{"product_id":"9781496973603","title":"I Cried Until I Laughed: Now Stop the World, I'm Getting Back On!","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn January of 2000, at the age of fifty-two, I underwent a fairly simple surgery to remove fibroids. I came out six hours later without fibroids but with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer stage 3c. They said it was a sarcoma on my right pelvic wall and was a very rare type—aggressive, high grade, with no protocol for treatment. I was told I had from six months to five years with no forecast on a quality of life during that time. Upon being released from the hospital, I set out to map a wellness plan, to keep track of all my medical tests, blood draws, CT scans, x-rays, and surgeries. I felt if I had control of my life, I could control my future. I gave myself the right to have hope. Hope to track, control, and fight this with everything I could. I knew I trusted my doctor with my body, but I needed to give myself hope to control my visions, anxiety, and emotions and how I treated myself. So I devised a fighting plan. I became my own health advocate. I kept up with all my tests results, my blood draws, my surgeon’s reports and kept a paper trail. After my twenty-two-month journey, I was pronounced NED on September 11, 2001. I kept my catheter in for two and half years for a just-in-case moment, and then for my Christmas present to myself, I had it removed in my surgeon’s office. That day was when I knew I had made it. I accepted my positive attitude, my plan, and the fact to feel the self-control and not let something control you doesn’t define who you are. A great friend told me that “cancer is only a word, not a sentence,” and I proved him right!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AuthorHouse","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47157482258672,"sku":"9781496973603","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781496973603_p0.jpg?v=1763668523","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781496973603","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}