We would like to introduce you to Joanne, a Yes Girl recipient. Joanne was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2017 with Low Grade Primary Peritoneal, Stage 3c to be exact. Her symptoms (the reason she went to the doc) = pain associated with constipation. She is chemo resistant meaning most proven chemo treatments do not work on her. She will most likely live with this disease for the rest of her life unless there is new research discovered. Because of this, she feels like

We recently started a new program within Teal Diva called Yes Girl! I'd like to introduce you to our first Yes Girl! and for privacy, we will refer to her as Drummer Girl. Read on to hear why she has been selected as a Teal Diva Yes Girl and how you can help. Drummer Girl was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2017. with Low Grade Primary Peritoneal, Stage 3c to be exact Her symptoms (the reason she went to the doc) = pain associated with constipation She is chemo resis

T E N * Y E A R S ago, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It did not run in my family. What I learned was sickening. I learned that even though I was going for a PaPSmear, I wasn’t being tested for ovarian cancer because a test simply doesn’t exist. The PaP only tests for cervical. My body was screaming at me that something was wrong and I listened. One doctor misdiagnosed me. I didn’t know what was wrong but I kept pushing and even changed doctors. I have learned that we m

It has been 3 1/2 years since I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and I still wonder why. Sometimes I still ask God why. Sometimes I get paralyzed in my fear of a recurrence. Most of the time I try to live my life looking forward instead of behind me, looking around me to lift other people up and encourage them that it will be OK, no matter the outcome. Sometimes it’s really hard. Sometimes it’s not so hard. Making the decision to apply for the Teal Diva Retreat was easy. I

Because on Tuesdays, we wear Teal. And we talk about the symptoms of ovarian cancer because there is NO test. It’s up to us to know the symptoms and ask questions when things don’t feel right. Some of the symptoms include but are not limited to: 🔹Having to urinate frequently 🔹excessive bloating 🔹reoccurring abdominal pain 🔹decreases appetite #TealTuesday #OvarianCancerAwareness #TealDiva #TealHair #TealDIvaRetreat

Today is a celebration for moms all throughout. Today can also be a struggle for many. For me, I struggle with knowing I will never know what it feels like to pee on a stick and see it +. And then to tell my husband: "babe, guess what?! We are having a baby." And then to make my first doctors appointment. And then to sit there with my hubby looking up at the screen to hear the heartbeat for the first time. And then to be able to feel this baby grow inside me. To feel their mo

It is easy to get so involved with your cancer journey that you forget to take time for the life you had before cancer became a factor in your life. Like going to dinner and cancer not come up. Like planning out your week without a doctor appointment to work around. Like planning for your future without a recurrence coming into mind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Take your life back one moment at a time. Go to dinner with friends and/or family and set guidelines of no cancer chatter.

Before applying for the retreat, this is how I felt: alone, isolated, unheard and unwanted. Even though I’m married to a wonderful man, I felt like no one understood what I was going through. I have friends but they do not understand my feelings nor do I tell them everything I’m feeling because I know they would not understand. Guilt was my friend and I could count on her to be there every day. I felt guilty because I am 5 years cancer free. I felt guilty because there were

My journey began in May of 2008, only 6 years after losing my mother at the young age of 54 from stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, and 7 years of being married to the most wonderful husband. At the time, I had 2 children ages 2 and 4 and instead of dealing with a cancer diagnosis, I should of been enjoying my family. They are my world and my everything. Due to my family history, I was under surveillance by my doctor at a young age. I was having yearly mammograms since the age of 28 a

This past weekend we gathered together to celebrate, raise awareness and honor loved ones. Survivors, caregivers, families, friends, students, teachers, oh! and hockey fans too filled the arena for the 5th Annual Stick It To Ovarian Cancer game night. For so many reasons, this night was special. It was the first time the Checkers went completely teal. They had on teal jersey's and each had a teal ribbon on the front. We weren't, in addition to, no we were the main attrac