Are You There Cancer? It's Me, Jennie.: September 2010

Dancing with N.E.D: Friday, September 17, 2010

Dancing with N.E.D. is what every cancer patient dreams of. Please check out this documentary trailer about the rock band, N.E.D., which stands for No Evidence of Disease, and please donate to the project if you're so inclined. Oh, and let me know if you catch my brief cameo! Thank you.

Cover Girl: Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Well, folks, here it is. Check out the CDC's "Inside Knowledge" PSA ad campaign that I'm "starring" in. Thanks to cancer, I got my BIG modeling break. Ha! If only that were really true.

Seriously, though, playing a small part in the rollout of this important campaign has been a hugely rewarding experience...and is another item to add to the ever-growing list of "why having ovarian cancer isn't the worst thing that ever happened to me." Please check out the campaign site and READ the symptoms of various kinds of gynecologic cancer. You owe it to yourself and the women you love.

Oh, and speaking of women we love, I'd like to give a special shout out to yet another fabulous woman afflicted with this insidious disease: Hang in there and stay strong, Mimi Cheney! (a.k.a my dear friend Ali's 91-year old grandmother who has just started chemo for stage IV ovarian cancer)

Broken Promises: Monday, September 13, 2010

So, once again, I lied. Not too long ago I promised that I would post more regularly leading up to my celebratory triathlon in October and guess what, I haven't. As many of you regular visitors know by now, September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. And so for this recent survivor-turned-activist/fundraiser/budding triathlete, life is in HIGH gear in more ways than one. I'm up to my eyeballs right now with event planning (search Rock, Paper, Coctails! on Facebook and you'll see what I'm working on), fundraising, media outreach and interviews related to my fundraiser and triathlon, and, of course, triathlon training. But, fortunately, life's not totally all ovarian cancer all of the time. Thank God!

I PROMISE to be back soon with the photo highlights (just for you MPR!) of the past several weeks of birthday celebrations, which seemed as though they would never end, Labor Day festivites, events (including Circque du Soleil's OVO and the men's semi finals at the US Open), and much more! Oh, and be sure to check back tomorrow to see how cancer has helped launch my modeling career...

What's this all about?

So, what's with the title?

I have my friend Christy, the author of Twisted Toes and the owner of Food Matters, to thank for the title of this blog. She came up with the name shortly after I was told I had cancer and well before I knew exactly what I was dealing with. So, the title made sense since I knew I had something really bad in me but was still waiting for many more confirmations, clarifications, and/or a freakin' miracle to occur. Also, who can pass up the opportunity to give a shout out to Judy Blume? It just fit.

Why the teal and lime green text?

Teal and green are to ovarian cancer what pink is to breast cancer. The colors used in this blog are a nod to every woman who has battled this kind of cancer and to the work of the leading national ovarian cancer advocacy organizations. For more information about ovarian cancer or to make a donation to either organization, please see the last two links in the Links I Like section below.

Why no CaringBridge?

I know many folks like the CaringBridge but it just ain't my style. It's way too Hallmark for this girl. One of my main goals throughout this process is to maintain my sense of humor and something about that site is a little too Care Bears and not enough Comic Relief.

What should you expect?

Imagine if Anne Frank, Bridget Jones, and Kris Carr were to meet up in an Amesterdam cafe to share some *yummy* brownies and discuss a potential book collaboration. Wouldn't you want to be there to listen to their conversation? Well, I would. This blog is something like what I imagine their supposed collaboration would produce: a mixture of poignant reflections, funny observations, brief medical updates, and good tips. Oh, and while I don't have the *yummy* brownies to enjoy, I do take the occasional vicodin for chemo pain so there you go.

Also, a warning: You're gonna encounter some profanity as you read. I know the use of profanity is not ladylike or classy but neither is cancer and since I find its use extremely therapeutic these days, please cut me some slack.

Are You There Cancer? It's Me, Jennie.

Dancing with N.E.D: Friday, September 17, 2010

Cover Girl: Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Broken Promises: Monday, September 13, 2010

What's this all about?

Who is this girl?

What's the word?

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