| My Story |
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If you don't know me personally, I was married for 7 years and at a young age, I had my kids. My ex & I split, divorced. I moved away, then he did. He found someone new and got married and I didn't exactly find someone new. Those were the toughest years of my life and they were filled with a lot of pain but also a lot of learning about myself and my kids. My kids have been thru a lot and I had too. In 2000, I moved back home (I had a year stint in Fla-to find myself!) with the help of my dearest friend who had always loved me and supported me thru it all. I fell in love with him and our relationship blossomed. We married in June 2002. During that time, I was having some female issues. Pain in my lower back, didn't exactly know what was going on. I went to the Gyno-they did an ultrasound and it showed that I had a mass on my left ovary. They watched me for 3 months and it did not go away which they do normally. I was in so much pain and cramping, doc said they could go in andexplore and try to take the cyst off. In Feb 2003, I had to have my left ovary removed.When I awoke, doc said the cyst was so intertwined with my ovary-he had to remove it. I was so disappointed.. Doc said he was going to take it to pathology and have it tested however elsewhere, I looked fine. Two weeks later and I go for my post op-doc said that the cyst was what they considered Non Serous Carcinoma or in other words-confined to the ovary. He set me up then with a Gynological Oncologist. Soooo...here I go.........every six months I had to get vaginal ultrasounds, CA-125 tests then appointments with him. I didn't need any chemo of which I was glad. He would just follow me up. Things were going great until........... I was feeling pretty good until July 2007. Hubby & I took a much needed trip ALONE to Gatlinburg. We rode so many rides at Dollywood, hung out on the strip in Gatlinburg and other things  and rode thru the mountains thru New Foundland Gap on our way back home. During our trip, I kept having side stiches and just thought I needed more water. But....by the time I got home Sunday night, my pain was so severe I ended staying home from work and going to the doctor.Doc could not determine why I was having pain and tenderness in my belly. He sent me to the ER. ER ran some tests and did their diagnostics and said they could not determine what was going on. They let me go home...(another story for another time-I will never go back there again). I ended up back at the doctors office-doc came in and said I had multiple cysts on my remaining right ovary. Ahhhh Ha Moment! This is why I was having pain and my periods were acting up. So then I called my Gyno Oncologist-he suggested I have surgery to remove it or have a hysterectomy. I thought about it for a while and prayed to God not again.....I was scared. What would I do? What should I do? Should I go ahead and do a hysterectomy (which would put me in menopause) or just wait to see if it would go away. I had multiple days to think about it. I made my decision to have a total hysterectomy. It was a selfless thought. I thought of my kids. If I had cancer again in my body nesting itself in the very part of me that physically defined me as a woman, will I die? Leave my children? I had to get the hysterectomy. My thought was that from my previous experience with this beast, it makes you feel like a prisoner. I'm not going to live this way anymore. No more worry, fear. I want it out. So many women die each year from Ovarian Cancer and I have children to raise! I had my Surgery August 21st, 2007. Total Abdominal Hysterectomy. Doc said my ovary was the size of a softball. Again the tests came back with Stage 1 Ovarian Cancer. He also said I had 1 fibroid, 1 benign polyp, cervitis and Adenoysis (Endo of the Uterus). I had it bad. I had asked him also to do a panniculectomy (Lower tummy tuck) while he was there. I didn't need the fat either. I had a HUGE incision across my belly. Now...I'm feeling pretty Good. Almost 5 weeks Post Op. Doc has me on Estro Patch and I'm in what they call, "Surgical Menopause". Whooohoo Hotflashes! But Hubby said I look better, healthier, happier. I laugh a little more.... So, my cause is to educate my friends, family, co workers and all women who enter my life about Ovarian Cancer. It's a silent killer. Most women who have it don't know it. It sneaks up on you. Listen...get the facts ...get involved. Show YOUR support for TEAL! ------------- Submitted by Alsgal1070 |
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