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Thanks for visiting the website of:  February 23, 1976 - February 14, 2007Diagnosed with ovarian cancer: October 26, 2006Photo taken November 14, 2006 The Gail Mills Story
JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - Sitting in my home office writing this, I look around the room that was once Gail's nursery... wonderful memories of bringing this precious little bundle home from the hospital ... the white wicker bassinette sitting just behind where my chair is now. Fast forward with me the pre-school years of being a stay at home mom, dancing across the kitchen floor with Gail standing on my socked feet, piano lessons, tricycles, lemonade stands, bicycles, Brownie scouts, cheerleading, band practice, ball games, children - then teenagers hanging out at our house. Thirty years of holidays, vacations, laughter, a few tears. A special mother/daughter relationship - a bond like no other... unconditional love. Gail graduated from Silver Bluff High School with honors in 1994 and was attending USC in Columbia when she was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. The cysts were surgically removed and everything seemed perfectly normal for years. Gail continued attending college, transferring to USC-Aiken before graduating in 1999 (she jokingly said she was on the five-year plan). Gail worked at Publix in Aiken during college and her Target career began with the opening of the new store in Aiken shortly after graduation. "Abi" as she was called by her Target team, later made career moves to Charleston, Summerville, then Florence, SC. While some women may have changed doctors for convenience after they moved, Gail trusted her doctor in Augusta and continued seeing her for yearly examinations. In 2005, when Gail was 29 years old, she wasn't feeling well and thought she had ovarian cysts again. At her next appointment Gail asked the doctor for a sonogram and was told that the pain she was having was "probably scar tissue" from her earlier surgery and a sonogram was "not necessary." Gail and I discussed this at length before she drove back to Florence. I wanted her to make an appointment with her internist for a second opinion, but Gail had been seeing her gynocologist for many years and trusted the doctor's diagnosis of "probably scar tissue." Gail told me, "but mom, she's the doctor" ... and with that confidence she returned to Florence.
The pain and discomfort did not go away. Gail went to a chiropractor near Florence for back pain - and had spa massages, too. Her paternal grandmother had recently been moved to an assisted living facility near Aiken and Gail desperately wanted to be close by to visit - so in the summer of 2006, Gail transferred from Target in Florence to the Aiken Target even though it meant stepping down from an executive position. She was finally nearby - close to family and friends and working five days a week and in retail THAT is practically unheard of. Everything was wonderful... and we were looking forward to the holidays already. No more rushed traveling to spend holidays or days off together. Gail settled in to the new job, enjoyed being within minutes of nieces and nephews, church, friends and family. She joined Curves - and was named their 'biggest loser' of inches and pounds her first month. Gail at times seemed tired, but she attributed that to the new job - at least that's what she told me. She went to a prompt care medical facility with back and body aches the week before her upcoming gyn appointment. A friend and Target team member later told me that Gail was having extreme pain at work the weeks leading up to the appointment. And I was unaware of the over the counter medication Gail was taking for upset stomach, etc.
In October 2006, four months after Gail moved back to Aiken, at what was scheduled as a routine annual physical, a “mass” was found. Within a week, Gail had major surgery - and the mass was soon diagnosed as small cell ovarian cancer, stage IIIc. Rounds of chemo quickly followed and I was thankful that, even though Gail kept her apartment in Aiken, she wanted to stay with me during this time. Gail was able to focus solely on following doctor's orders and family members made sure she had what she wanted or needed. Her faith remained strong and she knew she'd "be ok" regardless of the outcome. Gail asked me one day, "What if the chemo doesn't work?" We discussed not being able to imagine what life would be like without the other one here... how difficult it would be... and that regardless of which of us went first, we'd save a place for the other one in Heaven. That may not have been the perfect answer - not that there is one - but I never expected the two of us to have a conversation like that. The bottom line was we knew that regardless of the outcome of this battle with cancer, we'd see each other again. On February 14, 2007 -- less than four months after her annual checkup -- Gail, my only child, became one of the estimated 15,250 women who lost their battle with ovarian cancer in 2007. I had a choice - I could grieve myself to death or I could make something positive out of this horrible experience. I did what Gail would've done if the roles were reversed... I chose to make a difference in ovarian cancer awareness. Two months after Gail passed, a Relay For Life team was formed by family, friends and co-workers in Gail’s memory. The Relay theme that first year was "Night of A Thousand Stars" so we named the team after Gail's favorite television show, Grey's Anatomy -- wearing teal scrubs, tweaking the logo a bit and focusing entirely on ovarian cancer awareness. Our team, Gail's Anatomy, celebrates the cancer fighting warriors; we remember those that have passed; and we fight back by telling others about this disease. Through 2012, our Relay team has raised more than $22,000 for the American Cancer Society. Even though we continue to participate in the Relay For Life each year, we quickly learned that in order to really make a difference, we had to do more. Our initial plan to participate in a one time, one night Relay For Life event grew overnight to a year-round passion to educate others. Each year Gail's Anatomy strives to do more throughout the year to increase the visibility of teal and to educate women of all ages about ovarian cancer signs and symptoms and the importance of early detection. We are successful in doing that because of the generous support of friends, family, schools, colleges, physician's groups, local businesses, local and state government - and the many new friends we have met at our events or who have contacted us after learning about our mission.
Gail did everything right. She had gynecologic exams every year since she was 18 years old. She even went to the same doctor. Gail had none of the risk factors; there was no known family history of ovarian or breast cancer, but this horrible disease introduced itself to our family. Gail discovered after her diagnosis that she had all the symptoms of ovarian cancer except one. We both thought that a yearly physical and pap test would detect any potential female problems. We can't change the past but we can certainly make a difference now by taking steps to educate others. Don't let this happen to you. Pay attention to your body - you know yourself better than any one or any doctor. NEVER take "it's probably" as a diagnosis of anything. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms for more than two weeks, follow the recommendation of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and see your physician immediately. Insist on a CA-125 blood test and a transvaginal sonogram. Early detection saves lives. Together we can make a difference in the fight against ovarian cancer. Let's begin right now with you. Thank you for reading Gail's story.
Email: Debbie@OvarianCancerAwareness4Life.org
T-Shirts designed by Gail's Anatomy
SUPPORTING OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS
All donations support the Gail's Anatomy year-round awareness campaign!
"Cure Life"
Teal short-sleeve shirt - scan on back directs to this website
$25.00 each if mailed via US Postal Service OR
$20 each if purchased at local awareness event and requires no shipping
Sizes available:
Youth: Small, Medium, Large
Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL
To order a shirt, mail check payable to Gail's Anatomy along with name, address, shirt style(s), size(s) and phone number (for use only if we have a question about your order) to:
Gail's Anatomy
PO Box 86
Jackson, SC 29831
Order will be mailed within 2 weeks of receipt of payment.
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"Nothing could be finer than a cure in Carolina"
dark blue short-sleeve shirt with white palmetto and teal awareness ribbon
(ribbon is actually TEAL, not blue as shown in this picture)
$25.00 each if mailed via US Postal Service OR
$20 each if purchased at local awareness event and requires no shipping
Sizes available:
Youth: Small, Medium, Large
Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL
To order a shirt, mail check payable to Gail's Anatomy along with name, address, shirt style(s), size(s) and phone number (for use only if we have a question about your order) to:
Gail's Anatomy
PO Box 86
Jackson, SC 29831
Order will be mailed within 2 weeks of receipt of payment. ****************************************************************
"fight like a girl"
Brown short-sleeve tshirt with teal imprint on front and sleeve
 $25.00 each if mailed via US Postal Service OR
$20 each if purchased at local awareness event and requires no shipping
Sizes available:
Youth: Small, Medium, Large
Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL
To order a shirt, mail check payable to Gail's Anatomy along with name, address, shirt style(s), size(s) and phone number (for use only if we have a question about your order) to:
Gail's Anatomy
PO Box 86
Jackson, SC 29831
Order will be mailed within 2 weeks of receipt of payment.
Order on-line or stop by PowerCuts Salon and Spa on Laurens Street in Aiken; Southern Glamour on Atomic Road in Jackson, SC; or Carolina Cuts on Second Street in Jackson, SC.
Member of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce 2010
Understanding Ovarian Cancer What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the ovaries. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that store eggs or germ cells and produce female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Cancer Basics Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body (in this case the ovary) begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Normally, cells in your body divide, and form new cells to replace worn out or dying cells and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to create new abnormal cells forming a tumor. Tumors can put pressure on other organs lying near the ovaries. Cancer cells sometimes can travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs as the cancer cells move into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body. Cancer cells that spread from other organ sites (such as breast or colon) to the ovary, are not considered ovarian cancer. There are many types of tumors that can start in the ovaries. Some are benign, or noncancerous, and the patient can be cured by surgically removing one ovary or the part of the ovary containing the tumor. Some are malignant or cancerous. The treatment options and the outcome for the patient depend on the type of ovarian cancer and how far it has spread before it is diagnosed.
(Source: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition www.ovarian.org)
What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
Types of Ovarian Cancer There are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer which are classified according to the type of cell from which they start. Cancerous ovarian tumors can start from three common cell types: • Surface Epithelium – cells covering the lining of the ovaries • Germ Cells – cells that are destined to form eggs • Cord-Stromal Cells – Cells that release hormones and connect the different structures of the ovaries 1) Common Epithelial Tumors – Epithelial ovarian tumors develop from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most epithelial ovarian tumors are benign (noncancerous). There are several types of benign epithelial tumors, including serous adenomas, mucinous adenomas, and Brenner tumors. Cancerous epithelial tumors are carcinomas – meaning they begin in the tissue that lines the ovaries. These are the most common and most dangerous of all types of ovarian cancers. Unfortunately, almost 70 percent of women with the common epithelial ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced in stage. There are some ovarian epithelial tumors whose appearance under the microscope does not clearly identify them as cancerous. These are called borderline tumors or tumors of low malignant potential (LMP tumors). Epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs) account for 85 to 90 percent of all cancers of the ovaries. We must continue research and expand our knowledge about this group of cancers in order to improve treatment and save lives. 2) Germ Cell Tumors - Ovarian germ cell tumors develop from the cells that produce the ova or eggs. Most germ cell tumors are benign (non-cancerous), although some are cancerous and may be life threatening. The most common germ cell malignancies are maturing teratomas, dysgerminomas, and endodermal sinus tumors. Germ cell malignancies occur most often in teenagers and women in their twenties. Today, 90 percent of patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies can be cured and their fertility preserved. 3) Stromal Tumors - Ovarian stromal tumors are a rare class of tumors that develop from connective tissue cells that hold the ovary together and those that produce the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The most common types are granulosa-theca tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. These tumors are quite rare and are usually considered low-grade cancers, with approximately 70 percent presenting as Stage I disease (cancer is limited to one or both ovaries). Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma The removal of one’s ovaries eliminates the risk for ovarian cancer, but not the risk for a less common cancer called Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma. Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma is closely rated to epithelial ovarian cancer (most common type). It develops in cells from the peritoneum (abdominal lining) and looks the same under a microscope. It is similar in symptoms, spread and treatment.
Once diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the stage of a tumor can be determined during surgery, when the doctor can tell if the cancer has spread outside the ovaries. There are four stages of ovarian cancer - Stage I (early disease) to Stage IV (advanced disease). Your treatment plan and prognosis (the probable course and outcome of your disease) will be determined by the stage of cancer you have. Following is a description of the various stages of ovarian cancer:
Stage I—Growth of the cancer is limited to the ovary or ovaries.
Stage IA—Growth is limited to one ovary and the tumor is confined to the inside of the ovary. There is no cancer on the outer surface of the ovary. There are no ascites present containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact. Stage IB—Growth is limited to both ovaries without any tumor on their outer surfaces. There are no ascites present containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact. Stage IC—The tumor is classified as either Stage IA or IB and one or more of the following are present: (1) tumor is present on the outer surface of one or both ovaries; (2) the capsule has ruptured; and (3) there are ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings. Stage II—Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.
Stage IIA—The cancer has extended to and/or involves the uterus or the fallopian tubes, or both. Stage IIB—The cancer has extended to other pelvic organs. Stage IIC—The tumor is classified as either Stage IIA or IIB and one or more of the following are present: (1) tumor is present on the outer surface of one or both ovaries; (2) the capsule has ruptured; and (3) there are ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings. Stage III—Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following are present: (1) the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and (2) the cancer has spread to lymph nodes. The tumor is limited to the true pelvis but with histologically proven malignant extension to the small bowel or omentum.
Stage IIIA—During the staging operation, the practitioner can see cancer involving one or both of the ovaries, but no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it has not spread to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are checked under a microscope, very small deposits of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces. Stage IIIB—The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are present in the abdomen that are large enough for the surgeon to see but not exceeding 2 cm in diameter. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. Stage IIIC—The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following is present: (1) the cancer has spread to lymph nodes; and/or (2) the deposits of cancer exceed 2 cm in diameter and are found in the abdomen. Stage IV— This is the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries and distant metastases (spread of the cancer to organs located outside of the peritoneal cavity) have occurred. Finding ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid (from the cavity which surrounds the lungs) is also evidence of stage IV disease.
These statistics, and the information regarding tumor stage and grade, demonstrate that there is a critical need to establish an agenda for more research into the areas of basic and translational research, genetic susceptibility and prevention, diagnostic imaging, screening and diagnosis, and therapy. These could hold the most promise for future discoveries that will lead to improved prevention, detection, and treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly the common epithelial cancers. For more information on ovarian cancer grading and staging, visit CancerSource, the National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Hospital, or the Oncology Channel. You can find more technical information at the Virtual Hospital. (Source: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: www.ovarian.org) Symptoms of Ovarian CancerOvarian cancer is a challenging and complex disease to detect. Unfortunately, many women think that a Pap Test screens for ovarian cancer, however, it does not. Even though symptoms exist – they can be vague. While the symptoms of ovarian cancer (particularly in the early stages) are often not acute or intense, they are not silent. Ovarian cancer can be recognized by connecting multiple symptoms. Some symptoms of ovarian cancer include:• Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort• Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion• Frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss• Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness• Ongoing unusual fatigue• Unexplained changes in bowel habitsIf symptoms persist for more than two weeks, women are urged to consult their physician, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.Ovarian Cancer Facts to Know* In 2012, the American Cancer Society estimates that 22,280 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,500 will die.* Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer deaths among American women.* Only 24 percent of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when the cancer is confined to the ovary. Most cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, making it difficult to treat successfully.* One woman out of every 55 (approximately 1.8 percent) will develop ovarian cancer at some point in her lifetime.* Ovarian cancer is most common in women who have already gone through menopause. The average age for developing ovarian cancer is 61 years old.* For the small number of women who are fortunate enough to have their cancer diagnosed before it has spread beyond the ovary, the chance for recovery is 85 to 90 percent.* For the majority of women in whom the disease has spread beyond the ovary, the chance of living for five years after the diagnosis is 20 to 25 percent.* A major risk factor for getting ovarian cancer is a personal history of breast, endometrial or colon cancer.Life changes so quickly....
10/14/06: Gail and her dad, Jimmy, getting ready to enjoy a Saturday afternoon in Athens cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs. Picture taken the weekend before Gail's checkup.11/14/06: Gail and her mom, Debbie, the day before her first chemo treatment (photo courtesy of Denise Jane Portrait Design). | ||||
