What comes next with Ovarian Cancer and BRCA gene?

I have been struggling with writing this post for a month. I think part of the reason is a reluctance to worry others. Since my double mastectomy two months ago, a few people have told me how great it is that I don't have to worry about cancer anymore. I just couldn't tell them the real situation. Yes, it is true that with the BRCA gene, I had an 80% chance of getting breast cancer and that I now only have a small chance of ever developing breast cancer. This is wonderful and a great relief to me. 

It is also true that I am recovering well from the double mastectomy. Now, my thin scars are just a little tight, and I have some numb spots which should improve, but I'm not experiencing pain any more. I am continuing to do arm stretching exercises, and though I tire easily, I am able to do a little more each week. I can visit with family, go on short walks, ride my electric bike, and do a little light housekeeping such as wash some laundry, make beds, and dust mop.

Blessings in the Hospital

Last week, I was admitted to the hospital, a place I've managed to avoid for 71 years except to have our four children. I had had some abdominal swelling for a couple of weeks, but it suddenly became worse. I could no longer eat or drink and was in extreme pain. 

Our doctor at our local clinic took a CT scan which showed a large mass about the size of an orange and some smaller masses in my abdomen. He immediately sent me over to the emergency room at the large hospital near our home where they drained nearly five liters of fluid from my abdominal cavity to my great relief.

During the week I had many tests, concluding with a biopsy of the large mass on Thursday, my birthday. Over and over I heard the words, "Probable cancer", "Cancerous masses can cause tissues to leak fluid like this", and, "The oncologist (cancer doctor) will interpret all the results."

A Senior's Perspective on the Pandemic

Being 70, I think I finally qualify as a "Senior". Few of us older people are saying much about this pandemic, but I feel a need to put my perspective "out there". We all know what a difficult time we live in. Most seniors understand that younger people need to work to support their families and that we all need goods and essential services to continue to be provided. 

We seniors have seen other countries shut down to get the covid 19 virus into control, while our country refuses such measures, prefering to champion  "freedom" instead. We have seen young people exerting their "freedom" as they revel in their "no mask" parties. We see people protesting against their government leaders restricting their lives in any way, while criticizing these same leaders for "not taking action" during this pandemic. Now, in sadness, we see Americans bemoaning the "meanness" and "hard heartedness" of their government leaders in discouraging holiday gatherings. 

Seeing good in a challenging experience

If you look closely at this photo, you will see that my husband's ear is bandaged. He has skin cancer and had to have part of his ear removed. When he came home from his surgery, I reacted to the medication they put on his incision and ended up living the next week in our garage and trailer. 

Though this was a challenging situation for us, it was also a good time. One of the special moments you see in this photo of my husband and little granddaughter as we spent a morning together. We were also able to enjoy having meals together out on our patio. It was so pleasant to sit together enjoying a soft warm evening as I listened to my husband read a fun story, instead of being inside like we usually are in the evenings. Now that I had to maintain a "social distance" from my husband, I came to appreciate far more how little things like a hug added to my life. 

Will lifting the sheltering restrictions stop the suicides?

Many people are attacking the sheltering restrictions imposed by our government leaders. They claim that allowing people to come and go as they please will make things "right" again, but will it? I agree that initially allowing people to be "out and busy" and business to begin recovering will be a great help to the economy and to people's morale. It will help small businesses to not "go under" and people to be employed again.  Though the situation with the Covid-19 is still dangerous to those of us with poor health, mainly us older people, I accept that those who are younger and struggling to make a living need the economy to restart. I appreciate all the people who have been willing to give up their social and economic activities mainly to protect us "older folks", but now it is time to allow them to continue their lives. 

What I do question is whether returning "to normal" will end the increasing rate of suicides.  During the Great Depression, when unemployment was