Community Connection: Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for volunteers! Could you help?
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Community Champion. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Community Champion. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).
The new OVdialogue experience is only days away! Here’s what the updated platform will offer you as a valued member of our peer-to-peer community:
• A personalized experience, just for you: your member homepage displays the content you engage with most, including a resource library where you can engage in discussions directly related to the content.
• Have conversations in real time: You can respond to notifications and personal messages from people in your community directly from your email inbox; plus it’s easier than ever to return to the platform.
• Stay up to date on the latest events: upcoming activities will be listed in an events calendar right here in the platform
During this time of transition, private messaging within the platform will be unavailable beginning January 22, and posting will be unavailable beginning January 27.
We look forward to seeing you in the refreshed platform!
• A personalized experience, just for you: your member homepage displays the content you engage with most, including a resource library where you can engage in discussions directly related to the content.
• Have conversations in real time: You can respond to notifications and personal messages from people in your community directly from your email inbox; plus it’s easier than ever to return to the platform.
• Stay up to date on the latest events: upcoming activities will be listed in an events calendar right here in the platform
During this time of transition, private messaging within the platform will be unavailable beginning January 22, and posting will be unavailable beginning January 27.
We look forward to seeing you in the refreshed platform!
Best Of
Re: fingernail woes
Hey @bluebird, @kastoyles and @angel27, my face is fuzzier than ever too since chemo - and I agree that being hairless was pretty darn convenient :-)
Re: Bad taste in mouth all the time
Thank you for all your suggestions, I’ll try them. I’ve started drinking Club Soda with my meals and feel that helps a bit. Ice cream tastes fine, hurray.
bluesky
1
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
@nadiaC You made it through your first treatment! YAY! Emotionally, for me, it was the hardest because I just didn't know what to expect. Physically, as you progress, the side effects get a little stronger each time - but, for me, they were still manageable. I found sleeping at night to be a problem. I'd wake up for a few hours and then fall back to sleep. Thank God for my Ipad! LOL and Pearl's Perils. I always had a nap, usually in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon too. You'll be a Warrior Queen and barrel on through!
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
Hi @Bluebird! I did have my first treatment today and it was all very smooth. The nurses were amazing. Not only on top of things but also really helpful towards each other. The room was spacious and bright. My husband was allowed to be there this time which was nice. The Benadryl made me really loopy and then really tired, so I didn’t do much other than lie back with my eyes closer and ear plugs stuffed in my ears. Overall it was a long day but quite smooth. I’m hope the coming days will be manageable too. I feel a bit bloated right now but otherwise more ‘normal’ than I’ve felt in weeks (which no doubt is the steroids). I am glad treatment rooms are somewhat communal. It gave me strength to see others managing their treatments and to be with them. Thanks so much for asking about today! I hope you’re doing well!
nadiaC
2
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
@kastoyles thank you for the encouragement. I’m a bit overcome by nerves today so it was helpful to get your message. I’m going to pack my treatment bag this afternoon and the water bottle is going in ❤️
nadiaC
1
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
@kastoyles Yes Juravinski. Today went well. Bloodwork passed so on to round two tomorrow!
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
@nadiaC...I hope everything goes well for you too. Sending positive thoughts your way😊
Bluebird
2
Re: Let's get started! Come and introduce yourself
Hi @Camper62..I may be late in this game as I saw your comment from Dec2019.just now..I hope your still browsing the site. I hope you are doing well...your story is very similar.. your feelings stir up many emotions that I went through and still going through..I wonder how you are doing now? I wonder did the chemo work for you and are you in remission? And are back to work? Is everything back to "normal" for you? This has been a life changer for me in many ways. I seem to have side effects from the chemo when others I knew had none. I was 20 months off work, during that time rehabbed my body, my mind, my soul for a year and made it back to work..that was my goal..it was hard work..I have a "new norm"..I have limitations, I have a new job because of that..i have a different life..i can say that because i went through lots of counseling to learn to be kind to myself and accept myself...do i feel sad, scared.upset, angry...for sure..its ok..we as cancer patients have lots of unknowns..its hard to plan in the future..(Covid has killed part of my bucketlist with the no travel thing) I have learned to be flexible, I have quality. I have ability. We have strength we are survivors.
Bluebird
1
Re: Prevention
Thank you for passing along the info! Alicia is a great person who is super intelligent and passionate about her work. I know she will appreciate hearing from them
StephOCC
1
Re: Length of time on Lynparza (Olaparib).
I'm now on month 3 of Lynparza. My dose was reduced from original 600mg to 500 mg daily starting month 2, and that's been fine with no side effects whatsoever. My bloodwork continues to be in the acceptable ranges (my platelets were trending low on the maximum dose). I am BRCA1 positive. I am in the "paid by the manufacturer" program for this drug, and I'm very grateful for that. Today is my one-year anniversary of diagnosis; my husband and I will celebrate the "year behind us" this evening with a close friend who was there for all my chemo treatments (which were done in February). I am so grateful for the medical research that happened years before now, which is enabling us to experience treatments today that were only someone's dream in a lab at one time. Go dreamers!
