Super fucking lame...
My aunt was diagnosed with Stage 3c ovarian cancer on Thursday.
That really fucking sucks.
Statistically, only 34% of people diagnosed at that stage live for 5 or more years. She's only 53. She has a son's wedding to attend, grandchildren to watch grow up and my and my sister's college graduations to witness. She works her fucking ass off for little pay, spends her free time babysitting her grandchildren and is one of the most self-sacrificing people I know. Yes, I know that there is obviously the hope that she is part of that 34%. But she still has to go through chemo, and doesn't live very close. She also lives alone and doesn't have a significant other. Who's going to take care of her when she's sick? What if she can't work? She has worked so hard all her live but still doesn't have much. I don't want to see her end up with nothing.
So, I'm angry. And sad. And it's hard to be strong for my mom and cousins when all I want to do is punch walls and and break windows.
Another thing I don't understand is the lack of awareness about ovarian cancer. It's DEADLY. Most women with it aren't diagnosed until they are already at Stage 3. There is so much attention paid to breast cancer but you are far more likely to die from ovarian cancer. Now, I am not trying to minimize how terrible breast cancer is or say that it doesn't deserve the attention it gets. But so many women are unaware of the signs of ovarian cancer, and you don't see too many teal ribbons around (I didn't even know that that's the "color" for ovarian cancer until today).
Anyway, I would really appreciate some positive energy being sent to my aunt right now.
That really fucking sucks.
Statistically, only 34% of people diagnosed at that stage live for 5 or more years. She's only 53. She has a son's wedding to attend, grandchildren to watch grow up and my and my sister's college graduations to witness. She works her fucking ass off for little pay, spends her free time babysitting her grandchildren and is one of the most self-sacrificing people I know. Yes, I know that there is obviously the hope that she is part of that 34%. But she still has to go through chemo, and doesn't live very close. She also lives alone and doesn't have a significant other. Who's going to take care of her when she's sick? What if she can't work? She has worked so hard all her live but still doesn't have much. I don't want to see her end up with nothing.
So, I'm angry. And sad. And it's hard to be strong for my mom and cousins when all I want to do is punch walls and and break windows.
Another thing I don't understand is the lack of awareness about ovarian cancer. It's DEADLY. Most women with it aren't diagnosed until they are already at Stage 3. There is so much attention paid to breast cancer but you are far more likely to die from ovarian cancer. Now, I am not trying to minimize how terrible breast cancer is or say that it doesn't deserve the attention it gets. But so many women are unaware of the signs of ovarian cancer, and you don't see too many teal ribbons around (I didn't even know that that's the "color" for ovarian cancer until today).
Anyway, I would really appreciate some positive energy being sent to my aunt right now.