After five days of being in pain, Delma had enough. Her home remedies for the aches weren’t working. Her stomach was still bloated and felt as though she had eaten something bad. It was time to visit the doctor.
When she was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer, it was a shock.
“When someone hears the word cancer, the first thing that comes to your mind is death,” she said.
Initially, Delma was stoic about her diagnosis (she says all she thought in the moment was, “Well, I guess it’s my turn.”) Then the reality of what she was facing sunk in. Her husband, a prostate cancer survivor, and their daughters had to hire someone to help with the cleaning and cooking. There was also the costs associated with cancer.
“Money was also a burden, trying to find ways to pay for my treatment,” she said. “Cancer destroys you financially.”
One thing that kept her spirits up, along with her family and faith, was Cancer Support Community Arizona. Her brother had heard about CSCAZ and told Delma about it. She made an appointment soon after, signing up for a support group, meditation classes and yoga.
“Here, I was able to talk about it, and do exercises,” she said. “It was a great distraction for me. It helped me keep my soul alive.”
Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, CSCAZ was able to give Delma the support and friendship she needed throughout her cancer journey.
Please consider a donation to Cancer Support Community Arizona. Your gift will ensure that we can continue to offer FREE support, resources, education and programs for anyone impacted by cancer.
DONATE BY APRIL 18 and you’ll be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar credit (up to $400 for individuals or $800 for couples filing jointly) that can be claimed on either your 2021 or 2022 state taxes through the Arizona Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) Tax Credit. CSCAZ’s QCO code is 20821.