It’s Always Something

I saw the documentary, Love, Gilda, last evening. In some ways I was dreading going to see it, but I also knew I had to see it. I’m glad I did. I’m thankful that the main focus was not on Radner’s ovarian cancer. It was mainly about what led her to be one of the funniest people to ever live. It was a joy watching the clips of her Saturday Night Live characters, but it was also heartbreaking to know of her struggle to be loved, to be thin, to be seen. The last part of the film focused on her life with ovarian cancer. It appears she went into remission, but only for a short time. Watching it I was reminded that although frontline treatment is still the same, there are new drugs being used for recurrence and I feel fortunate that should I recur, I will have more options available than she had. After seeming the film, I decided I wanted to read her book, It’s Always Something, which deals more with her diagnosis and life with ovarian cancer. This past week has been focused on women needing to be heard. Whether it be about sexual assault or vague health symptoms that are frequently ignored, women must be heard. Several brave women challenged the male-dominated status quo that is our government this week, and their voices have resulted in some changes. The changes are too small, and their voices are still doubted and ridiculed by too many, but they persevere. I have been silent or reticent in both the sexual assault and health arenas. Few people know I was sexually assaulted more than 40 years ago, but this week brought it to the surface and Jerry and I talked more about it. And when I first had those vague symptoms that led to my diagnosis, I was blown off by a (female!) physician until I finally, months later, took matters into my own hands. I have learned a lot from these experiences. I learned I am strong and persistent. I am not going to disappear and I will not keep my mouth shut. I will be heard.