Pass the Torch

Passing of the Torch represents the hereditary link between breast and ovarian cancer marking the transition from Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Please take some time to honour cancer survivors and those at high risk, remember those whose lives have been lost to cancer, and recognize families that have been affected by cancer.

Little Princess Pumpkin

I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my sweet Princess Pumpkin this morning. Words cannot express what I am feeling right now; I'm not feeling anything really...I'm just numb.

Life just sucks sometimes and can be so damn unfair. Why do these horrible things happen???????????????????????

Rest well my sweet little one.

My Little Princess Pumpkin
1996 ~ 2008

A thousand times I've thought of you,
A thousand times I've cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death, I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
No other one can fill.

It broke my heart to lose you,
But you did not go alone.
For part of me went with you
The day God took you home.

Oprah, Christina Applegate and BRCA...tune in Tuesday September 30, 2008

Christina Applegate talks to Oprah about being diagnosed with breast cancer and why she decided to remove both of her breasts. Tune in Tuesday, September 30th for a show every woman needs to see. Go to Oprah.com for more information.

View the trailer here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLloIojq5Q

I'm really looking forward to watching the show on Tuesday.

Thank you Christina and Oprah!

She Colors My Day

Looks like one of my favourite brands, philosophy, is creating a new bath product, She Colors My Day.

Award-winning artist Amy Grant recently announced a special partnership with Cristina Carlino, founder of philosophy inc., and art of grace, a company for greater purpose and not profit. Grant just recorded “She Colors My Day,” a song written by Carlino, and her business partner Stuart Matheson.

Inspired by the artwork of her daughter, Carlino and Matheson authored and co-created a heartwarming song that celebrates the relationship between a mother and her daughter. The She Colors My Day single recorded by Grant will be available to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. philosophy will support art of grace by creating a She Colours My Day inspirational bath product and will donate 100% of its net proceeds from the sale of the product to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund.

The bath product will be available exclusively at philosophy.com. She Colors My Day is a high-foaming green bubble bath to celebrate the bond between mothers and daughters and help give back to a very worthwhile cause. I absolutely love philosphy's Shower for the Cure and am really looking forward to the release of one as well.

To view the infomercial go to:

http://www.philosophydirect.com/flash/players/amy-and-philosophy.html

Listen To “She Colors My Day” by following these links:

WindowsMedia
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/wma/full/100/she_colors_my_day_final_mastered_256k_stream.asx
Real
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/real/full/she_colors_my_day_mastered_256k_stream.ram
Quicktime
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/quicktime/full/100/she_colors_my_day_final_mastered_256k_stream.qtl

Reality is starting to set in...I have a date for my first surgery!!!

I received a letter from Dr. Vilos' office this morning; my Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy, Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy is scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2008 - 8:00 - 10:00 AM at St. Joseph's Health Centre in London. Preadmission is at 6:00 AM...great! We either have to leave home at 3:30 in the morning or go to London the night before.

I have a ton of paperwork to fill out and return to the Preadmission Department. Preadmission will be in touch with me to set up a pre-admit appointment.

After receiving this letter this morning...the nerves hit; I have a huge knot in my stomach; reality is setting in!

TURN UP THE VOLUME!!!

SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

LISTEN CLOSELY...IT WHISPERS

Fast Facts About Ovarian Cancer...

• Ovarian cancer is the most deadly type of cancer that women can develop.
• Ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70 Canadian women; is diagnosed in 2,300 - 2,600 Canadian women each year and claims 1,500 lives a year across the country.
• Ovarian cancer is currently the 5th leading cause of death among women.
• There is no early detection screening test currently.
• All women should get yearly pelvic exams.
• Ovarian cancer is difficult to treat because it's often resistant to current treatments.
• Survival rates are better at the early stage.
• Most common in older white women.
• A small number of ovarian cancers are hereditary, linked to the same genes that are linked to breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2.
• The best person to treat ovarian cancer is a gynecologic oncologist.

The Silent Killer

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the "silent killer' because ovarian cancer symptoms are few and often mimic that of many other illnesses. There may be no symptoms present in the early stages, and if there are they are very slight and vague.

Symptoms

Have you been diagnosed with?

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastritis
• Depression
• Stress
• Urinary tract infection
• Constipation

OR, do you have No clear diagnosis, despite persisting symptoms?

Common warning symptoms include:

• Abdominal bloating or discomfort
• Changes in bowel function
• Unexplained weight gain and a distended abdomen from fluid build-up
• Nausea
• Infertility or changes in menstruation patterns

If these symptoms persist for three weeks or longer, see your health practitioner immediately. The list of symptoms may make for scary reading. It can be very worrying to think that you may have the signs and symptoms of a malignant disease. Remember, ovarian cancer is a relatively uncommon disease. Although it can occur at any age, ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75. The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have or had ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age. Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to lack of sensitive detection tests and to the fact that health care providers and women themselves may ignore warning symptoms.

For more information, go to:

Canadian Cancer Society

National Ovarian Cancer Association

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Hereditary Breast + Ovarian Cancer Foundation