I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March of 1997, then nine month later, the unthinkable - I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My diagnoses terrified me - I felt as though my body had let me down. The love and support of faith, family and friends inspired me to focus on healing and wellness.
 
I wanted to exercise to regain my strength, but I worried I was not doing enough while at the same time, afraid I was doing too much! I joined Team Survivor Northwest and was encouraged and motivated to increase my stamina through fitness. The highlight of my cancer recovery came in July of 2000, when I climbed Mt. Rainier with a group of fellow women cancer survivors and stood on the summit feeling healthy and strong.
 
I was blessed to have received early detection for both cancers and my mission now is to give back. I’m a co-founder of the Ovarian and Breast Cancer Alliance of Washington, an organization working to increase education and awareness to promote the early detection of ovarian and breast cancer

As a Swedish Medical Center RN in 2007, I saw the SummeRun advertised and suggested to my family that we participate together by running in this fun event. Ironically, little did I know that by the day of the event, I would only be able to walk a few blocks to cheer the rest of my family on.
 
In the months before the 2007 SummeRun, I was experiencing subtle symptoms, indigestion, lower back pain, feeling full quickly when eating and weight loss, which I attributed to the stress of moving to a new home. When I also began having urinary pain, I finally made an appointment to see my physician. During a pelvic ultrasound, a tumor was found on my left ovary. With no risk factors, and a normal CA 125, I did not think it could be ovarian cancer, but after the tumor was surgically removed I was surprised to learn that it was indeed early stage 2C ovarian cancer.
 
A couple of weeks later, just two days before the 2007 SummeRun, I was receiving the first of my chemo doses. In the following months, as I progressed through the chemo treatment and all that comes with it, I met many wonderful women with ovarian cancer who provided me with support and encouragement.

I feel very blessed to be cancer free, due in part to my early stage diagnosis. Most women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at more aggressive stages (3 or 4) which may affect their prognosis. For other cancers, we have screening tests such as mammograms and pap smears that can detect cancer in earlier stages. Ovarian cancer has no equivalent reliable test to diagnose and discover cancer at an early stage.
 
As an RN, I am passionate about increasing research for ovarian cancer. We need better screening tests to diagnose this disease in the early stages, and more effective chemotherapies to eradicate the tumors. I attended the Rivkin Center Symposium last October and was impressed by the results presented by researchers working on these objectives. With financial support to the Rivkin Center, these important efforts can continue. I have a young adult daughter, and I am hoping this new research and the Rivkin Center’s early detection screening program will benefit her, as well as many other women.
 
I wasn’t able to participate in the 2007 SummeRun, but as the 2008 SummeRun approached, I was excited to be able to run with my family. I recognized that in addition to participating, we also needed to fundraise for this important cause. Since it was the year of the Olympics, we created the team Marty and Susanne’s Olympians. I would like to thank my family, friends, and coworkers for all of their financial and moral support over the years.

It has been almost three and half years since my initial diagnosis of stage IIIC ovarian cancer. I’ve had 3 surgeries and am on my third round of chemo treatments. Fortunately, I have also been able to get a couple of nice long remission periods in between as well. The term chronic disease is what is now used to describe my cancer, and I have gotten used to a new normal -  feeling cruddy during treatment, but having an amazing appreciation for the times when I feel good.
 
I was fortunate in the past year or so to get to go on my dream vacation to Europe with my husband and two daughters, sent my oldest daughter off to her first year of college and watched my youngest daughter enjoy her first year of high school. I’ve been able to keep working most of the time during this period as well. I continue to receive incredible support from family, friends and co-workers. I would prefer to never have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but I feel blessed to have been able to experience the good things a diagnosis of this type brings. It truly is undescribable.
 
I will continue to hope and pray that new treatments are found and an early detection tool is discovered for others faced with this diagnosis. In the meantime, I will say thanks for the best doctor and support staff I could ever have had to get me through this far. New options are coming into the forefront all the time, and I will remain optimistic that one day one of them will wipe it out for good!

My journey with cancer started in 1999. My husband and I moved to our Orcas Island dream home in September. In November I read an article about ovarian cancer and its symptoms – I had them! In December I underwent surgery and was given a diagnosis of Stage IV ovarian cancer.
 
Post-surgery I started chemo and continued until May 2004. After several negative CAT Scans and stable CA-125, my family and physician agreed I needed a break. It was nice to grow some hair. I experienced a relapse mid-2006. A course of Carbo/Taxol shrunk the tumors and I remain in remission today.
 
In 2001, my husband Carl (my caregiver, lover and friend) was diagnosed with prostate cancer which was successfully treated. We will be celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary in June 2011 and plan on celebrating many more in good health.
 
Our children and grandchildren have been there for us during every step of our recoveries. Our SummeRun team, The Warriors, is composed of the seven members of the Poschman clan.

We lost our mom, Marcine back in 1997 and there is not a day that goes by 
that we do not think of her. We remember her beautiful face, her humor, her love for her 
family and her  Lord, the Good Shepherd. She always loved lambs (see photo) and I 
believe this gave her peace.

We have had our entire family and many friends help and support us, we are 
most thankful. My sister, my wonderful friends and I are participating in this run to 
support the Marsha Rivkin foundation to help continue to find a cure for 
ovarian cancer.

Conny is a friend and co-worker of mine.  She is an Occupational 
Therapist at Providence Saint Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA.  Conny is an 
ovarian cancer survivor and a woman with incredible spirit, tenaciousness, 
and courage.  Last summer Conny asked me if I would participate in the Subaru 
Women's Triathlon in Federal Way to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. 

Conny was hesitant to participate herself as she had undergone an extensive 
surgery and chemo not that many months prior.  I said "yes, of course" and 
slowly got myself training.  Conny was curious about the race and with just a 
little encouragement decided to "go for it".  What a privledge to participate 
along side Conny while she completed her first ever triathlon!  Amazing!

Several weeks ago I came into work and found the Swedish SummeRun Info lying 
out on the desk.  I immediately asked Conny and other coworkers if I could 
head up a team of rehab therapists, family, and friends of Conny.  Conny is 
just starting her second round of chemo, but is planning on participating or 
cheering on race day.  We named ourselves "Conny's Corner", hoping to let our 
dear friend know that she is not alone in this.  Hopefully seeing our team of 
28 brightly colored tie-dyed t-shirts running and walking together on race 
day will help to buoy Conny's spirit as she fights this disease head on.  
Conny's husband and two children will all be a part of our team.

I am an oncology RN. I was diagnosed in July of 2002 at age 43 years old with Stage 
IIIc ovarian cancer. I had had a hysterectomy in 1997 for uterine fibroids, but my 
ovaries remained because I was told I was too young to have them removed.  
Both my grandmother and great aunt died of ovarian cancer - my great aunt 
with breast and ovarian before age 50 and my grandmother in her 80's. At the 
time of my hysterectomy I was not offered an opportunity for genetic testing 
and the family history was discounted because it was removed by one 
generation and was on my father's side of the family. We know much more now about genetics and 
family history than we did in 1997.

My early symptoms included back and sciatic pain with weight gain and 
abdominal bloating. I did see doctors about my back with no diagnosis. In 
April 2002 I saw a gynecologist Nurse Practitioner because of overwhelming 
fatigue and just not feeling right. I had a negative exam. Three months 
later, I was diagnosed after not being able to tolerate sitting because of 
pain.

Fortunately I had access to a gynecology oncologist and received excellent 
surgical debulking and followup with an experienced oncologist. I had six 
cycles of carbo/taxol and then f/u with second look surgery and IP treatment 
with Topotecan for 4 cycles in an experimental trial here in Seattle. I have 
continued to have low CA125 levels and do regular followup with my doctors. I 
find it  challenging to evaluate the pros/cons of prophylactic masectomy. I 
do alternating mammograms and breast MRI at this time.

My diagnosis in July 2002 happened while I was working full time and deeply 
involved in caring for my mother and stepfather's health issues. The year 
before my diagnosis was stressful for our whole family. We lost my stepfather 
three months after my diagnosis.  My mother was recovering and learning to 
move after a below the knee amputation. It was a pretty overwhelming time. My 
mother died in early 2005 of lung cancer.

My biggest inspiration was my daughter, Kelsey, and her new horse, Kipper. I 
had to drive her to lessons and loved being out at the barn. Being around 
the girls and other parents kept me focused on enjoying every day. My 
knowledge as an oncology RN was sometimes hard to shut off. Being outdoors 
with animals in all kinds of weather helped me a lot. It was hard because I 
worried about missing my daughter's growing up if I did not survive. I did 
not want to miss a moment.

Time has passed, and our family has moved through the immediate survival fears 
into a new normal. I celebrated 7 years this July! I have used my love for 
horses to overcome my fatigue and face my fears. My husband understands the 
motivation I gain being with our horse and supports me 100%. I took
over the care and riding of our current horse, Atticus, when my daughter 
joined the Navy in 2007.

Faith has been instrumental and I am grateful for special friends who have 
shared spiritual support and prayers. I really believe that it is important 
to push physically to regain strength after surgery and chemotherapy. And it 
is important to find an activity that is not only physical, but mentally and 
spiritually uplifting.

I have been protective with my time and energy, often with worry about 
whether my cancer will come back. I had a five year plan to do many things 
on my wish list. I have done some of them and have more to do. Right now, I 
feel strong and able to begin more public advocacy efforts for ovarian and 
breast cancer awareness, especially for those women with genetic markers. It 
is new for me to become more public about my own personal history. I am eager 
to help the Ovarian and Breast Cancer Alliance of WA Team for the Swedish 
SummerRun 2009.

We created IMO’s Kids in honor of our mother, Imogene Bertram. Diagnosed in 2000 with stage 3C ovarian cancer, our mom was the matriarch of our family and like most families, was the one who held everything together. When we first learned of the diagnosis, we were in shock. In 1972, Mom had undergone a hysterectomy and all of us had understood her ovaries to have been removed. Imagine our surprise at an ovarian cancer diagnosis!

Treatments were challenging and painful. Mom complained very little and continued to have a wonderful attitude about life. She kept the rest of us thinking positively. When the day came that she knew a cure would not happen in her lifetime, she continued to pray for a cure to save other women from this devastating disease.

Faith, prayers, and bits of good news from doctors kept Mom going for two full years, always with a smile on her face.

In 2002, after hearing about the event from a friend, I participated in my first Swedish SummeRun. The day was transforming for me in many ways. I gathered information and made a commitment to form a team of family members and friends for the following year - 2003. In January 2003 we were told there was no hope - the cancer had spread and there was nothing more that could be done. Our mother succumbed to ovarian cancer on May 31, 2003.

We have participated in the Swedish SummeRun every year since then. I will continue to support this event with our team, "Imo's Kids", in memory of our mother and in honor of all women with ovarian cancer. We will fight with them until the day a cure is found!!

I never want cancer to be the most important aspect of my life.  My family, my friends, and all of the things I love to do are so much more significant than my ongoing battle with ovarian cancer.  When in remission, I try to join in on every fun event that comes along – I want to spend as much time as possible with the people I love because I miss a lot when going through treatment. I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January 2003. Since then, I have had five occurrences and I am now in my fifth remission. My husband and I live in LaConner, and my family is in Seattle. So when I needed surgery, my gynecologist referred me to Dr. Charles and my sister found Dr. Henry Kaplan – and that is when the new phase of my life at the Swedish Cancer Institute began.  I feel incredibly lucky to be at Swedish with Dr. Kaplan; in fact, I DO believe that I am alive because of the wonderful care I receive from my doctor and the amazing nurses at Swedish. We began participating in the Swedish SummerRun in 2005.  My husband, Ken, our son, my sisters and their families and two great friends made up our team. I felt so energized by the enthusiastic groups of walkers at the event.  So many women with hair, without hair, with hats, without hats, and all with huge smiles, supporting each other!  Seeing everyone come together – ovarian cancer survivors and friends and families of survivors – was truly inspiring! It was the 2009 SummeRun which was the most incredible year of all. I thought I would be walking with my two sisters and their families again, but unbeknownst to me, my sisters Jackie and Lisa had gathered 180 of my friends and family to join us. What a wonderful surprise! There was a group of friends that I grew up with, friends I went to grade, junior, & high school with, there were my cousins, aunts, uncles, teachers, former boyfriends - you name it! There were family and friends that I hadn't seen in more than 20 years. I was beyond overwhelmed to think that all of these people were participating in the SummeRun to show their support for me.  Wow! For all the women who are fighting ovarian cancer, I hope my story inspires you to NOT let cancer take over your lives – and to do fun and meaningful things as often as possible. I, along with my friends and family, are so thankful for the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, who are working so hard, and in so many ways, to find a cure for this terrible disease that we are fighting.

My name is Maggie and I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in April of 2004 after a second trip to my family doctor complaining of feeling bloated. I had surgery at Swedish a month later and have been hospitalized there many times. I cannot give the nurses on 12E enough praise for the care I have always received from them. I had one seven month remission in 2005; the rest of the time the cancer has returned within two months of ending chemo. I am now on chemo #11, living my life and enjoying my children and grandchildren.

After attending a SummeRun kick-off meeting in June 2008 where I heard how other survivors built their teams, I became excited to participate for the first time. With the help of high school friends, neighbors and family, I organized Team Lilac to join the ranks of ovarian cancer research supporters at the SummeRun.The love and support I receive from my two daughters and my high school girlfriends fuels my strength and determination to survive and continue to support this important foundation. We must find a way to stop this overwhelming disease.

P.S. I was in Swedish ICU for the 2008 SummeRun. The nurses allowed my team of 20+ members to come into my room for a celebration and pictures. This year I will be crossing the finish line with my team.

In the spring of 1999, Judy was having multiple health problems. Judy’s doctors suspected problems with her gall bladder or a kidney cyst, but according to Judy and her son, Tim, a lab technician, her symptoms “simply didn’t add up.” Tim gave his mother an ultrasound and immediately saw what he describes as a "massive tumor that I knew was not benign." Judy was diagnosed with stage I-C ovarian cancer, an early stage of the disease.

Judy has been in remission since 2000 and her strength and determination are as strong as always. She still has her CA 125 levels tested every month.

Judy has been helping with the fight against ovarian cancer by organizing the team “Dick’s Crew” every year since she completed treatment in 2001.

Joyce, like so many women with ovarian cancer, had several relevant symptoms prior to her own diagnosis, including abdominal bloating, pain, and heavy vaginal bleeding. Joyce says, "I felt in-tune with my body, and it was telling me something was not right."

However, her primary care physician did not think it necessary to do further testing, so Joyce contacted a gynecologist, who advised her to have a CA 125 blood test and a vaginal ultrasound. Joyce learned of her diagnosis with Stage I ovarian cancer when she underwent a complete hysterectomy and removal of an enlarged ovary in 2004, at the age of 46. Joyce feels fortunate to have been diagnosed at an early stage.

She regards the SummeRun as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds and ultimately, to save lives.

At the age of 29, our daughter Teresa, was pregnant with little Cooper when doctors discovered she had a cist on one of her ovaries. After delivery, she kept having stomach pains and went to see her OB/ Gyn. The doctors discovered the cist had grown very large and decided to remove it. She was just 30 years-old when, in exploring the removed cist, doctors found two clear cell cancer cells in the ovary. They did a complete hysterectomy removed her appendix, and all came back negative; the cancer had not spread.  Teresa has undergone six chemo therapy treatments in the last year and on May 18, 2009 she went to her doctor and received a clean bill of health!!

We participate in the SummeRun to support our wonderful daughter and all of the other strong survivors who are fighting this devestating disease. The photo is of Teresa and Cooper-who saved her life!

On February 17, 1998 my mother lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Everyone, my father, my brother, her brothers, my sister, her sisters, her mother, her friends and co-workers, everyone who knew her was impacted by this devestating disease. In her memory, we participate in the Swedish SummeRun.  We are Team Pamela  and we walk in hope for a cure and an accurate test for detecting ovarian  cancer in its early stages.