SGO Wellness: Exploring What Wellness Means While Living with a Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer | Blanche Jackson Glimps, PhD
Blanche Glimps, PhD
Three years ago, at age 77, life changed with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. My diagnosis called up the loss of my sister to ovarian cancer. We both shared a vegan lifestyle that connotated “wellness.” Indeed, my genetic test during my sister’s illness said I was not at risk for the same diagnosis. I was angry at my body and at the medical establishment when I learned that I did have ovarian cancer. A second genetic test displayed the same results indicating no mutations. My sense of wellness was threatened. I was left mad, emotionally unbalanced and questioning medical procedures.
My situation caused me to reexamine my definition of wellness. To me that term always meant physical and mental health, productive relationship with family and active involvement with the community. These continue to be elements of my definition of wellness even while living with ovarian cancer. My family, Teal Diva and special friends communicated the message, “we got your back,” which helped me stay the course with my wellness principles.
My physical health routine initially involved a PARP inhibitor. The most significant side effect I experienced was fatigue. A recent c-scan suggested the PARP inhibitor was not working, as tumors increased in size. My sense of wellness was again threatened. Now, the plan is to resume chemotherapy. I am discouraged about the PARP inhibitor’s lack of impact on the tumors, and scared that the chemotherapy may also not work. Nevertheless, I am determined to keep fighting.
I use the walking track in my community for exercise. Using my Fitbit as a measuring tool, I try to accumulate at least 12,000 daily walking steps. The PARP inhibitor impacted my pace, as I took longer to walk. Chemotherapy may not add more energy to my body, but I will continue my walking schedule.
Diet is another component of my wellness routine. I am a vegan. After surgery and chemotherapy, I experienced constipation and abdominal pains, and so I was referred to a dietician. It was clear that counseling a vegan was not something the dietician had experienced. Making vegan recommendations was challenging. Nevertheless, the suggestion was to eliminate wheat, soy and certain vegetable groups. Those recommendations proved inconsistent in eliminating the digestion problems. The ongoing issues have threatened my sense of wellness.
In terms of maintaining mental health, I accomplish this through learning new things. I am energized by adding new information to my bank of knowledge. I learn new things to maintain my brain power and cognitive skills. Before the cancer diagnosis, I regularly took courses at the local university. I stopped taking courses while I recuperated from surgery and adjusted to my diagnosis of ovarian cancer. I have since resumed courses and will soon complete a third graduate degree in Literacy Studies. Pursuing the degree took the focus away from my cancer diagnosis. “Hyper” is a term some apply to me. It means I have a keen desire to keep my mind engaged. Having new things to engage my mind reduces my focus on the cancer.
When I awaken each morning, I want to be depressed about my health. A counselor has been working with me to help me counteract depression. I am learning to use mindfulness [1] to guide my thinking. I engage with a local chapter of Gilda’s Club and access online meditation sessions.
Family involvement is an important component of my wellness. Throughout every step of this process, I have ongoing family support. My daughter and granddaughters assisted me through surgery and attended each after-surgery doctor’s appointment. My youngest granddaughter used time during her undergraduate junior year to be with me as I recuperated from surgery. It had been my prayer to be well enough to attend her college graduation. I was in Florida where I was able to see her graduate with honors from the University of Florida. I had been wanting to invest in seeking a second opinion concerning my illness. While in Florida, I went to Moffitt Cancer Center to see if they had a different take on my diagnosis. They did not!! The response was reinforcement that the decisions concerning my treatment regimen correspond to current best practices in the field.
Finally, being well and feeling well means staying involved as a volunteer in my community. I virtually tutor an individual who is learning English. I am a member of the local Foster Care Review Board and virtually attend monthly meetings about specific children. The meetings are a reminder that some children face family issues that are as traumatic as my cancer status. I am active in Alpha Kappa Alpha, my sorority, and active in my church. I participate in virtual service opportunities with my sorority and church.
One does not truly know how to respond to the realization that life is really finite. Making the adjustment from the end of life being “somewhere” in the distant future to a matter of a couple of years at best, is difficult. It has certainly challenged me and angered me. That is why I choose to find things that afford me the opportunity to stay active mentally, physically and emotionally. Daily, I try to live peacefully and find joy in my pursuits.
Blanche Jackson Glimps, PhD, is a patient advocate in Woodbury, TN.
Resources
- Mindful. Getting started with mindfulness. Accessed July 11, 2022. https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started