How Ovarian Cancer Has Affected My Family

How has ovarian cancer affected your role as a mom?

Goodness me, well it was just such a shock. I don't know why but I thought if I had cancer, I'd feel sick or something, but no I had no symptoms at all, so it was a shock - but I suppose it always is.  I guess I thought that I really just was going through something and had to be brave and get on with it, it did work for a while, but about half way through the treatment I sort of took a nosedive. My body was just telling me to slow down and give in to it. So I took it a bit easier. Everything I ate tasted terrible, and I had a pic line in, so I did miss having great showers, but hair is so over rated - unfortunately my leg hair stayed. You have to shave that and it doesn't grow back.... always a plus.

How did your children react? Did they express fear, confusion? Did they support you?

My daughter was ten so for her she thought cancer meant death. That was hard, she had some nightmares but I took her in while I had treatment and everyone in the ward made such a fuss. Then I thought it wasn't so scary. Near the end of my treatment, when I had chemo brain - she'd have a laugh and tell me to look in the fridge for things I had misplaced - after all mum you've got chemo brain. She just wanted to get on with life too.  

How well did you juggle family life and your treatments?

MMMM well my husband was FIFO for the first half (until I gave in). I didn't have any family support here in Perth, my husband's mother never rang once (she's not getting a mothers day card from me!!). I have great friends and great work mates. I was lucky enough to be able to go to work when I was able and my friends sometimes drove me in and stayed with me and cooked meals and took my daughter out. We ended up going to Fiji just before my last treatment for a wedding, that was amazing. Life is amazing. Lemon Eno is a life saver, keeps those nasty ulcers at bay..... also makes your mouth feel so much better.