"I'm Here to Motivate, I'm Here to Inspire"
- Comedian Kevin Hart, who lost his mother to ovarian cancer in 2007, told his millions of fans that the hard times will pass, that “sh*t will get better.”
- Ovarian cancer, sometimes called “the cancer that whispers”, is often caught in its later stages, so vigilance and early detection are crucial to long-term survivorship.
- Coping with the loss of a parent can be devastating, but there are ways to turn your grief into purpose.
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Hart has spoken often about how much the loss of his mother Nancy has affected him.
"She had more strength and fight in her than any woman I've ever met," Hart said in his 2020 comedy special “Kevin Hart: Don’t F**k This Up.”
But her memory has also been a powerful blessing for Hart, who now stands as one of the world’s most successful comedians. He recently posted a tribute to his mother on Instagram, saying he wished she could be here to see his success today.
"New York ….Time square …..The Big Apple….Hope I'm making you proud momma. I miss you & I wish you were here to physically see some of the stuff that I have been blessed enough to see & experience. I love you…. "Look momma I made it" has a different meaning these days!!!"
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Ovarian Cancer: “The Cancer That Whispers”
Ovarian cancer is dangerous because symptoms can easily be mistaken for other illnesses or conditions, leading to most cases being diagnosed only once it’s reached the later stages.
Related: The Anatomy of Ovarian Cancer
“It's often referred to as the cancer that whispers, in that it has symptoms that are really very vague, and can affect men and women, and nothing that may bring your attention directly to the ovaries,” Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
Is There Screening for Ovarian Cancer?
“The symptoms include things like feeling full earlier than you usually would when your appetite is strong. Feeling bloated. Some changes in your bowel habits. Some pain in the pelvis. These are symptoms women may have every month, men may have them from time to time. These are not very specific.”
Most women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer after menopause, with and estimated 5.3% of cases occurring in women under 34. Fortunately, 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases are curable if caught early. Genetic testing for certain mutations which may lead to ovarian cancer combined with close attention to your own body are the best ways to catch the disease early.
Related: Ovarian Cancer: What Are The Symptoms And Warning Signs?
"If [cancer] runs in your family in any way,” Dr. Karlan said in a previous interview, “you need to really to push it. If you're having any of these symptoms, even if it's only for two weeks, but they're happening every day and seem to be getting worse."
If You Feel Something, Say Something
Coping After Losing a Loved One
Hart’s love for his mother is visible in everything he does, and we totally understand how hard it can be to lose someone so close to you. Losing a loved one to cancer can be devastating, and there's no one right way to heal.
Sadness Is Not Always A Bad Thing Coping After Losing A Parent To Cancer
Camila Legaspi lost her mother to breast cancer when she was in high school. Looking back, she now sees her loss as inspiration to express herself through writing.
"I learned that it's OK to be sad sometimes. It's OK to carry sadness with you … it's not always a bad thing," Legaspi told SurvivorNet. "It makes you who you are and it gives you a story to tell and it helps you teach other people to cope with their sadness."
The pain that comes from losing a parent may never fully go away, but it can be used to help others. Scandal actor Scott Foley lost his mother to ovarian cancer when he was only 15, a loss which devastated him but has given him the resilience he's needed to push on through challenging times.
"Dealing with loss at a young age, and dealing with someone who's sick all the time, that really turned me into someone who built the resilience in me that I walk with today," Foley told SurvivorNet. "I know that just by dealing with what I dealt with as a teenager…there is nothing that anybody can throw at me; bring it on, 2020."
Counseling and therapy can help those grieving a parent cope with the loss and build new attitudes that turn suffering into resilience. Losing a parent is one of the hardest things anyone can go through, so take advantage of trained mental healthcare professionals who know exactly how to help you adjust.
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
