“I am Juanita Pajao. At my first infusion, the ladies and the nurse in my pod said, “enjoy your hair. You have got 14 days left with it on your head.” I took a picture in the mirror of the back of my head and said ” Day 12, my hair is still here, glory to God!”
Juanita first got diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011, as she was rushed to the ER at 3 AM in the night with unbearable stomach pain. Her ovaries were the size of peaches when the cancer was diagnosed. Juanita was placed on a new experimental clinical trial. The spirited lady that Juanita is, she immediately enrolled in the trial with faith and conviction. Juanita says, “I enrolled in the trial knowing that if it helps one other person to live, then this is worth it.”
The Trial worked well for Juanita and she went into remission. Juanita says it was difficult for her to see so many women go through this journey along with her, and many not making it. However, she went back to her regular life with renewed vigor and determination.
After a few years of good health, Juanita started experiencing heaviness in her chest. She already had COPD from earlier, and continued to get more ill. She was in hospital for 13 days, with 3 liters of liquid being drained from her lungs. Further tests revealed her cancer had recurred and is in advanced stages. So, Juanita had to go back to treatment since summer of 2018.
Even though Juanita’s CA125 count increased from 15 in 2013 to thousands in 2018, she is holding on to healing and hope. Since her treatment started this year, her best friend has taken her to every single chemotherapy session. They have made the chemo sessions joyful events, doing crafts together, stopping at their favorite restaurant to eat on their way back, and just celebrating being each other’s support.
Even though Juanita is BRCA (-) ve, she has had family members pass from this disease. Juanita has lost her Aunts to breast cancer, and her Mother to uterine cancer. She believes the use of talcum powder had a significant impact on her cancer diagnosis.
Through this journey, Juanita is blessed to have a lot of support from her friends, family and community members. Her son, daughter, grandchild and her ex-husband, are all around rallying for Juanita as she takes on the journey with ovarian cancer once again.
Juanita says “Nothing is impossible with God. God trusts me enough to go through this. My job is to show that the joy of Lord is my strength.”
Juanita’s Words of Wisdom & Inspiration:
I don’t have an expiration date. Cancer is a blessing for me in the middle of a storm – I am stronger, and more vocal because of my diagnosis. I have the opportunity to shine through this challenge and encourage other people to do the same. Cancer is a constant irritation. Stress is devastation. I will do all I can to keep trying, and to Ovarcome!
We Wish you the very best Juanita, as you go through your journey with ovarian cancer. Let’s all send Juanita our healing prayers, love, and best wishes so she can Ovarcome and Thrive! We thank Juanita for sharing her inspiring story with all of us – TOGETHER, we can Ovarcome!
