FIRST EVER WORLD OVARIAN CANCER DAY!!

This is amazing! Breast Cancer Awareness month is always at the same time, all over the world – ovarian cancer awareness month is at different times. So we never seem to achieve quite the same ‘solidarity’ of cause that has been achieved by the breast cancer girls.

Well, tomorrow is the first time that there will be a Worldwide ‘day’ for ovarian cancer awareness!

Wednesday 8^th May 2013 is the inaugural World Ovarian Cancer Day. Charities Target Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action, The Eve Appeal and Ovacome have come together to support this initiative, working together to raise awareness with the UK population.

Globally, 27 ovarian cancer organisations from 17 countries around the world have united to help educate their communities about ovarian cancer and its symptoms. For women living with the disease, and their families and friends, World Ovarian Cancer Day will build a sense of solidarity in the fight against ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is diagnosed annually in nearly a quarter of a million women globally, and is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year. Statistics show that just 45% of women with ovarian cancer are likely to survive for five years compared to up to 89% of women with breast cancer. In the UK, 7,000 women are diagnosed each year, and 4,300 women lose their lives each year. The UK has amongst the lowest survival rates in Europe.

A spokesperson representing the charities, said: “Realising a World Ovarian Cancer Day is remarkable, and we’re delighted that the UK is taking part. Uniting organisations around the globe with a focused message for the first time ever in support of ovarian cancer will get the attention that this disease needs. When people join together great things happen. Look at the success of breast cancer over the last 15 years – see what they have accomplished – it is time for ovarian cancer now.”

For more information on World Ovarian Cancer Day visit: www.ovariancancerday.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldOvarianCancerDay
Twitter: @OvarianCancerDY
Pinterest: @OvarianCancerDY

And watch this space for some photos of Ovacome in action today!! Coming soon!

it’s THAT month again

Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. The disease is Ovarian cancer [clue is in the title] and the PLAN is to make women AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS. Because many women aren’t, and as a result, they are misdiagnosed, and lives that could be saved – well, they’re lost.

This sucks.

So, ladies, get your sensible heads on. We have a responsibility for our own health, so check out the symptoms. Yes, it’s a bore. Yes, it’s a little frightening when you read them. And YES you SHOULD read them and think ‘yikes, I have that!’.

They are remarkably similar to IBS. They are easy to mistake for everyday tiredness. They are subtle, but also, not so subtle, because they are NOT a norm for your body. Listen to your body – if any of the following are persistent for 3 WEEKS OR MORE, get your little self to the GP. ASK the question. Most of the time, these symptoms are nothing to worry about, but if they are PERSISTANT, then get them checked out.

• unexplained BLOATING
• FEELING FULL quickly or loss of appetite
• pelvic or stomach PAIN
• needing to pee urgently or more frequently than normal

The chances are it’s nothing serious – but then again, it could be. So, be sensible.

Research has found that over half of ovarian cancer cases are misdiagnosed. According to Target Ovarian Cancer, up to 500 lives could be saved if the disease was diagnosed much earlier.

“Early diagnosis is at the core of our £750 million cancer strategy and plays a vital role in our aim to improve cancer survival rates and save an extra 5,000 lives every year by 2014.

This is why last week we launched the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise public awareness of the key symptoms of ovarian cancer and encourage those with the symptoms to visit their GP.”

– DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SPOKESMAN

So – get with the program!!

On a more cheerful note, I have reached my £3000 target for the Cuba cycle! I have a fabulous event coming up on Easter Sunday, so I am now going to try to beat what I raised last year. If you would like to help, please donate here – every penny counts!!

Thanks to everyone who has helped me! Especially my Bella :)

eh?

Why is it that candles always have more wax than wick? Life is full of these little random questions isn't it? While you're waiting for the bus, having your  hair done, getting the washing out of the machine...the brain is constantly asking asking asking - it needs to know. Which can be rather exhausting, depending on your brain.

Mine for example, never stops - I am not sure if it's because I am an artist or if if it's because I am inquisitive. Perhaps a combination of the two? Maybe everyone's brain is like this? Either way, my brain never ever stops. Even when I am asleep it is churning away, presenting me with astounding nightmares, amazing dreams and shockingly realistic scenarios...which I sometimes wake up thinking are real. Ugh!

The last few weeks have been a frenzy as usual - March was ovarian cancer awareness month, and of course we all try our best to get info 'out there'. And I did. Try my best.
Now it's April. Already! I haven't been doing much training as the weather has been ghastly. Oops. Not good and making me worried - I really want to enjoy the Nightrider. Best get cracking eh?

It's not about me

What a week. I went to my BNI meeting on Wednesday and after being unmercifully ragged about the YOU magazine article, one of the members blurted out privately to me that a friend of his had died that week of ovarian cancer - in one week! And just before her wedding.
I almost threw up in his lap. He was sitting next to me. Fortunately I didn't but it was a close call. My skin went cold - horrible. It was 7.00 in the morning! It turns out that the woman in question had had ovarian cancer 4 years back, and been in chemo ever since. Her story is here. It's tragic. But I was relieved when I read it - sad to say but I felt better knowing she hadn't been killed by this in only a week -  that would have been too much...

Other friends in the OC facebook group are going through hell. Rising CA 125's, CT scans...random things that are scary to say the least. They are my friends. It's hard to read their messages and not want to jump or a plane or train and go and see them...sadly, it's not possible. And it's hard to deal with. I just want them all to be well. Or at the very least, to achieve remission for some time.

And that's the worst thing - some women never get into remission. That so sucks!! And that's why I am so concerned with raising funds for research!

I get the impression that some people have the idea that I am 'self aggrandising' with all this 'Awareness' stuff [radio, TV, newspaper etc] - just for them/you to know; I would rather have never ever been heard of by anyone than have had cancer.

But as I HAVE had it, and as it may kill me eventually, I WILL take every opportunity to raise awareness, and I WILL try to get it out there as much as I can. Think what you want - as long as there's a chance of even ONE woman being saved/warned/woken up - I will be there.
This is not about 'me' - this is about what I can do to help by being out there. And I am simply trying my best to do just that. Things like live TV terrify me - but I will do it, because an ordinary person like me could just make someone think that 'one' thought that may save her life. 
I hope to help women like me - women who have no IDEA about this insidious disease. Women who could survive a diagnosis if they get diagnosed early enough.

So, no, it's not about me - it's about being AWARE!!

Lily and I...

Photo courtesy of http://www.adriansherratt.com/

This is Lily and me....Lily not too impressed with being photographed as you can tell from her grumpy expression! But I've put this on the blog simply to say thank you to Adrian Sherratt for sending me some of the pics from the photo-shoot for the Mail on Sunday You magazine article. See his site. Good photographer! He actually managed to make me look normal ;)

Apart from running around like a chicken with it's head chopped off trying to grow my freelance graphic design business, I am mainly trying to do as much for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month as possible, plus start training for The Nightrider and start the fund raising for the Cuba Cycle 2013. At the moment, that amounts to selling some Havaianas! Best get cracking...

Two weeks ago, on a whim,  we did the 'Home to Budleigh and Back' route with Rick and Julie [they ride a tandem], which is about 37 miles. This was the first cycle I have done since the Kenya Cycle in October 2011!
I was fine...until the next day when I felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck!

So this week we started a training 'plan' - 11 miles a day [weather permitting] Alphington to the Turf Locks. That's the Plan for this week, then add two hills to that next week to make it harder [and further]. Then we'll do the 'Home to Budleigh and Back' round trip at weekends. Plus I need to get back to spinning once a week! Groan...thank God for the FH or I'd never achieve anything!

Cycles I am doing this year so far:
The Nightrider [100 km] - 9 /10 June 2012
The Force Century Challenge [100km] - 24 June 2012
The Great Shakespeare Ride [100km] - 12 August 2012
A cycle in Manchester in October - no idea what or when!

This is to try to keep up a modicum of fitness so that training for Cuba next year isn't a total nightmare!

Feeling very nervous about appearing on 'Lorraine' next week Tuesday, but hey ho - if it helps raise awareness of this stupid disease, bring it on! I had a horrible experience this morning. Someone told me that  a friend of theirs had been DX with OC, then died within a week. That completely spazzed me out for the rest of the day. But, he also said his Mum had been OC FREE for for 8 years...yay! A little less stressful.

Oh, and I really need to do my garden!!

If you would like to help me raise money for research into Ovarian, Cervical and Breast cancers, please donate here? Thank you :)

Ovarian cancer awareness month? how silly!

And by that I mean how silly that it's only ONE month - we need to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer ALL YEAR. All the time.

I have been pretty busy - did the first training ride for the Nightrider a few weeks back - 36 miles. Nearly had a heart attack! Started serious training today with an 11 mile round trip to the Turf Locks. Much more sensible! So, we've started, now we'll get out as much as possible and build up to the 100km in June. Boom boom!

It's been an excellent month for us as far as 'Getting the Word About' goes. I was on Sky News, looking rather demented I might add, but it seems I got the message across ok. Live TV? Shriek! It's quite scary and I so admire all those women who manage to look so fab and so calm! I am NOT posting the footage! I spent the whole interview squinting!

Julie was in our local paper, the Express & Echo, at the launch of a £10m collaboration between Cancer Research UK and Tesco.

Ovarian Cancer Action were chosen as the 'Vitality' shows 2012 beneficiary charity at Earl's Court. The Vitality Show is the UK's largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing event for women. Featuring VIP makeovers, hair and massage experiences, free cooking demos, health advice, free fitness classes and seminars, etc.etc. A big event - let's hope it raised lots of money for research.

Ovacome teamed up with OPI to launch Teal Tips: an initiative to encourage women to wear teal coloured nail polish and prompt awareness of the fourth most common cancer affecting women in the UK. Teal is the recognised colour for ovarian cancer.
OPI and Ovacome hope that by wearing the polish, women will get their friends and colleagues talking about the disease and its symptoms.
OPI’s UK distributor, Lena White, is donating £1 to Ovacome for each bottle of its Ski Teal We Drop shade. It sells during March in upmarket outlets such as Harrods, Selfridges and John Lewis as well as salons and spas throughout the country. RESULT!

This weekend the article came out in the You magazine in the Mail on Sunday, featuring Yours Truly and two other women who have had ovarian cancer - quite a few of the facts were muddled - the 400km cycle became a 240km cycle [all the cycle girls would have loved that!] and I am now 48, which is excellent! Two extra years, gratis!

Friends have remarked that this article has been commented on by women they know, so another good result. The more women who KNOW the symptoms of ovarian cancer, the better. For those we've lost and those still to be diagnosed, this is so important.

And, imagine this! This morning I had a call from Ovarian Cancer Action about appearing on 'Lorraine' next week Tuesday, followed by another call from a lovely woman who works with the program, to try and arrange things.
This is a terrestrial TV program on ITV! Massive audience of mainly WOMEN for this program - yippee! It's not 100% definite, as TV people change things last minute, but so far, so good. I am nervous of course, but what a fabulous opportunity to get info out there - well impressed :) The FH will be coming with me to London, and it should be an interesting day all round. So fingers crossed it comes off.

One last thing - see the BEAT tracker. Just for info. And, if any of you would like to help me raise money for research into Ovarian, Cervical and Breast cancers, please donate here?
Thank you very much. The smallest amount makes all the difference to women diagnosed in the future, and women who have recurrence...we desperately need more funding for research.
It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer [in 2008] is 1 in 54 for women in the UK.
ONE in FIFTY FOUR!!

Please help if you can?

'Holding Onto Hope' photographic exhibition

March is nearly here!! Time for a bit more effort into spreading awareness of stupid Ovarian Cancer.

With that in mind, please support Ovacome at their 'Holding Onto Hope' photographic exhibition at the Menier Gallery in London on the
1st & 3rd March.
Admission is FREE – and they would love to see you there!

Ovacome are also holding an auction at the launch party of the exhibition with lots including a stunning 'Phillip Treacy' hat [woop! hat!! Everyone needs a hat at the moment – freezing!].

To see the lots and find out how you can BID go to this webpage:
www.ovacome.org.uk/holding-onto-hope.aspx

To bid via email, sitting on the comfy sofa – go to this page:
EMAIL BIDS 

I quite fancy Lot 8 myself, an 'Isabella' menu lunch for four at Detmar Blow's Hilles country house in Gloucestershire? Lovely!

The exhibition features celebrities holding a picture of a person close to them who has been directly affected by ovarian cancer. Featured celebrities include Jenny Agutter, pictured below with Ovacome’s chief executive Louise Bayne with her daughter Eleanor.

Prints can also be ordered for as little as £1 from: www.ovacome.org.uk

Ovacome hopes the exhibition will raise awareness of the disease. If you can't go, consider an email bid on one of the lots [or all of them], and please tell your friends?

more fund raising!

Well, the Golf Day went swimmingly! Julie did everything! All I had to do was design the poster and the prize vouchers, and I got ONE prize for the golfers. Not a great deal of effort on my part, and for that Julie raised £850.50 [love that .50p bit].

Fingle Glen were very generous with a gigantic bacon butty on arrival and a buffet dinner [beef curry, chicken curry, chips, rice etc] for which Julie gave them a percentage of the days take. Sundry other people donated loads of raffle prizes, and popped down after the event if they hadn’t been there, for a drink and the raffle.

I think Julie spent about a week on the phone arranging all the other prizes, golf days, weekend breaks, TONS of prizes for the raffle, the longest putt [is it putt?], the overall winners, the people who came second etc. The working out of those winners seemed like a right nightmare – Julie was at it for ages, so if you do one of these events, get an expert like her involved!

And, there was wine, designer golf hats, sports shirts, books, you name it, she had it. The winners were delighted, as they went off with loads of swag. I was working all day, so the FH went down and spent his day off helping Julie – the highlight of his day was racing about in the golf cart getting beers to the players ;)

Someone asked me how it all worked, as they want to do one too. Not having personally organised it, I am hoping I am correct in the following. Each person paid £25 [they had to raise a team of 4] for golf, bacon butty and buffet meal after. The T-offs were staggered throughout the day.  Julie sold each team a balloon [and I am not quite sure of the details here, as I don’t understand golf at all]. The balloon could be let go if you wanted to retake your shot I believe. Some of the Fingle girls with their balloon.

She also imposed fines of £2.00 and £5.00 on people who did naughty stuff on the course. One chap was fined a fiver for being scruffy and mistaking the herb bread for ‘mouldy’ bread in a rather loud voice heh heh. In advance of the event, Julie sold raffle tickets, and four lots of Fitness First vouchers that they kindly donated. During the day she was there making sure everyone went off ok and organising drinks etc. for the players.

Judi Spiers came to help with the raffle and a little auction; people were very generous with raffle prizes and donated so much. All the people who came spent a fortune. So, a fabulous result all round!

My effort – appearing at the end and saying thanks! Then racing off to work at the Port Royal whilst Julie raced off home for a well deserved feet up! Oh, but not after letting a few people know that there may be another one in September…Teign Valley have offered to allow us to stage one there, but we’ll see how gluttonous for punishment we're feeling by then!

Here's the girl herself. Thanks Julie! And everyone who gave their support!

shouting

As we know, in the States it's ovarian cancer awareness month. Here in the UK, it's in March. Odd. But it gives us a chance to shout about 'being AWARE' twice as much and from both sides of the pond ;)

And this morning I noticed this site. I haven't quite worked out how one uses it yet, but they gave me such a nice shout I thought I'd reciprocate. Oh and also to nick the Kelly Ripa video - we love her, she is constantly raising money with Electrolux for the OCRF.

Go here and try this virtual steaming thing - every time you do, Electrolux donates $1 to the OCRF fund. Or visit the site - you could win a washer dryer!

Oh, and while you're bouncing about the internet on all these links, please go here too - I'm not Kelly Ripa, but I am trying my best to raise K4 for research into women's cancers…ovarian, breast and cervical. If you can, please help me reach my target?  You won't win a washer dryer mind you…

Thanks!

beware of your ovaries!

Not that I have that problem any more - had the beastly things removed. I just have the aftershocks to deal  with. Not too bad! But in the US it is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and here's why you need to be aware:

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer in the UK and affects over 6,800 women a year.

Cervical screening tests [smear tests] - DO NOT detect ovarian cancer, only cervical cancer.

Awareness of ovarian cancer is very low. Only 16% of women surveyed in 2007 were aware of ovarian cancer. Two-thirds were not able to cite any symptoms of ovarian cancer or said they did not know or were not able to mention any risks associated with ovarian cancer.

See below for the signs of ovarian cancer - or here for more detailed information

Bear in mind that it is the frequency, persistency, severity and new onset of these symptoms that may help to differentiate between those who are experiencing symptoms related to ovarian cancer and those who are not. Listen to your body, and ASK your GP if you are at all concerned.

And spread the word girls. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the outcome is good!

a fab day at the hairdressers! Ragamuffins Rocks!

what a GREAT day I had on Thursday!! I started off @ 7.30 doing a translation/animation for one of my Portuguese friends – she sent me a PowerPoint that I just couldn't resist editing. That was fun, as I didn't HAVE to do it.  Then I raced over to the Farm, and spent an hour and a half editing an excel document at Hacker Design [freezing my ass + fingers off in the process I might add!]; adding dimensions and weights for packing and postage. Getting on internet shops sites is complicated…Then zoomed back home to receive my grocery shopping [for some reason Tesco decided I needed cream and chive dip??]. Then had a speedy bath [for sanity and defrosting] – then drove over to Kenton, to my hairdressers appointment at 3.15.

Nikki, the owner and hairdresser to the stars [that would be me] is a delight – she chatters away about all the stuff she's doing to your hair as if any of us mere mortals would understand it…and I will understand it once I have researched the site. She coloured, cut and dried my hair – for free?!  It came about because my friend Julie called Ragamuffins Hair Design to enquire about their product [more about that later] and somehow [not sure how] she wangled me a free hair session. I am impressed. Julie, you're a darling. In fact, when I left Ragamuffins, I was in tears – what a kind thing to do. Just when I needed it most along came my Fairy God-hairdresser Nikki! :o) Nikki did it as it's Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and to use me as an example to her staff.

Here's the hair!

Anyway, Nikki is quite into the Trevor Sorbie philosophy. "Finding a cure for cancer and alopecia is a medical task, but supporting the well being of those people suffering the effects demands much more than a Doctor can provide." This is so true, and when I needed a hairdresser just after my hair started growing back [not to mention when I needed it chopped off], I looked for a Trevor Sorbie place in Devon, and there wasn't one – still isn't, but there will be soon. Yay. She WILL be a Trevor Sorbie salon, and I will post here when she is. Although saying that, I think her personality and empathy already make her the perfect hairdresser for women [or men] who are going through hair loss from chemo, and the resultant chaos of the re-growth. Because she has researched it already.

In the meantime, Nikki made my day. My week – I am now the proud owner of really great looking hair – I would seriously recommend this  hairdressers' to anyone post chemo and also anyone at all. The atmosphere is relaxing, the staff are charming – and they are aware that hair is NOT just about styles - it's also a part of your personality and confidence.

Plus, all the product at Ragamuffins is gentle and nourishing, and has natural ingredients, whilst minimising the necessity for harsh or damaging chemical additives. Chemicals are really BAD after chemo – your poor old head is so sensitive that you have to be very careful of what hair colour you use. And my hair feels a billion times better than it's felt for ages!

Thanks so much girls…

what a week!!

this week I have been wondering if I AM actually unemployed or not?! I am so busy doing 'stuff' I don't know whether I am coming or going. Between trying to tweet this, Facebook that, design things for the FH's shop, for Simon's bike trailer, oil, wax and photograph furniture for Hacker Design…

here's some of our super furniture…the clothes ladder!

hmm…seems I am working right? And I am enjoying it all immensely, bugger there's no pay involved ;o)

And in the middle of all that, BBC Radio Devon rang me yesterday, giving 20 minutes notice of wanting a chat on 'Fitz's Interactive Lunch' about Ovarian Cancer! Aaargh – quickly rang Julie, and thankfully she was on too, so we had a good shriek and then waited for the show.

You can listen to the show here for the next 6 days I think. I just managed to find it and listen to it myself – nothing worse than hearing yourself on the radio! I [as I knew I would] sounded like a frenzied maniac…but that's probably because I am one ;o) I was very nervous. Good fun though, and all for bringing awareness to women, who [like I was] are totally ignorant of ovarian cancer signs and symptoms.

So funny, as first Julie was on, then an email arrived from our Tracey, then I was on, then Claire got them to give a shout for Georgie…we all but took over the program! Cheered us all up for the day.

Next thing is Simon's send off from Dartmouth on mother's day, then the 23rd March SKY TV thing [here]. Gosh – it's all go!!

ovacome: awareness month in the UK

 

See ovacome's new launch here! More later – I really must do some gardening before it starts raining…

this is SO irritating. why are we so ignorant?

For me, it's hard to believe, but most women are STILL ignorant of the signs of ovarian cancer.

I suppose because it's a vivid reality for me, I want everyone to know about it. BEFORE they get it. BEFORE they are at Stage 3. Or even Stage 2. I want everyone educated about ovarian cancer – not the fact that 'I've had it'; no, no, that's not the point of this blog at all [although everyone knows that already as I am such a blabbermouth on here] – I want them to know the SYMPTOMS of ovarian cancer. I want to make a difference. Even if this blog helps ONE single woman get diagnosed early, well, that would make my day. Plus it would make all this blasted typing worthwhile!

It drives me mad. I worry about all the young girls I see with big alcopop bellies hanging over their low slung jeans – simply because that kind of weight can lead to not noticing things like the lump I had in my groin. If I'd been fatter, I wouldn't have seen it at all. That would have spelt disaster and probably death for me. My tumour was quite advanced. Imagine – you'd have been spared this continual blathering monologue!

I worry too about all those women running around who are simply Too Busy to notice the warning signs. I was. I ignored my body, which was yelling at me. They may end up like me. Diagnosed late. Or worse. Diagnosed TOO late. After all, I have been very lucky [she knocks 3 times on wood!]. I am in remission. But having been treated quite late in the day, the risk of recurrence is higher for me than if I had been diagnosed earlier. The cancer had spread from my ovary to my bowel and my omentum. Here's the Beast Itself. Repulsive isn't it??

The earlier the treatment, the more positive the long term outlook.

We STILL haven't got enough publicity – we STILL aren't out there enough – women STILL don't know that this vicious cancer is the 4th most virulent type of cancer; it kills 4,500 women in the UK annually, four times as many as die from cervical cancer. Which everyone knows about.

I think part of the problem is we keep bloody well dying. Well, we have got to stop that. There must be more survivors to tell everyone else. And the way to do that is education.

Some poll or the other [who do they speak to eh?] has found that almost one in three women (29%) mistakenly think that a smear test will pick up signs of ovarian cancer. I beg to differ – I think that we [generally] as women, assume that the smear test actually will pick up anything cancery at all. I think I thought that. Having had a smear test annually since my late teens [before I lived in the UK] I sort of 'assumed' that was my annual M.O.T. I didn't think about it – and certainly no-one told me about it in any way that impinged on my consciousness.

SEE THE SYMPTOMS HERE. Read it, and think about it. It could save your life. Much quicker to read and digest these little factoids, than to sit around for months in chemo.

Make yourself aware so that you have the chance to catch ovarian cancer early and vastly increase your chance of survival. Three times as many women could survive if it was diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.

If you regularly have difficulty doing up your trousers and perhaps look like you could be pregnant, maybe have persistent tummy pain [I didn't] and feel full or have difficulty eating, get checked out. They are common symptoms but when they happen on most days, make your GP aware of what is happening to you. And INSIST!! Do not be fobbed off with painkillers. We know our bodies and we should listen to them.

If all else fails, and your GP doesn't want to listen, try the new OvPlex™ test. Peace of mind, or early detection - cheap at the price.

ovarian cancer test and BEAT

Yesterday was a bit mad – I heard about OvPlex™, the new diagnostic test for ovarian cancer from Simon. We were discussing his ride and the logos to go on his bike. They are one of his sponsors. After he left I decided to see if it was in the news. Er – no. Not anything sensible anyway. You'd think it would be wouldn't you?

Then I found their web site. Yay me. I read it, thought it an excellent piece of news that needed to be spread, and decided that it was a bit technical to reinterpret. Therefore I copied all their text into a blog post [with references! ooooh], then tweeted it. Yes, I am actually starting to comprehend Twitter at LAST!

Oops…

Ten minutes later poor Simon rang me and asked me to please call OvPlex as they needed to speak to me about the blog post, and I needed to remove it. I had visions of being locked away for plagiarism, and deleted everything at lightning speed! Blog, Tweet, Facebook blog… [AAARGH!] I also had visions of Simon wondering if he ought to beat me about the head with a cycle pump…anyway…

Rang them post haste, and it turns out their site only went 'live' yesterday, and basically Google search engines would find me before them, as I'd filched their article almost word for word. Uff! I felt terrible, but luckily for me the chap was most understanding, very kind and everything turned out ok. He quite understood how excited I was about such a brilliant test. Actually, we had a nice chat. So!!

If you would like to know about the new diagnostic test for ovarian cancer, please go HERE and read the article. :o) You can order it on-line for £275.00. Seems a lot of money doesn't it? But I'd have paid it if it would have helped me avoid surgery, chemotherapy and sundry other crap.

And, NO, I'm NOT tweeting this!! I am astounded at how fast info travels mind you – it's amazing.

Today I am mainly getting excited about Ovacome's Awareness Launch in March. Ovacome will gain maximum exposure in the national press with a major launch called BEAT which will put ovarian cancer firmly on the radar of women and their GPs. Yippee! Watch this space…

charity auctions for ovarian cancer

See Chloe's post here: I have stolen some of it, as I like it. :o)

Her new LBC charity of the year is Ovacome; Chloe's mother died of Ovarian cancer in 2003 after being diagnosed in 2002 with ovarian cancer stage 4. After 2 years of going to the doctor with unrecognised symptoms.

If you don't know the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer it is easy to mistake them for IBS or pregnancy or just  ignore then entirely as you are too busy to nip to the GP.

Ovarian Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, making it quite rare, and it doesn't get enough press. If you ask the majority of people what the symptoms of ovarian cancer are, they probably wouldn't know. I certainly didn't until I was diagnosed myself.

Ovacome have come up with the following acronym to help recognise the symptoms:

The BEAT Campaign

B is for BLOATING – persistent bloating, it doesn't come and go
E is for EATING - difficulty eating, and feeling full more quickly
A is for ABDOMINAL - abdominal and pelvic pain felt most days
T is for TALK - to your doctor. As soon as you can!

I didn't have any pain at all, but definitely bloated, got full up very quickly, and got VERY VERY tired [not all the time, but in sudden attacks of sheer exhaustion]. And I was 'too busy' to go to the GP.

Chloe has pledged to do at least 2 charity auctions on eBay (where 100% of the money goes directly to the charity), another charity raffle in march (Ovarian cancer awareness month) and also give a % of the profits from her card sales. She really wants to get to £50.00, so buy your cards from her here! Maybe she can get to £500!

SHINE: Saturday the 17th April '10

Hey – bloggers one and all – check this out! Last week a person called Cally emailed me with a view to getting me involved with Shine; getting the word out about this new event that Cancer Research UK have come up with. They have already dropped me a link on their site here – see the blog roll, bottom right. I am just waiting for them to remove my NAME [er – why would I want my name on the internet??] and replace it with the blog title…

Cally works with Cancer Research UK on behalf of an agency called 1000Heads. 1000 heads? one THOUSAND? How do they ever make a decision?  hmm. Anyway.

Shine is a night-time fundraising walk through Manchester. It’s unique in that it allows people to directly support one of twelve types of  cancer  [unfortunately for all the other types of cancer?], or there's an option to support the general work of  Cancer Research UK – this is including ovarian cancer [handily], which is obviously of  particular interest to me.  It’s also the first time Cancer Research UK  are using social media heavily around an event. Given that people from beyond Manchester - like  me [and lots of you!] – may not be able to make the event they’d still love to get us involved, by simply helping spread the word online or offline.

That's where you all come in. By the way, if you're a 'Twitterer' [is there such a thing? well, there is now – I am a dictionary unto myself…] type into twitter the hashtag #shine2010 - you will see some of the things people are tweeting about Shine.

Cally has asked me to do a 'guest' post, just about cancery stuff. No problemo! She has also promised to dedicate a post to ovarian cancer awareness month and find out who is walking in support of this cause [probably not me if I manage to get arrested for sitting on my roof in teal underwear…].

So. Help me spread the word would you? Saturday the 17th April is the Shine walk in Manchester. I might be there…then again I might not ;o)

laughing and crying

I am still laughing about my friends blog to do with Punkin Farmers…it makes it difficult to concentrate on what I actually came here to blog about. Chuckling into the keyboard is not conducive to sensible thought. Heh heh. And she has beautiful photos too. Check it out. A really witty blog.

So, what was it? Ah yes, first, a report on the Hot Flash Rescue stuff – so far, no change that I have noticed, but to be fair I've only be using it for a few days and rather sporadically at that, as I keep forgetting to 'spray my inner thighs' [!], neck, chest and abdomen. By the time I remember to do all this spraying, I am dressed and all those bits are snuggled into warm clothing [it is now Autumn here – as far as I am concerned, it amounts to the same as winter – i.e.: I am always freezing]. Plus there's the lotion, and I am not sure if I will overdose if I use both? Turn into Ice Chick…the opposite of Hot Flash Chick?

So we will have to await events I'm afraid. I will try to concentrate more on the application! Perhaps I'll just spray it everywhere before I get out of bed in the morning!

Next I wanted you to see this. It really touched me. I don't think I really need to explain why, but I'll explain a bit of the story behind it. This woman, Sam, is amazing. She doesn't think she is, but a lot of we other women do – she climbs mountains and cycles miles and miles. She has a job, and she is on the board of directors for HERA Women's Cancer Foundation, a non-profit that raises funds for ovarian cancer research through a series of rock climbing events. And, best of all, she has beaten cancer twice. Oh, and I LOVE her Dragon tattoo [now buried under hair – yay!]. If I'd thought about it while I had no hair, I'd have copied it for sure. Very powerful.

Sam posted this on Facebook yesterday - I saw it and it made me smile from ear to ear, as I just thought "wow, how cool". Then I thought harder and just burst out crying. That horrible gulping crying - why? I don't know - maybe because I was touched that someone I have never 'met' thought to add me to a list of names that starts with someone I know is VERY important to her. So. Thanks.

Facebook Caption: My dream capsule message --"I'm climbing for Sean, Marilyn, Joyce, Beth, Carla, Wendy, Charolette, Tonya, and Sandhy."

And on a lighter note, here is that same crazy person – the tag is: "Hamming it up at C4L" – the tiny person hanging precariously off the mountain [far right] by one hand is Sam! Hamming it up hanging by a thread?? eek!

Sam, hope you don't mind me nicking your pics – couldn't help myself!

Pass it on. Awareness can save lives.

I am posting this on behalf of a friend, please read and copy/paste to your own blog or Facebook page or wherever someone may read it? Thanks!

"I ask each of you to read the list of symptoms (below) and make yourself aware of ovarian cancer. Many times doctors overlook these symptoms and miss the opportunity for early diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is known as the "silent cancer", but that is not true.

Nearly 89% of all diagnosed women experience symptoms even at early stages, yet we often dismiss them. I've met too many women who were donated after their doctors ignored them for years. Each of us has the power to take control over our own health.

Nearly five years ago, a doctor told me I was too young and it was impossible for my "cyst" to be ovarian cancer. Fortunately for me, I sought out a specialist to perform my surgery anyway. This decision saved my life, twice. Remember this, if ovarian cancer is even slightly suspected, having a gynaecological oncologist perform the surgery can increase 5 year survival by 25%!
Tell every woman you know!

Ovarian cancer symptoms:

*bloating
*pelvic or abdominal pain
*trouble eating or feeling full quickly
*urinary symptoms, such as urgent or frequent feelings of needing to go

When the occurrence of these symptoms is unusual for you, or when they are present almost daily and last for more than a few weeks, they should prompt a woman to see a doctor, preferably a gynaecological oncologist.

Better safe than sorry, statistics suggest, because when ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the chance for a cure is much better.

Ovarian cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death among women and kills more women than all the other gyn-cancers combined. There is no reliable test for early detection and more effective treatments are needed so we can save the 1000’s of women diagnosed annually.

I've been struggling with ovarian cancer for the past five years. This weekend I'll be participating in my fourth HERA Climb4Life event in Salt Lake City. I'm very lucky to be healthy and strong today and looking forward to climbing and enjoying the beautiful clean mountain air.

The HERA Women's Cancer Foundation raises money for cutting edge ovarian cancer research grants at major institutions. The HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax ID # 71-0879772. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Please consider making a donation --- no amount is too small (or too big). Thank you so much!
Donate Here!
Be aware,
Samantha

Climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon during the 2007 Climb 4 Life.

send a text to help raise funds for ovarian cancer research

Electrolux and Kelly invite you to send a text for a cause HERE.

During September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, you can help raise funds and awareness to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Donate $5.00 [approximately 3.03 GBP on 9th September 09] NOW to help fund research to find a cure.[1]

Plus, every day you log on to Kelly Confidential , you'll be entered for a chance to win a front load washer and dryer in 'Turquoise Sky', the color inspired by the teal ribbon of ovarian cancer awareness.

[1] A one-time donation of $5.00 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the OCRF by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at HERE . You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to 85944.