Rachel Sackett - Cancer can be a lonely place. Cancer during a pandemic, well I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.  But here Rachel was, in Arizona, thousands of miles away from her family in New Jersey,navigating two cancers (ovarian cancer AND breast cancer) during a global pandemic.  Each appointment, surgery, scan, lab and test were alone. Hearing that she had cancer, well she was alone for that too. 

Rachel thought the worst thing she would have to endure in 2020 was in January, when she lost the most incredible man she had ever known, her Dad. So many friends and family thought his loss could be a sign, that perhaps he was making way for the child she had been yearning to have.  Her first fertility appointment in March led to her first ultrasound to see why she wasn’t getting pregnant.  That led to her first laparoscopic surgery and her first CT scan, which not only confirmed an ovarian mass, but also a breast mass.  Her diagnosis was soon confirmed, Stage 2A ER positive breast cancer in May.  But she wasn’t done yet.  A PET scan and follow-up surgery in June uncovered Stage 3A low grade serous carcinoma ovarian cancer.  Two cancers?! How could this be? Then 2020 continued in full force: 5 Hospital stays, endless doctor appointments, dieticians, physical therapy, counseling, genetic testing, tumor testing, molecular testing, lymphedema specialists, six covid tests, 3 bowel cleanses, labs, a 19-hour road trip to MD Anderson in Houston, her first colonoscopy, isolation at home, the loss of ten body parts and the addition of two new ones was how she spent her year.  All of this while navigating a global pandemic in Arizona, thousands of miles away from her family in New Jersey and most of which she had to suffer through by herself.

RACHEL'S RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Please take a moment toreview the organizations Rachel advocates for and has gotten so much strength and support from during her journey. 

With gratitude. #Sackettstrong

NOCC– National Ovarian Cancer Coalition – The mission of the NOCC is to save livesthrough the prevention and cure of ovarian cancer and to improve quality oflife for survivors and their caregivers

STAAR – Survive. Thrive.Advocate. Advance Research - The only US-based non-profit dedicated to lowgrade serous carcinoma ovarian cancer to advance research in the US and extendwomen’s lives via research for new treatment opportunities

OCRA –Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance – Leading organization in the world fightingovarian cancer on all fronts while supporting patients and families

·       STS– Survivors Teaching Students – Program that seeks to have an impact on the wayhealthcare professionals of tomorrow understand, diagnose and treat ovariancancer

·       W2W – Womento Women – Unique support program that pairs gynecologic cancer patients withtrained survivor volunteers who provide one on one emotional support andmentoring to women when they need it most

·       AdvocateLeader – Voice for the ovarian cancercommunity, engaging with policymakers to help deliver critical research fundingand access to care

CSCAZ –Cancer Support Community AZ (Global organization with 47 locations, alsoreferred to as Gilda’s Club) – Ensure that all people impacted by cancer areempowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community

CDMRP –Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs – The Department of Defense(DOD) Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) was initiated to supporthigh-impact, cutting-edge research that fills unmet needs    

Teal It Up– Ovarian cancer foundation that is committed to helping women navigate thechallenges of ovarian cancer

Sharsheret – Nationalnon-profit organization that improves the lives of Jewish women and familiesliving with or at increased genetic risk for breast or ovarian cancer throughpersonalized support and saves lives through educational outreach

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