|Articles|December 25, 2018

Finding Inspiration in the Progress and Insights CURE

Bringing you the perspectives of those on the cancer journey is something we especially like to do in our annual bonus issue, as the holidays and the year’s end offer opportunities for reflection.

CANCER CAN FEEL DEFEATING, but it can also be empowering.

Actress and director Cobie Smulders is focusing on the latter outlook by using her experience as a survivor of ovarian cancer to help others, as we reported in a recent podcast on CURE®’s website, curetoday.com.

Smulders, known for her role in the TV show “How I Met Your Mother,” has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Tesaro to launch a national movement: Not on My Watch.

Ovarian cancer is often missed until it’s advanced, and once a woman has been treated, the disease is likely to recur. The idea fueling the movement is to encourage women with symptoms to listen to their bodies and drive their own care, even though their complaints might initially be dismissed. Smulders did that at age 25, more than 10 years ago, when she advocated for an ultrasound that led to her receiving a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Through the initiative, Tesaro will donate $5 to ovarian cancer patient organizations every time the public service announcement video is shared. To learn more or share the video, visit notonmywatch.com.

Smulders’ story is told in this issue of CURE®, along with the experiences of many others. Bringing you their perspectives is something we especially like to do in our annual bonus issue, as the holidays and the year’s end offer opportunities for reflection. Here are other stories we’re featuring:

• Stephanie Hosford found out within a week’s time that she was pregnant and that she had cancer. A decade later, she offers a book about how she got through that challenging time.

• The Wedding Pink gives a free wedding each year to a couple affected by breast cancer. Read about the couple who won that honor from the organization in October.

• One of CURE®’s advisory board members, Wendy Harpham, M.D., has used the wisdom she gained during 28 years as a survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma to write a book advising others on how to generate healing hope for themselves.

Plus, in our year-in-review article, “Down Memory Lane,” you can look back at the scientific and lifestyle topics that filled CURE®’s pages this year, designed to inform readers and equip them to take an active role in maintaining their own physical and emotional health.

It’s always nice to find sources of inspiration, especially as the coming year promises opportunities for renewal. By reviewing the progress and insights of 2018, we want to leave you feeling hopeful and ready to take on the challenges and joys that lie ahead. As always, thank you for reading.