When Two Cancers are better than One?!?!?!
A cancer diagnosis is scary enough, but synchronous cancer (multiple primary cancers) is rather bizarre, especially since
cancer is not something that runs in the family. Now, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and heart problems all have a footprint, but no cancers that I know
of.
I went to the GYN on Feb 24 after three months
of having my period with just a few breaks. They did a biopsy. Then they
scheduled me for a sonogram the following week (3/6). I thought it was the
start of menopause because something I Googled told me that increasing
variability of the menstrual cycle was a symptom. I’ve had crazy bad cycles all
of my life, with about 3 D&C’s, and mood swings that would make a
Psychologist run for the hills, not every month, but more than I care to recall.
Just ask my friend, Jos, about the “Mac and Cheese” episode. At least I could identify
that I was not acting within reason and apologized. But as it happens (and you
have absolutely NO control), it’s maddening!
The months of January and February were tiring – I could
get through work, but as soon as I got home I wasn’t good for anything more. I
went to bed early and slept 8-10 hours every night.
A week later (3/4), as I was leaving work, I got a call
to come and see the GYN for the results of the biopsy. I thought the worst – I
was in menopause and probably needed a hysterectomy. Well, I was in menopause
but the diagnosis was Adenocarcinoma of the uterus, a malignant neoplasm of the
uterus: cancer. My GYN was awesome. After telling me the next steps and who the
best oncologist was, she prayed with me. She said it will probably take about 4
weeks to get an appointment, I guess this oncologist was really good! I felt so
at peace when I left. I actually went out to the car and called the oncologist
to make an appointment, the receptionist says, “We have a cancellation for
Thursday 3/6) – is that good?” Heck yeah! They scheduled me for a CT scan the
next week (3/13) and surgery on March 17. Less than two weeks after diagnosis,
I was under the knife. Actually, it was under the robots, 4 robotic arms and 1
camera.
It was supposed to be just one night in the hospital, but
since the surgery didn’t get started till a few hours later than scheduled, I
didn’t get to my room till after 9pm, they kept me an additional day. So I went
home Wednesday and slept forever! Since they take your stats every 2 hours the
first night, then every 4 hours after that, there’s not a lot of productive
sleep. I only had one pain pill Tuesday night – mainly because of the back ache
from lying in a bed for so many hours. The shoulder pain they said would result
from being blown up with gas for the surgery never happened. I was able to walk
around with no pain. Eating was coming back slowly, just no appetite. On the
bright side, I had been participating in a “Biggest Loser” contest at work. I
was in 2nd place for a few weeks, but JoAnn was always way ahead of
me. Some people thought that losing body parts should not factor in, but it
didn’t make a difference, I still ended in 2nd place, winning
$97.50!!!
Two weeks after surgery, I went back to the oncologist to
get the results of the pathology and to find out what stage the uterine cancer
was and if I would need chemo and/or radiation. The results were synchronous
cancer. Two major cancers at once, but his was good news! How can this be good
news? I recorded the whole conversation so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I had
stage 1-1b uterine cancer (which means the cancer has spread halfway or more
into the myometrium.)
and stage 3 ovarian cancer (cancer found in one or both ovaries and has spread
outside the pelvis to other parts of the abdomen) but without involving any
lymph nodes – Yeah!
Here’s the good news – when these 2 cancers are together
is is much better!?!? If it was just the stage 3 ovarian cancer, the survival
rate is about 50%. BUT, when partnered with uterine cancer, the survival rate
goes up to 70-80%. The Dr said it was a “strange little entity you developed”.
It will be treated with 2 types if chemo, starting within a few weeks. Next
thing is the surgery (4/18) to install the port.
The other good news is actually in the gospels of Jesus
Christ. The word gospel actually means “good news”. Some people have commented
to me that I’m so (too) calm, but that only comes with knowing that the
ultimate physician is in charge of everything. He is the only one I can put my
faith in and I fully accept whatever he has for these next steps. Jeremiah 1:5
says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you, before you were born I set you
apart…” God knows the day of out birth, the day of our death, and everything in
between (known as the DASH, the dash that separates the year of your birth and
the year of your death.) So, no amount of crying or self pity will result in
anything but wasted time. Time that could be better spent doing ANYTHING ELSE.
One of the things the Dr said was that I have to make
sure I eat a lot of protein – and I’m like, Great! I follow a low carb, high
protein diet already. I’ll still keep posting more recipes soon. I just wanted
to answer some of the questions I have been getting.Thank you for all of the prayers!
