Cards!

Honestly, these are what gets me through each day.  Reading the words of encouragement from all the people who are pulling for me!  I don't have time to respond to every single one, but I promise I read them all, word for word.  I appreciate every single one of them and I can never express how much they mean to me!

If you want to write to me, my address is:

Kristen Owens 

PO Box 1665

Elm City, NC 27822

Raising Awareness

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I have seen pink absolutely everywhere.  The awareness raised now for breast cancer is really amazing.  From college and professional sports teams wearing pink in nationally televised games to the White House being illuminated pink one night, there's no way people don't know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  According to the American Cancer Society, "dramatic improvements in cancer research, treatment, and early detection, millions of women are surviving breast cancer today."  Don't get me wrong, that's absolutely amazing! It's great, but the thing is, there are other types of cancer out there that need more awareness.

I, myself, use to love to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness and the survivors.  I still do!  It's an awesome thing and it's amazing that kids as young as high school and middle school age will wear pink in their games to support it.  Even my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor, so of course I will continue to wear pink in October and go to events to help support awareness and other survivors.  Statistically, behind skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.  The interesting thing is, it's not the cancer that is the leading cause of death among American women.  I feel like so much awareness is raised for breast cancer, that many other cancers get overlooked.  Especially ovarian cancer, which is known as the "silent killer," because most of the time it is detected too late.  Ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the reproductive system. 

Today, women are reminded to go get their annual mammograms, do breast self-exams, and even be tested for the BRCA gene if breast cancer runs in their family.  This is all great, but what about being tested for other types of cancers or gene mutations?  Women hate pelvic exams and pap smears, but they're SO important for early detection of other types of cancer.  Please, please have one done annually! There are no true 100% reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer at this point, but any little thing can help, even if it's just knowing the signs or symptoms.  Better ways to screen for ovarian cancer are being researched. Hopefully, improvements in screening tests will eventually lead to a lower ovarian cancer death rate.

There are so many organizations out there that raise money for breast cancer awareness and research.  You can probably name one or two off the top of your head.  Komen? The Kay Yow Cancer Fund?  I bet you can't name one ovarian cancer organization, right?  Everyone knows pink represents breast cancer awareness.  Most people have to ask what color my ribbon is.  (It's teal blue, by the way.) This just proves that many other cancers need more awareness.  More money raised for research.  More testing made available.   October is great for breast cancer awareness and we've come so far.  Survival rates are up and treatments are improved.  Now, if only more awareness was raised for all the other types of cancer.  People need to know that there are other types of cancer out there besides breast cancer.  Wear your pink this month and support breast cancer awareness, but don't forget liver cancer, which is also in October!  Do a little research and look up what cancers need awareness raised next month! Lung cancer, carcinoid cancer, pancreatic and also stomach cancer.  November is also National Family Caregivers Month and they need all the support they can get.  Continue to fight the fight and never give up!  One day, there will be a cure!

TWO WEEKS!

Well, it's been two weeks since my third surgery.  I have to say that my recovery this time has been a lot quicker than my last surgery, even thought it was expected to be worse.  So, I'm definitely happy about that.  I've been feeling okay other than some pain in my right side and lower back.  I'm not quite sure of the source yet and I've received a few different opinions on it.  I'm just hoping it will reside soon.  

As for the surgery itself, everything went well.  It lasted a bit longer than the last two, but that was due mainly to having a plastic surgeon in the operating room to repair my abdominal muscles and mesh this time and close the incision.  The incision looks a lot better this time as well!  

I started chemo again last week and I'll be getting weekly Taxol treatments for six weeks and then starting a different drug. The new drug isn't actually a toxin like chemo, so none of the horrible side effects!  Just headaches and nose bleeds.. Which may sound bad, but they're definitely easy to handle compared to hair loss, extreme fatigue, and lung damage! 

I'm hoping and praying that this last surgery got everything out and this chemo and new drug will clean up the rest and maybe.. Just maybe, I'll finally be cancer free.  That's my Christmas wish for right now, so Santa, keep your eyes open!  I love the holiday season and it's my favorite time of year.  So, here's to hoping I can celebrate it with my friends and family AND receive the gift of being cancer free!  

I love all of you guys and thanks so much for the continued prayers and well wishes.  It all means so much to me.  I would be nowhere without all this love and support behind me.  Thank you!