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Six months ago, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She died on March 15.

The doctor told me that she had two to five years to live but she only lived 6 months. Ovarian cancer is a killer. In many cases, by the time you're diagnosed you're usually in the worst stages of the disease, and other than surgery (which can make it worse) and radiation (which can also make it worse) doctors don't really have many tools at their disposal.

Getting Worse
In my mother's situation, everything made it worse. Surgery spread the cancer. Chemo seemed to kill just her instead of the cancer, and after a final dose of a new treatment that was supposed to have fewer side effects, she started dying.

There was nothing we could do. It was like a joke. We researched cancer and treatments and asked everyone we knew for help, but it didn't matter because no matter what we did my mother was dying, and there was no homeopathic remedy was going to change that.

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It's incredibly painful to feel so helpless and watch someone you love so much die. If anything, I hope reading about this causes you to take action against ovarian cancer, which moves tremendously quickly. It's not preventable, but you can reduce your risk factors and those of the ones you love.

Who's at Risk?
Some studies suggest that things like eating more fruits and vegetables and using oral contraceptives reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Some women who are high-risk and have had family members affected by the disease choose more drastic measures, like having their ovaries removed.

But in all other respects, my mother was perfectly healthy. She was never overweight, she ate baked chicken and broccoli for every almost every meal as long as I can remember. She didn't even use a microwave because she was sure it would give us cancer.

She was the kindest woman you'd ever meet and the life of the party. She was a perfectly happy, healthy woman, and with no warning, cancer ate her alive.

What Can You Do?
Preventive measures like prescription contraceptives and regular checkups present a problem those of us who are unemployed or don't have health insurance. I have no job and thus, no insurance ... but fear not.

There are many free cancer screenings available to you even if you have no money whatsoever. Just Google it to find a local health clinic, or check the American Cancer Society's Web site for tons of information and resources.

Modern-Day Monster
Use fear if you need to get motivated. Cancer is a horrible death. I was sitting at my mother's side, wiping her face when she stopped breathing. I felt nothing. Maybe a small relief that she wasn't suffering, but it wasn't a magical moment like some people describe. It just happened. She just stopped breathing and that was that. She was 58 years old. Young and beautiful.

My friend Laura, whose mom died of cancer last year, said, "Cancer is a modern-day monster." She's right. It really is. There is no Boogie Man, but there is cancer. So get checked.

Take it seriously. If the worst happens, attack it from every angle, seek out alternative treatments immediately. Don't wait for the chemo to fail before you start searching for alternative treatments.

I don't mean to sound so negative, but cancer is serious business. It doesn't mess around, and neither should you. I have signed up for the Revlon Run/Walk for Women in honor of my mother. If you want to sign up, donate or sponsor me, click here.

To Do: Get screened & find a job.

Goodbye, Mom. I love and miss you and hope to see you again one day.



More Resources:

- The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- Cancer Care Support and Referral Center
- The National Ovarian Cancer Association
- Gilda's Club and The Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Familial Registry