A Letter to My Newly Diagnosed Self
"Women with stage 4 ovarian cancers live with the fear of recurrence. It’s not a question of if, but when. When it does happen, strange as it sounds, it’s almost a relief. Certainly anticlimactic; we’re old hands at this.
If I could go back three and a half years and give advice to my newly diagnosed self, what would I say?
Have hope. But also be realistic. Be prepared to deal with the disappointment and anger
Losing your hair again sucks.
Advocate for yourself. Be an active member of your care team, research the treatments your doctor recommends and ask questions about them.
Don’t endure poor customer service. Stand your ground. Stand up for yourself. This isn’t about being liked. It’s about your health.
Change the conversation in your head from worst-case scenario to a focus on blessings. Think more about others and less about yourself.
In remission don’t waste those days worrying about the next recurrence. Thank God for the blessing of each day. Make each day count. Live and live well".
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