Friday, September 23, 2011

Dr. Oz and the NOCC

Dr. Oz got together with the NOCC (Nationoal Ovarian Cancer Coalition) and came up with a fantastic form for you to fill out and bring to your doctor if you are concerned about being tested. It is a great way to push your doctor to get the correct tests to check for ovarian cancer. Don't let your doctor talk you out of it, and if your doctor doesn't take you seriously, then you may need to visit another doctor. PAP smears and regular gynecological exams will not catch ovarian cancer in the early stages, so you need to know these symptoms!

Print the page from this link and bring it to your doctor. This critical one-sheet can help you detect the early warning signs of ovarian cancer.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

With the new month of September upon us, it's time to paint those toe nails teal and spread the word about ovarian cancer.



It has been 11 months since my precious Mother lost her 6 year battle with this disease, and I feel a need to spread the word more than ever. I don't expect everyone to be as passionate about this because not everyone has experienced the effects and battle that ovarian cancer causes you to have so closely. The truth is, it's on my mind all the time. If I can get the symptoms out there, and educate just one person who catches it early on (when it is most curable), then I will have done my job. We all know someone who has or has had cancer. Cancer seems to be so prevalent in our lives now. I often wonder why, but that isn't going to get any answers. It seems like just about everything "causes" cancer nowadays. What I do have is FAITH; Strong faith that God works in every situation and He is with us always. I have faith that He is going to use my Mother's fight to help others. I have faith that she touched many, many nurses, doctors, patients, family, and friends through her own faith that God would be glorified no matter what the situation.



So, please share the symptoms with all of the women in your life. You could help someone to discover symptoms early, and win the battle against this disease.



Start by sending a link to this blog to everyone you know. Post it on facebook. Paint your toe nails teal (there are tons of polishes out there, and you will get comments from others when they see you wearing it....it's a great way to explain why and tell them the symptoms), wear teal, or just tell someone about ovarian cancer.

You can order free cards to pass out to others from the Teal Toes website. Click here and spread the word. Read the section about teal toes cards and click on the "contact page" link. Fill out the form and wait for your cards to come to your door. It's easy and it's free! There is no excuse not to!


Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion
Frequency and/or urgency in urination in the absence of an infection
Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating, and/or feeling of fullness
Ongoing unusual fatigue
Unexplained changes in bowel habits


These symptoms are so common for women, that they are often over looked. If you have any of these symptoms, and they persist for more than two weeks, consult your physician. Ask your doctor for a combination pelvic/rectal exam, CA-125 blood test, and transvaginal ultrasound. Don't let them talk you out of it, and be persistent!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Sprint for Life

The date for the annual "Sprint for Life" 5K run/walk at MD Anderson is quickly approaching. This year the race is on Saturday, May 7. You can sign up to register by clicking here.

This race benefits the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program. Please do what you can to help raise money for awareness of this disease. Spread the word and let others know that it can effect any woman. Tell them about this blog so they can learn the symptoms and risks. I would love it if this race could be as big as the Susan Komen Race!

I will be racing this year in honor of my mother, Glynda Hinton, who lost her 6 year fight with ovarian cancer on October 14, 2010. I would love for you to join me, but if you can't attend the race, you can make a donation to my fund-raising page by clicking here.
Thank you for helping!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Pure Joy in Suffering

I know the title of this post seems strange. It is something the bible tells us to have; Pure joy in suffering. For some reason this same verse has come across my eyes multiple times this week, so I think God is trying to tell me something.

James 1:2-4 says;
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


I need to share it, I need to learn from it, and I need to live it. So I am posting it here on this blog. Maybe it will give you a different point of view about what you are dealing with in your life right now. Sometimes we need to remember that our sufferings can be huge things, or even the common daily difficulties we deal with. They can be physical sufferings, mental sufferings, or sufferings of the heart.

When you look closely at the verse above, it tells us to have the outlook on our sufferings as a test of our faith. Wow. To think of how I handle some of my "simple" daily sufferings as a test of my faith makes me cringe. I often grumble through so many activities, instead of finding the joy.

If I think of these sufferings as a test of my faith though, and ask for God's help, His strength, His hands to uphold me, then my outlook changes. Part of what makes the sufferings we have so difficult is that we feel alone in our suffering. I have to remind myself constantly that I am not alone. God is with me. He wants me to ask for help, He wants me to rely on Him, and He wants me to seek answers in His word. He wants to fill that hole in my heart that nothing else will fill. Only then can my faith grow. Only then can I "be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Another great verse that I have often tried to remember is Romans 5: 3-5.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

We are building our character, developing perseverance and hope, and growing our faith while we suffer. See, suffering can make us stronger! One of my dear friends told me to look every day for things that are going right and see them as a praise. Then take a moment to say a "praise prayer" to God, thanking Him for whatever that may be. Sometimes we have those days where our praise prayer can only be to thank Him for the air we breathe, and sometimes we can find so many things to praise Him for that it is hard to find the time to praise Him.

I challenge you to write down 5 things each day that you are thankful for. It just might change your outlook. I have started doing this in a book of my Mom's that she had for just this purpose. She had filled out a few of the pages, and I am adding to it. It really makes your day feel differently when you sit down and realize that you had more to be thankful for that day than you realized you did.