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Patients' Lives Made Better
Debbie Sacrob – An ovarian cancer survivor,
in her own words
I have been through the ordeal of ovarian cancer. My experience in the world related to cancer has proven to me that the doom and gloom concept surrounding life with a cancer diagnosis is in desperate need of an about-face; in other words, an injection of life.
I am very sensitive to issues surrounding many cancers. As a former patient at Princess Margaret Hospital and an active member of Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, I have seen firsthand that there are many, in fact too many cancers that too many people are forced to deal with.
My goal or objective is to devise a strategy that would create a momentum resulting in the focusing of a larger measure of positive awareness to other cancers, first and foremost, to my own cancer. It is hard to miss the energy and life force created to embrace breast cancer. It is spectacular and an excellent accomplishment and it is a positive comfort for those whose lives (patients as well as family members) are touched by that disease. My wish would be to see the incredible force and positivity of breast cancer messaging carried over to the ovarian cancer community.
After I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it was important for me to continue living my life. I knew I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. The issue is simple. It is LIFE. There is an awful lot of living to be done, even with cancer. Life can be lived with cancer and it can be lived well! We must make people aware that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t automatically stop life.
Quality of life is important and is out there for everyone! We have to get the word out that it is possible to deal positively with the hand you have been dealt. It may not be the best hand, or the hand you want. Every effort must be made to show that positive voice can be given to quality of life with a cancer diagnosis.
There are many people living well with ovarian cancer. My personal feeling is, that having an ovarian cancer diagnosis and living with the disease should not be about dying, but rather about living and living well.
I am realistic. I know that not all cancers have a good outcome. However, I think we are on the threshold of a significant breakthrough in creating positive cancer awareness and giving a positive voice to cancer messaging. Those of us who are living “in the trenches” have the obligation to make it happen. I would like to see communities coming together to celebrate and honour the lives of those living with ovarian cancer.
I’d tell anyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or any type of cancer, that it’s important to think positive. We’re very lucky to have Princess Margaret Hospital, which is a great hospital, in our city.
There’s always an answer. We’ll find it.
