A second ovarian cancer recurrence in three years prompted this review of lessons learned. If I could go back three and a half years and give advice to my newly diagnosed self, what would I say?
BY Kelly Irvin
PUBLISHED May 08, 2019
Kelly Irvin is a multi-published novelist and former newspaper reporter who worked in public relations for more than 20 years. She retired from her day job in 2016 after being diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a degenerative motor neuron disease, and stage 4 ovarian cancer. She spends her days writing and loving her family.
This morning, I start chemotherapy for the third time in three and a half years. "Three’s a charm" doesn’t apply in this instance.Women with stage 4 ovarian cancer 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? Here’s the letter I wrote to my newbie-cancer-ninja self:
Get a grip on the fear and depression sooner rather than later. Easier said than done, I know, but worrying about tomorrow will only spoil today. Don’t let that happen. Every day you feel decent is a gift— don’t waste it. Work diligently to change the conversation in your head from worst-case scenario to a focus on blessings.
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