RIP

On the weekend, I learned another friend died from cancer. This makes two women, in the space of one week, who lost their battle with this stupid disease.

I met Carol though the London BRCA gene mutation support group. I felt a special affinity for her because she was the only other person in the group currently fighting cancer. As well, she was a ovarian cancer sister. While my diagnosis was only months old, she'd be living and fighting with the disease for 10 years.

I got an email from her neice on Saturday morning with the news she passed away during the night. My mind immediately jumped to the last time I saw her at the Run for Ovarian Cancer last May. While she herself used a walker for mobility, she was a supportive presence to all the runners. In fact, the BRCA support group formed a team in her honour.

On the weekend, I wondered if Olaparib could have helped her too. It's helping shrink my cancer (and fingers crossed the drug will continue to work magic). Carol, as a woman with the BRCA gene mutation, may have benefitted from Olaparib's PARP inhibitor, cancer-slaying properties. Perhaps her diagosis was 10 years too early.

But whenever I saw her, she exuded a positive attitude. She seemed to be living life to the fullest. As a result, I hope she had no regrets.

Carol is now free from the pain, worry and thief that is cancer. May she rest in peace.

Tina