My Diagnosis Story

What symptoms led up to your diagnosis?

I was working in Australia, and had a terrific General Practitioner Claudia Conway from Ireland.  I noticed immediately that I gained some weight out of nowhere, so we checked to make sure my thyroid meds  were on track.  I also started having a throb on one of my ovaries, and bloating. The next month gained two more pounds! This continued for many months. My cycles were like clock work, I was healthy.

What tests did your doctor do, and what was this experience like?

Initially bloods including a ca125 which told us nothing, it was normal. Thyroid tests, then sent to cardiac specialist, gastroenterologist, internal medicine, nutritionist, endocrinologist, and had internal pelvic and standard ultra sounds three times. While waiting for specialist gynecology, also had hormone testing. All found nothing but Dr. Conway and I knew something was not right.  I was finally given an internal ultra sound and a tongue lashing from the gynecology specialist as from what he could tell from all the previous tests and specialists, nothing warranted his making time to see me! Immediately after the internal and external ultra sound were done again, he apologized and set me up for a biopsy.

Upon learning about your diagnosis, what happened next?

I felt the best I had in two years after the laparoscopic surgery, about ten days, then the pathology came back on the tumor, cancer. I was told "I can prolong maybe, but not save you, this is ovarian cancer, you will die."  my husband lost it, told them to never say that again till we have had some treatment. So i started within days on chemo 100% carboplaten and pacalataxol, for six months weekly, in the middle they did a complete hysterectomy, debulking etc and i was in remission for 4 years and 9 months. Then I had it back on my Aorta at the base of spine. Did another six months of chemo then fifteen rounds of radiation (in the USA)  and every three months after for small pop ups, for the next 18 months.  finally NED again. I am gonna work on the living stuff, deal with this when i have to, worry about dying never. Cancer happens to us, but I refuse to roll over and go quietly. I do what I can,  stay strong i am loving every moment i get. Seven years ago they said i would not make a year, here I am, last weekend I went zip lining with my grand kids!  some days are tough, but I just cannot focus on the end game for then I would miss the journey daily in life.