Community Connection: Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for volunteers! Could you help?
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. 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 Peer Support Volunteer. 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).
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Sorry I dont know how to put someones name in the comment but here in BC there is no second vaccine at 3 weeks. Very frustrating for all of us. I would never have had the first vaccine had i known that I would only have about 25% immunity. I have written to all the health officials with only one reply. I hate that Im asking for special treatment with supplies so low, but I didnt choose to have cancer and would gladly be cancer free and one vaccine!0
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@Fearless - Vol Mod...agreed!
I've had conversations with my daughter regarding my wishes, she gets emotional (that's good I think...we are very close) but it's a necessary conversation and having now while I'm "good" makes it easier as it seems like it's a distant future thing.2 -
@Taita Goodness, you're not far from me. I'm a patient at KGH but live south east of Napanee on the lake. I've found the whole process around the shots so confusing. Got mine at the mass clinic in Napanee based on having home care to service my port and administer some shots I take. My husband had to wait for the age thing. Some of our gals were just asked at KGH if they wanted it while in the chemo room. Others were told to use the online reservation process. Oh well got #1 and hoping to get #2 soon once my oncologist figures out optimum timing. I go back into chemo next week for another cycle so getting the shot has to be timed to when my WBC's are highest.
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Isnt it amazing that after we start to open up about death to our family, the burden becomes so much lighter. I need to do more talking with my children. The video will be a good start. After the video last night I wrote my obituary. I'm very pleased to tick one more thing off my list.1
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Hi ladies, not too bad day in Southern Ontario. Got my first vaccine last Friday, has appointment for second one in August but hoping that it will happen before.0
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I'm getting my 1st shot on Saturday. Will breathe a bit easier however we don't go anywhere regardless...variants are just too scary!0
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@gaylestorm (PS, if you want to address a specific person just type the @sign and then immediately the first few letters of their screen name and it will pop up in full and just click on it. That notifies the person you are addressing them specifically) not sure what shot you got, but the efficacy of the first shot of any of Pfizer, Moderna or Astrazeneca is considerable higher than 25%...closer to 70 to 80%. You might not be totally immune to getting Covid but if you do, it does mean the likelihood of you ending up in hospital or dying is almost non-existent. And as for the four month delay in getting #2, I've heard that the efficacy of any of them doesn't begin to wane until long after that. I posted a summary and a link to a webinar I attended on the subject specific to cancer patients a few weeks ago. If you want it I'll dig it up for you. I think it might help put your mind at some ease.
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Sorry folks have to run (well not literaly
for a meeting. Look forward to next week! 0 -
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@gaylestorm I totally agree regarding how freeing it becomes when you are able to become open with your family and friends on the topic. I think it may be for them too knowing you're comfortable with those conversions. I expect we all skirt each other too much trying not to get anyone upset. I mentioned to someone earlier today that I'd wished I'd had benefit of Jennifer's presentation when my dad passed away 20years ago. I realize now he wanted to talk about dying, but neither my mother nor I gave him the space to do it.
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I missed the session. Will I be able to get it on this website for later listening?
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Congrats @rad for getting your first shot...and @Readersmaven for yours being booked. It is truly a relief when you get that first one. I just passed the two week mark since my first which means it's now fully effective to the level that a single dose is. Not that I won't continue to mask, distance, sanitize and go out only for essentials.
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@Fearless - Vol Mod The information I gathered was from a limited british study on pfizer vaccine that said solid cancer would not gain much immunity without a second vaccine within 3 weeks and then it would be 97%. Without the timely second dose we would only ever be about 40% immunity. There also was a good article that alberta oncologists and patients pushing for the second vaccine in 3 weeks. In BC we have been told that when everyone is vaccinate, those with poor immunity (cancer) will be protected by herd immuntiy.0
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@CountryLiving yes. I post the links when they become available or you can get it from the OCC website. I know they're trying to have it available to us by end of this week. Last time it was the next day. I'm sure you'll find it very valuable.
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@gaylestorm try this video link if you have time. The three medical professionals, one of whom is an oncologist and another an immunization specialist are all Canadian based..Toronto as I recall. I found their discussion very informative and put my mind at ease about how it's all being managed.
https://youtu.be/i_KBSzx6ODE
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BTW is anyone planning to attend the follow up session on Monday night? I missed the follow up from Jennifer's first one on Hope but heard it was amazing. Very interactive among the participants and her.0
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You too @gaylestorm and I sure hope, anyway, that BC goes the way of Ontario where they seem to have changed direction specific to the high risk groups (cancer especially) and opened up the second shot to an earlier timeframe. Have a great week.
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Well ladies it looks like we're talked out for the time being. Thanks to everyone for the feedback on the session last night. I'll let OCC know how well it's been received and valued. Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead and hope to see you all with us again next week...same time, same place.
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Have a good week everyone!0
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WELCOME TO ANOTHER LIVE CHAT.....It's Thursday, April 30...another Teal Thursday and the end of another month. My this year is passing us by so fast, or that's what it seems to me. Once spring is really here though it can take all the time in the world. I want to enjoy the fresh air, and the sun, and the flowers forever and a day.
A busy week for me. Covid Pfizer #2 on Monday. Thank you KGH for ensuring those in treatment are being accelerated to the 21-28 day cycle for the two vaccinations. If only my caregiver didn't have to wait the current 16 weeks mandated by Ontario. Oh well, at least he has #1. Chemo yesterday. Day 1 Cycle 6, again with the new Cisplatin regimen. CA125 is slightly up, just over normal range and likely the result of the 2 aborted attempts with the Carbo and no Gemcitabine that last time to enable the Covid vax the best opportunity to embed its goodness. Got the full Monty again this time though so we'll see. Scan on the 12th and pretty sure I'll get a 7th cycle. Otherwise feeling very well these days so I'll just continue to do what I've been doing for almost five years now....just live in the moment and take it one day at a time and enjoy every precious day.
Monday evening attended Jennifer De Wet Turner's follow up to her session on Living with the Fear of Dying. So grateful to her for offering her time to continue the subject for those interested or in need. It was a small, but very engaged group. So many different perspectives. I really learned as much from my fellow survivors as I did from Jennifer herself. From what I understand she may continue that series on a recurring basis.
I see a few have viewed my post looking for volunteers (Community Champions) to help with this site but no one stepping up yet to even explore what that might mean if they were interested. Truly, it's not a lot of work but it is very rewarding. And gals, I do need the help! So if you have any interest please let me know and we can talk about it. And if not for you, but you've found other members here who you think would make great local champions and might be willing to step up, please give them a wee nudge for me.
And final reminders: World Ovarian Cancer Day Virtual Symposium May 8 (link to register and agenda on our home page) and this year's virtual Walk of Hope is now open for registration (ovariancanada.org).
Enough for now from me ladies. Let's get started.....who's with us today?....how are you?....
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Hello! Like you I can't believe we are at the end of another month. How flyers that happen when every day is basically the same?
I don't have any news... got my first jab last week (yeah) and so I'm feeling like maybe there's a light at the end of this tunnel!1 -
Hello... rainy day here but thats ok it will help things grow.0
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@Readersmaven welcome back again. Congratulations on getting your first vaccine. Which one and are you going to have the extended wait for the second or are they defaulting to the 21 to 28 day process for cancer patients in your area?
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@Fearless - Vol Mod thank you for all your support and encouragement. I think you must spend alot of time on the project. I am awaiting CSA125 next week and its results and possible scan. When I know more I could help. Not sure whats involved but willing to see if I have the skills to help you.
Not a bad day here in BC. Sun is trying to come out. Best news is 3 of my children/inlaw were vaccinated at drop in clinic yesterday. My son today. A sigh of relief0 -
Yes it is a sigh of relief when vaccinated. Thank goodness my household are all vaccinated with one shot.
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@CountryLiving rainy here today too....an Ontario thing eh? Hope all is well.
@gaylestorm glad to have you back. Hoping your CA125 is a good one. Get that out of the way and then let me know and we can talk about the Community Champion role. It would be helpful to have someone else in BC for sure. But yes, I spend at least 2 - 3 hours a day on OVdialogue.....other things I do beyond this and moderating overall. Plus I don't have the provincial lens outside of Ontario and that's helpful to our members. So very happy to talk about it and you can decide if you want to join us....no pressure.
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@Fearless - Vol Mod I got the Pfizer shot, so far no accommodation for cancer patients here, if I do have to start chemo for recurrence, likely that will change. I was told receiving radiation treatments doesn't qualify.
My daughter has an appointment for these AZ short on Monday, so I'm thankful for that.0 -
Hi everyone! Nice to be here after a week or so. Congrats @Readersmaven on your first jab. Got my first one as well this week so that's good. The second one is expected until the first week of August, which seems like a long wait. Glad you're feeling well - or at least, better, these days and enjoying the season and taking the chemo in stride!0
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@Readersmaven yes, I guess the radiation doesn't have the same impact on immunity levels that chemo does so those of us are getting fast tracked. That said, even one dose gives a huge amount of protection so yahoo we're all getting that in, including our families. My son is in Alberta and not yet open for him to get his first but they seem to be moving faster than Ontario so hopefully soon. Regardless, I"m just going to continue to mask, distance and sanitize anyway even though I have the two shots.
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