The Survivor (Thriver) Series ~ Katie Ostrovsky: #32
SC: Tell us your name and where you are from:
KO: Katie Ostrovsky, Arizona
SC: Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living or what do you want to do?
KO: I’m a stay at home mom & volunteer at The Mayo Clinic, at the Infusion Floor! I want to be a nurse
SC: Are you a patient, survivor or caregiver (or combination)?
KO: Survivor/ patient
SC: Do you celebrate a notable cancer date? If you do which one? “National Cancer Survivor Day”, “World Cancer Research Day” etc.
KO: National cancer day and melanoma awareness month
SC: Tell us your story:
Stage 4 metastatic Melanoma survivor
My Name is Katie Ostrovsky, Im 38 years old. Ive been married since 2005, to an angel, his name is Benji and he really has done everything for me and our family. We have 2 girls, 16 and 11 years old.
My oldest is my strength, she’s strong, sassy and smart. My youngest is my comfort, she’s sweet, witty and smart. We have the best dog, he’s an Australian Cattle dog, named Sid. He’s very energetic and sweet and crazy. He brings such love into our home, we all race to get to him first after coming home from just about anywhere. We are a typical family with friends, lots of sports and family time. We all love to be together, have fun, laugh and make fun of each other. We have grown into something special due to cancer. Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma, skin cancer!
I was diagnosed in 2006, with a discolored, dark, risen mole under my left forearm. It was very quick, wide excision removal, I heard the word cancer when it was removed but not thinking it was me that it was happening to. My world blew up. I was scared and nervous but for some reason very positive. Two weeks later, the results were in, Stage 1A Melanoma skin cancer. Soon after I was sent to a surgery to see if the cancer spread to my lymph nodes. I didn’t understand that skin cancer could spread, anywhere, it was eye opening. Lots of doctors appointments later, surgery was set. Surgery was done and I was out, with good news, cancer didn’t spread. I was safe. I was one of the lucky ones.
Life went on, I got regular skin checks and kept sunscreen everywhere. The family became a sun safety bunch, it was an easy change really, apply sunblock and reapply again. I got pregnant in 2008, and within two weeks of her birth, a tumor showed up in my left armpit. My oldest is just starting kindergarten. They are too young for any of this.
From this point on, my life was spinning around me, and I was looking in on it from a distance. Mayo Clinic is a special place, with an outstanding reputation. We were determined for me to find my oncologist there and we did. It was one surgery after another, more and more chemo and radiation treatments. It was scan after scan for years, getting radiation running through my veins year after year. We flew to L.A. and back every three weeks, in hopes to receive therapy. It was double blinded, meaning neither the doctors nor the patient new if the patient was getting the treatment. Back to back tumors in some months and long recovery times in others. I was sick and hurt, all the time. I was lonely and depressed, I didn’t have any outlets to turn to, no social media and no cancer friends to relate with. It was scary, my husband did his best to sooth me and help me but things were crazy, I mean always crazy. He was on top of things with the family home and daily needs, girls homework and getting our kindergarten to school. He worked a 40+ hour job with a 40min drive to work, with added traffic. He never complained and never skipped a beat. I was taken care of and so were our girls. He sacrificed so much time and promotions at work to be able to take care of his sick wife. He was the best, always!
I fought everyday for my family, my daughter, my husband, my siblings, my friends and myself. I did not accept anything less than 100% from my doctors. I demanded that they listened to me when I felt my chemo wasn’t working. I was always for surgery, I wanted the tumors out, so that they wouldn’t grow for a second longer. Things didn’t always go my way, things got scary, there was a point in 2010, that my oncologist told me they were trying to turn my weeks into months. My journey was hard, long and brutal, emotionally, physically and I was terrified most of my 10 year battle. Lots of sleepless nights! My tears were uncontrollable leaving me breathless. I don’t know everything about surviving Melanoma but I do know where Ive been and what it felt like.
Its 2019, 13 years from my diagnosis and in January I was given my 5 year cancer free diagnosis. I say diagnosis because I feel I have a whole different type of journey now, it’s to heal. To heal emotionally and physically. I’m so proud of how I believed in myself, that I would get healthy and be with my girls when they grew up. To become stronger, to be a different me because I am different. I am not the same. Im better and I want to get even better. Im a survivor.
On January 23, 2019 my oncologist appointment, I was told I had made it 5 years cancer free from Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma back in 2006. I’ve been through so much over the years and continue my struggles daily but I’m a survivor! I made my promise to my two girls that I’d always be here for them. I had hope the entire way, kept being me and not letting cancer take over my soul. It had already changed so much of me and I wanted so much more from my life!! I’m proud of the way I handled the difficulties and hurts it brought me. My two daughter had a normal upbringing and don’t even remember mommy being sick. They don’t remember mommy missing any moments of their lives. They know I am a survivor and that I battled for them and my family. Courage is within us all! “I maybe cancer free, but I am not free of cancer”
SC: What is the biggest lesson you have learned through this experience?
KO: No matter what, I’m stronger than the cancer! I’ve grown to be a parent that my girls can be proud of. I’ve learned who I am , quicker than most. I’m proud of myself!!
SC: What would you like to say to someone going through what you have gone through or are going through?
KO: To those fighting cancer: believe that you WILL be cancer free. That YOU will come out of this, a better, stronger and wiser person. Who have cancer but cancer isn’t who you are! Keep your mind strong, with every appt, scan, surgery or therapy, your in! Surround yourself with people who 100% support you. It’s okay to let those who can’t. You have cancer but you’ll never be free of cancer, it’s always a part of your life. You can face it, one step at a time. The statistics are NOT who YOU are!! Cancer can’t touch you soul, your mind and who you are! You’re not alone, find a group online, IG or FB, surround yourself with others who can relate to you. It will help you face, what your going through. “There’s a hero inside us all, when we’re faced with a true villain” — katie Ostrovsky
SC: What do you do that brings you most comfort and joy?
KO: Being a mom!!! A wife, volleyball, photography and Journaling
SC: What motivates you to keep going, smiling, fighting?
KO: My two daughters
SC: Any music, movies, books, art that have inspired you during your journey?
KO: Book: “Radical Remission”
SC: Do you have a favorite quote, mantra or saying that has helped you during your journey?
KO: I am cancer free but I’ll never be free of cancer, helped keep me on my toes. Even in remission, I continue to be present in my bodies changes. Skin checks, scans and appts. I never miss one! I I fight everyday to stay cancer free! To continue to be a part of my daughter and husbands life!! They are my soul purpose to fight!! EVERYONE should find something they are fighting for!! Find a purpose!
Everyone at Stupid Cancer would like to extend an enormous thank you to Katie for sharing her story with us and the community.
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/My_melanoma_world/
Together we are ending isolation and building community for those impacted by cancer.
