Off to Maybury State Park to join a friend, her family and friends in an ovarian cancer awareness event.  Almost 200 showed up the the first annual ‘Polly’s Walk for Hope. Here is link to facbook pix:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=236415&l=52f698eb9a&id=56484641465 Polly’s husband Jim said he made a vow to gather $20,000 for the Karmanos cancer place in Detroit. Jim told the walkers he was surprised & blown away that they exceeded that goal.

I never knew Polly, but I know Cathy, who helped organize the event.  So I went to support my friend, who has been treated for ovarian cancer for three years now.

Gildas’ group was a key for Cathy to share her treatment stories and to strategize for her recovery.  Cathy met Polly, and Jenny through Gilda’s group.  Jenny steered Cathy to a wonderful gynecology doc specializing in cancer, and his compassionate care has made it possible for Cathy to still be with us–so I have gathered after talking with Jenny.

My friend Cathy told the walkers gathered after the event she knew absolutely nothing about ovarian cancer when she was diagnosed 3 years ago.  Cathy told us gathered after the walk that even doctors aren’t really aware of the symptoms. In fact, Cathy was mis-diagnosed by her doctor, who treated her for indigestion. Cathy found out it was cancer from an emergency room physician after she drove herself in.

So, the cluster of common  symptoms associated with ovarian cancer fly under the radar even for doctors.   For Cathy it was bloating, urgency to pee often, a full feeling , and most telltale for Cathy, burping.  SHe giggled when she siad it, “Hee,hee (that’s her laugh-it’s very distinctinve), “I never burped at all and I was burping all the time.”   She also would sleep 12 hours and still be very tired.

Cathy told us that there is a test that can be made at a woman’s annual ob/gyn checkup.  The test may show a false positive and insurance company’s often will not pay for the test.  But it can mean the difference in catching  treating ovarian cancer at stage one, where the is a very high chance of living a long time after treatment.  Cathy was not diagnosed till stage 3 or 4, which has a much, much lower chance of living long after treatment….

Cathy is doing very well at this time, after 3 years of near continuous chemo–she says over 30 treatments and 3 surgeries..her friends and sister say she is very strong.

Cathy’s sister Judy is key to Cathy’s survival.  Judy goes with Cathy to every doctor appointment,  Judy takes notes and asks questions.  She says she hears things different from her sister, her sister is under the stress of treatment.

Sister Judy also goes to the Gilda’s group meetings with Cathy.  It was Judy who took the business card from Jenny and urged Cathy to try the ‘better’ doctor.  It was Judy who urged Cathy to go the post-poned appointment when Cathy was ready to not go.   That postponed appointment led to a surgery 2 days later…God bless persistant sisters!