Bonnie Stockman

May 2013

I have had a passion for oriental carpets and textiles for most of my adult life. One of the highlights of my life was a trip in November 2008 to Iran with other carpet collectors. The trip was very important to me – it was a culmination of a lifetime of fascination with the Middle East, and my first truly international trip.

As I prepared for the trip, I was also working full time (plus some) as a system engineer for a Fortune 500 company and on-call once a month.

Who has time for cancer?

So, my diagnosis of Stage 4 ovarian cancer in January 2009 came as a total shock and surprise. I was diagnosed two months after my trip to Iran, and, knew almost nothing about the disease or its symptoms. In retrospect, there had been “whispers” for most of a year before, but in the flurry of work and the preparation for my much anticipated trip to Iran, these signs hadn’t seemed of any consequence. What middle-aged woman isn’t tired? What middle-aged woman, who’s had kids, doesn’t struggle with sagging and unpredictable plumbing? Enlarged lymph nodes?

The trip to Iran was great. The people were friendly and fascinated with Americans, and the country was beautiful in a high-dry desert sort of way. I roamed the ruins, museums and bazaars and yes, shopped for carpets with my friends. I got sick in Tehran – just food poisoning, no doubt – and threw up in the airport the next day when we were to fly to Shiraz. Fine after that, but tired. And, funny, not a lot of appetite in spite of wonderful food – I actually lost weight on the trip.

Back in the US, for the first time in my life, I didn’t have seconds at Thanksgiving. More symptoms began to appear and after Christmas I went into see my family practice doctor. There was this pain in my abdomen and a few other symptoms. My doctor suggested an ultrasound and a colonoscopy.

Within days of the ultrasound, I had an MRI and a consult with a gynecologic oncologist. This was followed by extensive surgery and the dreaded ovarian cancer diagnosis.

A couple of weeks later, I began the usual first-line treatment of Carboplatin and Taxol. I returned to work while still in chemotherapy, but only to tie up loose ends and put in for retirement after nearly 30 years. That was almost four years ago.

I am currently in my third recurrence and doing palliative care, with the goal of balancing quality of life and longevity. I do acupuncture and massage through the Providence Integrative Medicine clinic where I also get other complimentary support from a naturopath who coordinates with my GYN-ONC. I’m a regular participant in the Support Group for Women with Gynecological Cancers that meets at Good Samaritan hospital twice a month.

But wait! There’s more! I have a life, too!

Home is 8½ acres in Oregon just south of Portland. Humans in my life include David, my husband of 36 years, my son and my daughter. Animals in my life include my Tennessee Walking horse, Star; my goats Charlie, Ruby Rose, Ethel and Molly; 5 chickens; and 2 cats named Henry and Francis. I am still actively trail riding and camping with my horse and other trail riding friends. I have a vegetable garden, some fruit trees and a lot of blueberry plants. Our land has large Douglas fir trees around the house as well as pasture and a couple of acres of woods. At night, we can hear owls and sometimes the song of coyotes.

Since I’ve retired I’ve done some traveling: five weeks in Turkey and two weeks in China. I also travel and camp in Oregon and occasionally travel to California, Washington and Hawaii. In the middle of winter, I like to take a sun break and head to the desert around Needles, CA, where I have friends and relatives. Usually in August, I spend time in the mountains in the wild flower meadows.

I do Tai Chi just about daily. I started Sword Tai Chi in January 2013 with a group of wild and crazy senior citizens. A couple of times a week I throw concerns about peripheral neuropathy to the winds, put on my high heels, and dance Argentine Tango.

I’m an active volunteer with the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon and Southwest Washington and regularly volunteer at health fairs providing educational materials on ovarian cancer. I have also volunteered as a Consumer Reviewer for Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) proposals for the Department of Defense CDMRP (Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program).

I may or may not get longevity, but I surely do plan to get mileage and a fabulous time doing it!