September being Ovarian Cancer awareness month we launched a Light It Up TEAL campaign!
We have several cities in Arizona that are lighting buildings TEAL during the month of September and providing us with Mayor proclamations declaring September Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. For the second year now Governor Doug Ducey has signed a proclamation for us also!
Proclamations received so far:
- State of Arizona – Governor proclamation and Capitol Dome lit in TEAL on September 25th
- Scottsdale – Mayor proclamation and the horse statues at the Westworld will be lit in TEAL the entire month of September
- Fountain Hills is providing a Mayor’s proclamation
- Gilbert Water Tower will be lit in TEAL September 20-25th
- Mayo Clinic is lighting their building (TBD on the date)
- Tolleson provided a Mayor’s proclamation
- Marana provided a Mayor’s proclamation
- Payson provided a Mayor’s proclamation
Team Teal Is On The Move!
Teal It Up as been getting out the month of September to deliver comfort bags! Dr Bhoola’s office was first on list as well as Dr Scribner, shown with board member and nurse practitioner Kelly Colonello and volunteer Tim McCauley, also Physician assistant Cora joined us for the photo.
In the other photo are Genna and Shannon, cancer specialists for Dr. Bhoola.
Other offices with deliveries: Dr Janicek & Dr Chase, several more to go!!!!
SHARON WAXMUNDSKY’S STORY
The volunteer work we do with the CT Women of Hope is very important to me. Spreading awareness about ovarian cancer, educating, and supporting those diagnosed is crucial to early detection. The reason I am so passionate about our mission is that my mom died from this disease. She had just retired and was looking forward to spending quality time with our family and finally taking the time to travel with my Dad. She had symptoms of bloating and indigestion and was under a doctor’s care for close to a year prior to her retiring. The doctors never seemed quite too concerned and they diagnosed her with indigestion, gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Finally, after a year of medications without results for the previously mentioned diagnoses, the doctors became serious about testing her. We were all in shock when she was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer and sadly watched as the free time, she had eagerly looked forward to was now being spent on surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. Our hearts were broken as she passed away nine months later, never having enjoyed any of the retirement she had worked so hard for and had earned. Ovarian cancer is very difficult to detect, and the symptoms can easily mimic other less serious ailments like they did with my Mom. Volunteering with the CT Women of Hope has helped give me the opportunity to help educate other women and hope for early diagnosis. The loss of my Mom has motivated me to help others.
Sharon is contributing her commissions for the entire month of September.
Someday …
Someday, fewer than 75% of ovarian cancer patients will discover their cancer before it reaches stage 3 or 4.
Someday, those patients will have a lower than 70% rate of recurrence, and higher than 30% rate of survival.
Someday, there will be fewer ovarian cancer patients because women will know they are at risk for ovarian and other cancers before it develops.
Our quest is to make that “someday” today.
From Teal It Up Ovarian Cancer Foundation Founder, Jan Coggins
“First of all, everyone is a survivor — a survivor of something! Life may differ in the specific tools we use in handling adversity. As an ovarian cancer survivor, I thought hiking 100 miles after debulking surgery and 18 hard weeks of harsh chemotherapy was crazy — but it was my way of beating cancer right back. That was what I needed to do after my diagnosis.
“You may get pure joy from holding a grandchild. The point is that everyone will treat adversity differently, and more than likely, that is what will keep you going stronger. Life itself is full of joy and full of challenges. We have to find our way of handling both. At the end of the day, I believe in counting blessings — not blisters (so to speak)!”
CONTACT JAN
Read about Jan’s book:
“Ovarian Cancer? You can NOT be serious!”
This book begins with my story of being here as a survivor.
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