Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Facebook Post

September 1, 2024

I’d like to share a few thoughts as September brings awareness to Ovarian and several other cancers. Certainly, the disease has had an impact on everyone however the degree of that impact varies. A person diagnosed with the illness is best suited to share the challenge the disease presents with caretakers next in line. History doesn’t leave us with a lot of feel-good stories so for further disconnected an individual may be from the challenge of a cancer patient the less confident that person is of survival.

The initial diagnosis can be quite shocking. The stages of grief are certainly in play but there is no time to wait for acceptance before battling. At the very same time you are denying and angry you are defining a plan of action to battle. You have to be wise enough to understand that doctors have standard protocols that may or may not be effective & if they aren’t, you go somewhere else to find the extended versions of those protocols.

Real life doesn’t end because of a cancer diagnosis and people do not stop relying on you. You will find those who have compassion for you and those who don’t. You will run the gamut of emotions from anger to happiness but can never give up hope. There will most certainly be feelings of guilt because priorities have changed due to physical limitations but mentally you’re still sharp. All of the above emotions can challenge relationships but if you’re surrounded by those who love you most commitment won’t end because someone is sick.

At the end of the day, there will always be uncertainty attached to cancer but this generation has an opportunity to lay the groundwork for future generations to have hope.

Angela Facebook Post after Doctor Appointment

 1/31/2024

Cancer is hard on everyone. I had a PET scan a few months ago showing my metastisized cancer on my liver is stable...not growing but not getting smaller either. In the meantime I developed a precancerous lesion which has to be removed so I have to take a break from chemo treatment to have surgery. After going through this for 10 years it's hard and I'm tired. I spend most of my time in bed. I appreciate my husband Dave Bursler for his support and dealing with all of the ugliness of this disease. Please continue with your prayers. Thank you

Chemotherapy Break

Edit 2/1/2024

I posted the below message late last night but deleted it shortly thereafter. The words detail how I see things from my eyes and not necessarily the eyes of my wife. As the person directly affected by the disease she clearly has a different perspective than that of the caretaker. I also have a tendency to downplay the suffering not because I don’t recognize it but more so because I am of the belief that it’s more important to share how her response to the disease dictates the behaviors of those that surround her. I made the decision to repost because I want people to recognize that she is a symbol of hope. While certainly personal, her 10-year experience has affected and will continue to affect a broader audience. There is a lot of pride in that little body of hers so much so that she struggles to humble herself enough to recognize how influential she has become. As you take the time to read through my words please keep in mind the person suffering has a different perspective but the message that normalcy can be achieved is still the same.

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Original Post 1/31/2024

You might think that after 10 years visits to Penn Medicine - Abramson Cancer Center would be routine but they're quite the opposite. The drive-up is always quiet, I sense anxiety, and as a lot of males attempt to do I try to fix it. The logjam of cars as we enter Philadelphia serves as a bit of a distraction but also it can be a source of more emotion. Once at the facility, it's time for a cup of coffee and lots of waiting. A consultation with the doctor is usually quick and then it's off to the treatment area for an infusion or two. After 6 hours of waiting, consulting, and treating we make the trek home. My wife and I then finish out the day by returning to work and doing the things that normal families do.

Speaking of normal one of the most amazing qualities that my wife has is the ability to be normal in an abnormal physical state. The people she surrounds herself with find strength in her actions and reactions. We respond positively to uncertainty because of the confidence she exudes. I have witnessed the smiles in public and the faces of agony when alone. She has unbelievable courage, strength, and tremendous love for her family.

Those trips to Abramson are anxiety-laden but also opportunities to support each other. The consultations have changed from the doctor providing 100% of the guidance to now the doctor asking my wife her opinion. It was a little frustrating to me when that first started happening but I guess 10 years of being a patient can only supplement 8 years of medical school. The time spent waiting and drinking coffee are opportunities for us to bond. Some might say our relationship has become stronger because of this time we have together.

Throughout her ten-year bout with cancer there have been scary times and exciting times. The most important thing is that she is here with us to experience those emotions.

I love her very much and would not want to be anywhere else in the world except with her. We appreciate all of the positive comments and encouragement and can assure everyone they are helpful.

One final note before I conclude this post is that we are excited to report the results of her PET showed dramatic improvement. She has been given a wonderful opportunity to take a break from treatment for a few months. We will definitely be taking advantage of this time away from the treatment chair to do something fun.

#ANGELASANGELS

Consistent by DB

12/31/23

The word consistent is what we live by in our home. The ups and downs, twists and turns result in different emotions, but our direction is always forward. I think most people get there at some point in their lives mostly due to maturity but in our case, it was due to disease.

There are many roads people can take when diagnosed with a chronic illness but not all of those roads will lead to harmony. Even as we travel down our chosen path there are crossroads that challenge our decision to stay the straight and narrow. It takes two individuals with different qualities to come together to fend off weakness & temptation to keep each other positive and strong.

January 1st, 2014, my wife experienced the first symptoms of cancer and now almost 10 years later to the day her diagnosis has significantly improved. Our road has been long, but our love has strengthened thru the storm, and she is alive and beating the odds.

Thank you so much for all of those who have prayed for her or kept her in your thoughts. I am of the belief that this support enables her to have the will to live.

This is not over, and we will not let our guard down. The odds can be what they may but will not factor into how we live our life.

Love you so much Angela Bursler and I am hopeful the PET scan results allow you to have a lengthy chemo break that you so deserve.

PET scan results by Angela

12/31/23

After a PET scan yesterday, my cancer continues to respond to current treatment. While the side effects can be exhausting and annoying, the red devil (Doxil) is keeping me alive. January 1, 2014 was the first time I noticed a lump in my abdomen. 10 years later I am still here because of research and the amazing oncologists at Penn Medicine. I am not only here because of Penn but because I have wonderful people who support me, pray for me and love me. I couldn't ask for more. Many thanks to all of you out there who have given me the strength to survive

                                                                             ****Quit****

 

Today, I have something on my mind to share with whoever wants to listen/read.   What I’m going to share with you today are my thoughts about the word quit and the implications of it.  Almost every time human beings are posed with a significant challenge it’s not uncommon to default to thoughts of quitting.  The question I ask myself today is what is the source of the energy, motivation, and determination that prevents us from quitting?   Personally, I gave in to the urge to quit quite often when I was younger but as I matured I learned to be less reactive, think it through, and not quit.

 

I can think of no better example of how a positive attitude can overcome the urge to quit than that of my wife who has cancer.  Diagnosed with 3^rd stage ovarian cancer 9-1/2 years ago, she could have easily succumbed to depression, anxiety, or any other similar condition but when faced with adversity she chose to be positive.  Today, in spite of a diagnosis that typically results in death within five years she is still alive.  I attribute her ability to beat the statistics because of her determination, desire to live, the threshold for pain combined, and just pure stubbornness.  I can detail her experiences as clear as day but there are no words to describe her pain.  I witness her pain daily; I witnessed it today and will witness it again tomorrow, but can tell you I don’t even have an understanding of what she feels or how she overcomes it.  It’s bothersome to me that as time goes by people forget that she’s sick or take for granted that because she smiles she’s okay.  It becomes even more bothersome to me when I realize that there are times that I do the same.  If the response from others bothers her she certainly doesn’t let on that it does but instead keeps moving forward with the desire to be treated just like you and me.  Little sympathy was given and no sympathy was wanted but instead constantly moving forward, looking ahead, and making plans for the future.  My wife, the woman I love, is the very same person who teaches me every day the value of life.

 

As for me, yes, like most others I’ve reacted to challenges by initially wanting to quit but over time I learned methods to cope until the challenge can be overcome.   While my most significant experiences as a runner are in no way comparable to those of my wife as a cancer survivor, I have moments I can refer to in times of weakness to remind me of the power we possess as humans.

 

The moment I reflect upon the most occurred in June 1999 at mile 75 of a 100-mile race conducted in the mountains of Virginia.   I faced the adversity of climbing a rocky mountain in the darkness while alone.  Being my first event at this distance I had never encountered a similar challenge so when the choice of quitting entered my mind I succumbed.   I gave up, I quit, and there will always be a piece of me that will regret that moment however with that moment came a lesson that gave me the knowledge and strength to go back the following year and not only finish but do so in the top 10.

 

 

If I can find someone who wants to listen I  enjoy interjecting a story about the Badwater Ultramarathon in our conversations.   As it applies to quitting I have no stories about that event where that thought ever entered my mind or that of the other 99 people that were with me.   Clearly, you would think a 135-mile event held on the roads of  Death Valley, California the word quit would be heard often but when 100 of the toughest runners in the world group together over a two-day period in July the word quit is removed from the dictionary.

 

Like running, life is not about winning or losing but instead finishing.  We battle through adversity, overcome challenges and in spite of what data or statistics say always remain positive and move forward. 

 

Hopefully, my message reaches somebody today who faces what appears to be an overwhelming challenge and finds what I wrote to be helpful.  As for me and my wife, quitting will always be a temptation but never an option.

First Dose of Carboplatin

Part of one of the new Chemo treatment was successful. She was able to overcome a potential bad reaction to the drug with the use of a desensitization protocol. Simply put the drug was infused slowly over four doses instead of one quick infusion. It was a long day but she's back home safe. Now it's on to part two of the treatment--killing cancer cells.