teal ribbon – Leigha Robbins

I want to try something. Let’s talk about things. Things that matter, things are not so important and outright silly things. Things that are strange and different, things that are timely, things that make us laugh or cry. Things that are on your mind and mine. And things that never crossed your mind. Let’s talk….

Here it comes… Autumn is sneaking up on us now with the start of September. Let’s see how the month has started in the past. In 1957 singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan was born. In 1952 Life Magazine published excerpts from Earnest Hemingway’s book The Old Man and The Sea. The wreck of the Titanic was found in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1985. Today is Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, World Letter Writing Day and in Germany it’s Anti-War Day. But I am going to take a broader look at things today.

September starts the beginning of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. One in seventy-eight women will develop ovarian cancer. While there is a 93% five year survival rate if caught in its earliest stages, there is no screening test for it, and you have to listen to your body to catch it early. Only 20% of cases are caught in the earlies stages. Know the symptoms.

October is full of pink ribbons; I look forward to the day when September is full of teal ribbons. Were you aware of the teal ribbon? Have you had ovarian cancer touch your life in some way? Is there a Together in Teal walk/run near you to raise awareness? Let’s talk about these things…

I became aware of the teal ribbon when I was going through breast cancer. I worked with a woman who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer about 4 years earlier. She was my angel on earth during my treatments and we shared similarities with what we were going through. She taught me a lot about strength and never giving up hope. Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer after a long fight. It is because of her I wear teal in September and try to do what I can to raise awareness. The closest Together in Teal walk is too far away from me but would likely be too much for my fibro anyway. I do recommend learning more about this cancer for yourself, your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. Check out the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at Ovarian.org for more information. One more note I saw on the web years ago I have not forgotten – “Think outside the bra, check your box!”

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or post a blog about it on your site and give me a link so I can find it. Thanks for talking with me.

Today is September first… a day of mixed emotions. This is the start of ovarian cancer awareness month. I have mentioned before I had and beat breast cancer. During that time there was an angel on earth who helped me through my chemo treatments.

She helped me through because she had been through chemo twice by that time for ovarian cancer already. She gave me heads up on what she went through and some of those little things that the doctors just don’t tell you about. Wigs get HOT in the summer. The metallic taste in your mouth may be overwhelmed by a certain flavor item, for her it was root beer, me salty potato chips. And drink or suck on something cold during treatments or you will get canker sores in your mouth (don’t know WHY this works, but it does).

Unfortunately, the cancer came back for her again. She fought; she fought with an unending raw courage. I remember the last time I saw her, yellowed skin from jaundice and using a wheelchair due to weakness and fatigue, she was still smiling and cracking jokes. She refused to let it win.

She died about 2 weeks later. I barely knew her family, but I was there for the funeral. She was a beautiful spirit that I feel so fortunate to have known. That is why every September I try to do what I can to spread awareness. It can be an ugly disease, but early detection is key. Please take a minute to recognize the symptoms and read the facts. For more information I recommend this web site. http://ovarian.org/

Ovarian cancer facts