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TERESA: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?
@mommacandy: I first found Mayo Clinic Connect when my best friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023, and I was looking for information. Then, in January 2024, I came looking for support for myself when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
TERESA: What motivates you to take part in Mayo Clinic Connect?
@mommacandy: Personally, I find other people's experiences to be of great value. I also hope that I can help others through my experience of what I have gone through and what has helped me
TERESA: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?
@mommacandy: The fact that I can stay anonymous is a big plus. Because I am very active in my own community with a variety of things and pretty well known, it's extremely nice to have a place where I don't have to put on an “everything is ok" attitude and pretend I'm not scared or concerned or whatever is going through my mind on any given day. On Mayo Clinic Connect, I can share whatever is on my mind with folks going through something similar and know I won't be judged, looked down on, or thought less of because of it.
TERESA: What support groups do you participate in?
@mommacandy: I mainly participate in the ovarian cancer discussions in the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.
TERESA: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?
@mommacandy: It’s a welcome surprise that there are people out there willing to answer questions from their own experiences and to make me feel less alone in feeling like I did.
I was never made to feel like I was asking stupid questions or less thought of because I wanted to know about certain things. I was encouraged to share thoughts, concerns, ideas, etc as I made my journey through this. I wasn't told to only follow what doctors told me, but was also encouraged to consider other options alongside the oncology recommendations. That was probably one of the biggest surprises. I wasn't treated like I was nuts when I shared that acupuncture had helped my nausea and other integrative approaches I used alongside my chemo.
TERESA: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?
@mommacandy: I enjoy nature. I rely on God, but I think that’s a given with everything I've been through in my life.
TERESA: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.
@mommacandy: I honestly can't say I have a particular favorite activity. I enjoy spending time walking through the woods and foraging. I also greatly enjoy fishing, although I don't get to do it as much as I'd like these days, given the weather. Indoors and mostly in the winter, I enjoy cooking, baking, reading, and latch hooking. Probably the thing I've missed the most while going through all these cancer treatments is getting out and running the chainsaw and log splitter for our firewood. I'm definitely more of an outdoorsy type.
TERESA: What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
@mommacandy: I think honesty and a sense of humor are probably the two most important things that I value in my friends. If someone can't tell the truth about something or can't enjoy a good story or joke, then they probably aren't someone I would want to spend much time with or want to get to know. They need to be able to see the humor in things as a merry heart doeth much good.
TERESA: What food can you not resist?
@mommacandy: A good rare steak
TERESA: What do you love about where you live or vacation?
@mommacandy: I'm not a beach gal. I prefer a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere. Living not far from the mountains is a huge bonus for me.
TERESA: Puppies or kittens?
@mommacandy: Both. I honestly think my pets have helped with my healing, especially with the mental and emotional parts. We have seven cats. Four of them were my best friend’s cats that I took in after he passed, and three of those four were the siblings of my Xena. The picture with my spotlight is my beloved Xena, who LOVES playing with yarn.
We also have our beloved Australian Shepherd, who is highly spoiled, so he covers the dog aspect. Then there are our chickens. My neighbor knew I'd been wanting chickens. So when I had to start back on chemo in the spring, she and her son bought me five chicks and told me they were my "therapy chicks" to help me through my chemo. We built a chicken tractor, and they get moved all over the yard and supply me with eggs now.
Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Mayo Clinic Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.
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Thank you for sharing yourself with us! As a walker, I fully appreciate your words regarding the powers of nature and the outdoors in general. I understand how your visibility as an active person in your community comes with the "everything is OK" aura, that is what others are comfortable in handling. We need the social times, and we need the alone times. I do counted cross stitch, your latch hooking may give a similar opportunity to allow a brain to focus one side on the project while the other side is just mulling around and sorting random thoughts and ideas. I chuckled at the wood chopping, brought back memories of when we had a wood stove as our primary heat source (oil furnace as secondary), the log splitter and chain saw, run by my husband, were essential to getting 6 cords of wood ready for winter. Our children were quite adept at young ages in the stacking process and were responsible for keeping the wood box near the stove filled daily. Thank you, again for joining the Member Spotlight roster.
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8 Reactions@maghera I can identify with your feelings about a dog. I too love dogs, our last one died 2 yrs ago and I miss her so much, I have had dogs for most of my life, but since I am 80 yrs old I also don’t want to have a dog that I can’t see through it’s entire life.
I have thought about volunteering at a dog rescue. I also met a couple who watch a friend’s dog while they are at work, the friend just drops the dog off on her way to work, and the dog has the best of two homes. No money exchanged just the love of the dog.
I wish you well with your treatment and hope that one way or another, you can share the special love dogs give.
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9 ReactionsThank you.
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3 Reactions@emyliander
Thank you for that I have thought about doing dog sitting.
It seems like a good idea if I could find a small dog.
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3 ReactionsThanks so much for sharing your story, very real and very uplifting. Another great reason why I love ConnectMayoClinic - will likely read this more times ! PS love the cat photo !
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6 Reactions@nycmusic yes yes for honesty and humor !!
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4 ReactionsTERESA what an interesting and articulate person you are! I know you'll laugh when I say, "It takes bravery to fight cancer n a puppy." My little Rat Terrier is my "cupcake," and I rely on him for genuine, loving little hugs when he's resting nearby in my office on this huge dog bed he has. I get nice licks on the face in return that make me smile and do me a world of good, considering that I'm currently troubled with advanced, Stage-4 metastatic prostate cancer with pain galore along this journey. Maxie is always happy & upbeat. Pardon me for dwelling on him, but his companionship is wonderful, and he keeps me going. He gets me out there to play frisbee, even if I'm on a crutch. I enjoyed your company here as well. Be well. I'm new and will be back.
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10 ReactionsWelcome, @richardwarren. I encourage you to follow the Prostate Cancer support group and join in the many discussions here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/prostate-cancer/
Use the group search to find discussions relevant to you.
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7 Reactions@hopeful33250 Amen !
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2 Reactions@richardwarren
We used to have a rat terrier. A great dog that loved everyone. She actually used to belong to my daughter’s friend, and she parked the dog with us a few times, and was eventually unable to keep her. We did.
We lost her 5 years ago when a coyote killed her in front of our house. All 3 local networks visited us to talk about what happened, and put us on the evening news. Then a few months later a coyote killed a dog on the next block up, as the neighbor was walking into her house with the dog behind her. I live in a big city, but we are overrun with coyotes.
A couple of months ago I was in the park across the street and saw a dog that looked just like her. I showed them her picture and they were surprised the dogs looked so much alike, white all over with big similar brown patches. Their dog was not friendly at all. Arghhh!
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4 Reactions