Taking Control of Her Diagnosis Helped One Ovarian Cancer Survivor Come to Terms With the Loss of Her Hair

Support groups, whether online or in-person, can be a great comfort to cancer patients, who find encouragement and advice from women who've already dealt with the same challenges and stressors. When confronted with the loss of her hair, Pursifull turned to a Facebook group for women with ovarian cancer.

As the number of bald spots on her scalp grew, she asked her fellow group members, "How did they deal with it? They responded, 'You need to take control of it.'"

That's just what she did. With the help of her four-year-old grandson, Pursifull shaved her head. "It was very empowering. I felt like I had control over something," she says.

Making Ribbons

Pursifull was also bolstered by the support of her fellow cath lab nurses at the Memphis, Tennessee hospital where she works. "They were wonderful," she says.

The nurses made teal ribbons and surgical hats emblazoned with the slogan, "Team Edie." They gave the ribbons to Edie, and wore the surgical hats themselves. They also made extras to sell throughout the hospital. The money they raised helped Pursifull avoid any financial hardship from the cost of her cancer treatment.

Going Through Hell

Ovarian cancer treatment can be a rollercoaster ride. While most women go into remission after treatment, about 80% will eventually have a recurrence. That's what happened to Pursifull. Once she completed the initial round of surgery and chemotherapy, she had no remaining signs of cancer. But her remission was only temporary.

"My cancer’s back now and I’m going through everything again," she says. For now, she's focused on getting through life from day to day.

Throughout her cancer journey, Pursifull has learned some valuable lessons that have helped her cope with her diagnosis. Now, she wants to pay it forward by sharing the insights she gained with other ovarian cancer patients.

One piece of advice she offers is to be kind to yourself, and recognize how difficult it is to be diagnosed with cancer. "You’ve been through hell. You’ve been given a terrible diagnosis and you put your body through hell, and your mind through hell, and it’s scary. Just don’t be hard on yourself," she says.

Being able to ask questions and confide in other ovarian cancer survivors on Facebook made all the difference for Pursifull. She encourages other women with ovarian cancer to find their own support group. "Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone about what you’re going through," she says.

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