If I had known that night would be the last night I would see her, would I have done anything differently? I am so glad that Jennifer and I had a quiet moment during the wedding reception to catch up, talk about life, talk about her. She was in remission then, looking beautiful and so happy. Her younger sister, one of my closest friends, was getting married. It was a day of celebration. And boy did we celebrate.
Little did we know that not very long after that, Jennifer would receive the bad news. The cancer had returned. Despite everything, it came back. And this time it was more aggressive.
Jennifer was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March the year she turned 31. Yes, thirty-one. And she died two weeks after turning 38, seven years to the day of receiving her diagnosis.
Ovarian cancer is nasty. It’s aggressive and it spreads quickly. And the worst part – it’s a silent killer. Most of the symptoms can be easily masked by normal, every day issues. Gas, bloating, cramps, feeling full quickly.
Jennifer would have not have known she had cancer, if it weren’t for a painful irruption of a cyst. She thought she had appendicitis. She’d gained weight and could not get rid of it, which was unusual for her very petite frame. The doctors blamed it on age. You know, because it’s so much harder to lose weight once we turn 30. But when she thought her appendix burst, she was hospitalized and they found the tumor. A massive tumor the size of a football that had to be carried out of the operating room on two separate trays.
How does that happen? How does one have a tumor so large and it’s not noticed. Jennifer noticed. Jennifer went to her doctor. And not once did ovarian cancer even cross any of their minds.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. My friends and I have been participating in a #30DaysofTeal and #30ShadesofTeal awareness campaign. Each day we wear something teal (and we call it 30 shades of teal because we are pretty liberal in what we allow to be called teal!) and we post pictures. We just attended Handbags for Hope in Greenville, as we do each year, to raise money not only for awareness and research, but also to support women who are currently fighting the disease.
By the time you read this, it will be too late to attend this year’s event, but it won’t be too late to support awareness and even give a donation if you feel so moved. But more importantly, take the time to know the symptoms. Because like a butterfly makes no noise, neither does ovarian cancer.
A pap smear will not identify ovarian cancer. But knowing your body and watching for these common signs WILL:
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach or heartburn
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation or menstrual changes
If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, see your physician.
Jennifer’s story does not end happily. The cancer came back aggressively. She fought it. But two weeks after she turned 38 she passed away.
Her sister is my close friend. Our group of friends is very passionate about raising awareness and making sure other women know the signs.
Awareness saves lives. Please listen to your body carefully and don’t ignore it if you feel like something is not right.
Have you or someone you know battled ovarian cancer? Share your experiences below.
