Discover OVdialogue, a new online community
September 20, 2017
Women with ovarian cancer are talking on OVdialogue, a new online community introduced earlier this month at the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope. Nearly a year in the making, OVdialogue enables women confronting the disease to connect with one another for advice and encouragement.
Finding people who can relate to the journey firsthand hasn’t always been easy.
Ovarian cancer affects one in every 69 Canadian women. Together with the vast geography of our country, it can be years before a woman with this disease comes face to face with someone who truly understands where she is coming from. This leads to a deep sense of isolation.
Gail McIntosh at the Walk
“When the words ovarian cancer came up, it was May 2016 and I was blindsided. I kept asking people, do you know anyone who has had this? And nobody did,” remembers Gail McIntosh, a woman in Winnipeg whose fears about ovarian cancer were confirmed within a few months. “It made me feel very alone, and I had an innate need to connect with someone else.”
OVdialogue is here to answer the call. It bridges the distance between people to create space for women living with ovarian cancer to exchange insights and learn from one another’s experiences. To promote a safe and welcoming environment, the online community is moderated by staff at Ovarian Cancer Canada. But its ultimate strength resides with members who are using OVdialogue to actively engage with one another.
Discover OVdialogue today by contributing to discussions, responding to other members, or simply introducing yourself and sharing your story. Current topics of conversation range from anxiety to side effects.
Gail was one of the first to register for OVdialogue and is already involved in a number of discussions. She has a positive outlook on her journey and hopes to spread her energy and optimism online. Today, she’s encouraging women looking for support to take an important step towards healing by connecting with people like her.
“You can hit dark times with this disease and when a person is going through something difficult, they can isolate themselves. But now we’ve got this community and connecting with people on there will help,” she says. “Only other people who have experienced this can fully understand you’re going through. Even if you can’t be with these people in person, their support and friendship will help you. ”
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or are living with the disease, join OVdialogue today. You’ll find the button on the top right corner of any page on ovariancanada.org.
While anyone can browse discussions, sign in is required to contribute. If you require assistance, please contact Laure Sabatier, Digital Communications Specialist, toll free at 1 877 413-7970 ext. 275 or by email at lsabatier@ovariancanada.org.