(no subject)
I'm ba-a-ack! I have not looked at livejournal since November, but at the request of a friend I decided to log back in. For some of my friends, this website is the only way I still have contact with them. I have greatly missed the updates on their lives, which is why I decided to give livejournal another try. I'm not certain that signing back in is the best decision for me. If I do disappear again, please look me up on Facebook.
The most significant update I can make is about my current health situation. In April, I began to notice a change in my body. The best description is that I appeared to be pregnant, although I was not. Through many ultrasounds, tests, and surgery I was given a diagnosis of "borderline ovarian cancer". On May 27th a ten pound, 35 centimeter mass was removed from my abdomen. My left ovary and fallopian tube were removed during this surgery due to the extensive damage caused by the tumor. I have a large scar that extends from my pubic bone upwards, around my belly button and 3 inches above that. After the staples were removed, the surgical incision opened up about an inch and a half leaving a hole at the top of the incision. This has been slowly healing for the last two weeks.
A borderline cancer is a controversial diagnosis. Ovarian cancer typically spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate. A borderline cancer grows quickly (as my tumor did), but does not spread outside of itself. There were no signs of cancer in the surrounding organs in my abdomen. Tumors like mine are considered "cured" after surgical removal, however I will be monitored closely by an oncologist for the next five years and the remainder of my life or until I have my remaining reproductive organs removed. In some cases of borderline cancer in older women, the second ovary and uterus are removed along with the tumor during the initial surgery. This was not done due to my age and to preserve fertility. My gynecologic oncologist is phenomenal and she made decisions for me which I truly appreciate. Dr. Cunningham (no joke, that's her name!) has told me several times that this does not need to change my future plans. After the final diagnosis, she did say that if I chose to start a family during the next five years that it would not be a problem. There is a 10 to 15% chance that my other ovary will develop a tumor and this could happen any time in the next twenty years. Or I could be really unlucky and have a second tumor develop tomorrow. There is no way of telling based on current scientific knowledge.
I am finally back to moving somewhat normally. It is still a strain to move in certain ways and I am not to lift anything heavier then a gallon of milk. I usually only realize I've broken that rule if I do lift something heavier and strain my stomach muscles. Ed has been the dream husband over the last month helping me with everything I have been unable to do. For quite some time showering was difficult and I was limited to the number of times I could go up and down stairs in a day. He has also taken care of the hole in my surgical incision when I was unable to look at it. This news has been something that has caused us to re think every decision we have made about our lives to date. We both had hopes of earning higher education degrees before starting a family. Now, my ability to have children may be limited. I want to have my own (biological) child, even if it would make other dreams more difficult to achieve. This is just one of the many important discussions that we have needed to have as a result of my diagnosis. Ed and I have also had many talks about what it means to be a "borderline cancer" patient. We have tentatively come to the conclusion that I am not a cancer survivor, but that I get to have a close personal relationship with an oncologist for the rest of my life. It is a very strange situation to be in.
The most significant update I can make is about my current health situation. In April, I began to notice a change in my body. The best description is that I appeared to be pregnant, although I was not. Through many ultrasounds, tests, and surgery I was given a diagnosis of "borderline ovarian cancer". On May 27th a ten pound, 35 centimeter mass was removed from my abdomen. My left ovary and fallopian tube were removed during this surgery due to the extensive damage caused by the tumor. I have a large scar that extends from my pubic bone upwards, around my belly button and 3 inches above that. After the staples were removed, the surgical incision opened up about an inch and a half leaving a hole at the top of the incision. This has been slowly healing for the last two weeks.
A borderline cancer is a controversial diagnosis. Ovarian cancer typically spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate. A borderline cancer grows quickly (as my tumor did), but does not spread outside of itself. There were no signs of cancer in the surrounding organs in my abdomen. Tumors like mine are considered "cured" after surgical removal, however I will be monitored closely by an oncologist for the next five years and the remainder of my life or until I have my remaining reproductive organs removed. In some cases of borderline cancer in older women, the second ovary and uterus are removed along with the tumor during the initial surgery. This was not done due to my age and to preserve fertility. My gynecologic oncologist is phenomenal and she made decisions for me which I truly appreciate. Dr. Cunningham (no joke, that's her name!) has told me several times that this does not need to change my future plans. After the final diagnosis, she did say that if I chose to start a family during the next five years that it would not be a problem. There is a 10 to 15% chance that my other ovary will develop a tumor and this could happen any time in the next twenty years. Or I could be really unlucky and have a second tumor develop tomorrow. There is no way of telling based on current scientific knowledge.
I am finally back to moving somewhat normally. It is still a strain to move in certain ways and I am not to lift anything heavier then a gallon of milk. I usually only realize I've broken that rule if I do lift something heavier and strain my stomach muscles. Ed has been the dream husband over the last month helping me with everything I have been unable to do. For quite some time showering was difficult and I was limited to the number of times I could go up and down stairs in a day. He has also taken care of the hole in my surgical incision when I was unable to look at it. This news has been something that has caused us to re think every decision we have made about our lives to date. We both had hopes of earning higher education degrees before starting a family. Now, my ability to have children may be limited. I want to have my own (biological) child, even if it would make other dreams more difficult to achieve. This is just one of the many important discussions that we have needed to have as a result of my diagnosis. Ed and I have also had many talks about what it means to be a "borderline cancer" patient. We have tentatively come to the conclusion that I am not a cancer survivor, but that I get to have a close personal relationship with an oncologist for the rest of my life. It is a very strange situation to be in.