CANCER - MY EXPERIENCES
Monday, October 27, 2014 at 12:17PM In May of 2014, being post menopausal, I discovered some spots of blood on my underwear. A friend had just gone through a hysterectomy to take cae of her endometrial cancer so I made an appointment with my GP doctor. On Monday I had a pap smear, an ultrasound and the appointments began.
The ultrasound discovered a thickening of the uterine wall, which is not a good sign. It is suppose to be getting thinner. Being overweight does cause more estrogen to be produced so that also does not help with preventing cancer.
I was scheduled for a biopsy and knew I would at the very least, need a hysterectomy. The next day the call came in that I had grade 2 endometrial cancer and would be hearing from them about operations.
I did research and decided after awhile that it was too much. I had a CT scan where they saw a tumor and also that one of my kidneys had a stone which had blocked the kidney completely. My kidney had shrunk to half its size.
I had the hysterectomy at Overlake Hospital in Seattle. After the operation my family was told that it all looked good-she got the tumor. I went back a week later and she told me I had Stage 3A endometrial cancer. I am pretty sure that is all I heard. She said it had traveled to the fallopian tubes and there was positive (not good) signs from the saline washing they do at the end of the operation. The good news is it did not go too far into the uterine lining and the lymph nodes were clear.
I had the kidney stone removed next and they placed a stent between the bad kidney to the bladder. It is a geen coated wire to keep things open until everything dealing with the cancer is done. It looks like a wire hanger coated with plastic.
I had a port placed in my chest for the chemo treatments. When I talked to the chemo doctor he discussed the possibility of Stage 4 cancer. That was not what I wanted to hear. We called my surgeon and she called him and said that the stage never changes and he was wrong. It was not a good day for me.
A week after my first treatment in Tacoma, Washington, I lost my hair. It does feel weird but it is just hair!
Six treatments from July 3rd to October 17. Each one was harder and took a longer time to recover. My body was able to take the treatments so I never had to cancel any or get any shots. At times it was harder than I thought. The lack of breath and energy was surprising but you are having poison put into your body so it will react. I did get mouth sores and bone aches as well.
The next treatment will be pelvic radiation every day for 6 weeks. I was not prepared for this as I had discussed with the doctor I wanted less invasive radiation as that is what my second opinion doctor suggested. I used some choice words and cried a little hearing the news.
Radiation treatments start with a CT scan where they line up your body and tatoo your skin. There are some other gross things they do but I leave it to your imagination.
Reader Comments (2)
Michele,
Thanks for writing and letting us know what is happening. I've been wanting to see you with my own eyes and viola! as I scrolled down you were smiling right at me!! Is it okay if I tell you that you look good? I would want to look shitty after all you've been through so people would know I'm a suffering hero. Enough of me. You are a good-looking, twinkly-eyed bald hero. Bet Jay tells you that all the time. If I can come and hold your hand during radiation just call or e-mail. Don't let those turkey doctors get you down.
Hugs and more hugs,
Pennie
Jane a. Sent me your blog site.
I too am going thru chemo and it is indeed a life changer.
Don't miss the hair but I do wish my get up and go would come back!
T he rugs are all so colorful I'm program chair for out group and it seems to me we need more out of town teachers who will "colorize" our projects
Keep on keeping on. It's all in the "tude" they tell me
Darlene