, an ovarian cancer survivor. During my treatment, I lost myself to ovarian cancer, but in losing myself, I found a new purpose and calling. Today I have an encouragement ministry to women undergoing chemotherapy. I advocate for and educate women and healthcare professionals regarding ovarian cancer. I write articles so that other women won’t put off getting checked out if they have any signs or symptoms, like I did.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all female cancers. The symptoms women experience prior to diagnosis may be vague or similar to other diseases. This causes some doctors to rule out other causes before they discover ovarian cancer, which is why it is often not diagnosed until later stages.

Ovarian cancer used to be called the silent killer, but survival rates are high if discovered in the early stages. Learn from my ovarian cancer survival story. Will you listen for the whispers of ovarian cancer?

Contact your doctor if the following symptoms of ovarian cancer persist:

·       Gastrointestinal symptoms:

Bloating, indigestion, nausea, feeling full or loss of appetite

·       Pelvic or low back pressure or pain

·       Urinating more frequently

·       Changes in bowel patterns

·       Tired or low energy

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Joanie Shawhan

About the Author:

Joanie Shawhan is an ovarian cancer survivor and a registered nurse. She writes encouraging articles for women undergoing chemotherapy. Her publishing credits include Coping with Cancer magazine and God Still Meets Needs. She speaks to medical practitioners in the Survivors Teaching Students program.

Check out her blog at www.joanieshawhan.com.

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How the Stephen Bly family coped with their loss: