Why I Ride: Nora Hughes

My name is Nora, and I am a seven year survivor of ovarian cancer.

I had a very sudden onset of symptoms. My doctor immediately sent me for imaging and then referred me on to a specialist. Within ten days I had surgery and confirmation that it was cancer. In retrospect, the pain was a blessing – it was a warning and I was very lucky to have doctors who listened and acted.

I was diagnosed at Stage 2C. It was stage 2 because the original site on the fallopian tube had metastasized to the surface of the uterus in one spot. The C is because I had bleeding before my surgery, which is what caused the pain, and the blood cells could potentially spread the cancer. 2C is considered a fairly early diagnosis.

My response was shock. The diagnosis sank in very gradually.

The first few weeks after surgery were difficult. My doctor explained that it’s important to perform this surgery abdominally so they can inspect all the organs and do biopsies. Recovering from surgery was more difficult than I’d expected. I was aware that I’d been cut through my core. Three weeks after surgery, chemo started. This was not as bad as I’d expected but the week of low grade nausea after each treatment was wearing.

I wanted to survive, for my 16 year old son and for my husband. My way of coping was to try to have a normal dinner each evening and then retreat to my bed. My priorities were: family dinner, work each morning, a modest amount of exercise each day and the rest of the time cocooning. My bed was my refuge. I watched so much HGTV to escape that for several years the thought of that channel made me feel nauseous.

I found out about Wheel to Survive through friends at National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Wheel to Survive combines two things I’m passionate about: advocacy for ovarian cancer survivors and exercise. Both are extremely important to me.

Cancer treatment evolves incrementally. Each study, each new drug may add a short time to a woman’s survival. Look back at the history of the treatment of leukemia and breast cancer. Progress was painfully slow but over time the tiny advances added up to long term survival. Even though it’s sometimes hard to see progress in the treatment of ovarian cancer, it has to be happening; we have to keep pushing for it. I’ve known women who were in treatment for ten years. That’s progress, isn’t it?

I ride in Wheel to Survive Austin to benefit the cause of awareness of ovarian cancer so women will be diagnosed earlier and to improve treatments for women who have been diagnosed. I ride for all the women I’ve known who have been taken by ovarian cancer, all the women who are surviving it and for myself. I ride because it makes me feel alive.