sad news
so you may ask, why the sudden previous HPV vaccine post?
Because I spent four hours crying last friday night. Why all the tears? My sister told me that my favorite relative *ever,* whom I look up to and strive to emulate, has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She's 58 and very active, so I have confidence that she'll be fine in the end...but right now it's very scary.
She starts chemo next week, so the next time I see her she'll be bald. I just spoke with her, and the scoffed at the idea of a wig - her panache will see her thru this with flying colors.
She begins chemo wed. 15, and so will be sick during thanksgiving, and clearly for a while. Also, we can't ask her to travel to us for turkey day, and my family can hardly impose upon her and her husband, so for the first time ever, we won't be with them for thanksgiving. Seeing as Thanksgiving is the one time each year I usually see her, I'm sort of extra saddened. (plus i just really hate having this tradition broken. it's always been a weekend-long event: travel thursday, greet and chat thursday, last minute shopping fri morning, cook all day friday, thanksgiving belated dinner friday night, hang out the rest of the weekend. ALWAYS. since forever. and now i'll just be sitting at home, except for the 5 hours when mom's family descends upon our house for turkey for the first time ever. this just means lots of cleaning. yes, it's good to see them, and i love them and all, but we see *them* for christmas. this isnt their damn holiday!) At some future date, Lenore will undergo a radical hysterectomy.
If you're like me and unsure what a rh involves:
"What is a radical hysterectomy?
Women with cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) or uterus (womb) may be offered a radical hysterectomy. This is different from ‘simple’ hysterectomy because not only are the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes removed, but also the upper third of the vagina and the tissues around the cervix. The pelvic lymph glands will also be removed at this time because the cancer can spread to these glands first (please see diagram). The doctor will discuss with you whether it is necessary to remove your ovaries as well." Borrowed from http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patientinfo/booklets/TextBooklets/Gynaecology/radical_hysterectomy.htm
I'm doing ok, don't worry. It's a funny coincidence, because i got my first HPV shot in the vaccination series about a month ago. Beyond Lenore's recovery, this gives me another reason to keep myself healthy, and visit the gyno regularly... that's another person in my family who's had a serious fight with cancer, and I'd like to do what I can to prevent my own illness.
If it's not silly to ask, please include my aunt in your thoughts/prayers/whatever you prefer. Thank you.
Because I spent four hours crying last friday night. Why all the tears? My sister told me that my favorite relative *ever,* whom I look up to and strive to emulate, has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She's 58 and very active, so I have confidence that she'll be fine in the end...but right now it's very scary.
She starts chemo next week, so the next time I see her she'll be bald. I just spoke with her, and the scoffed at the idea of a wig - her panache will see her thru this with flying colors.
She begins chemo wed. 15, and so will be sick during thanksgiving, and clearly for a while. Also, we can't ask her to travel to us for turkey day, and my family can hardly impose upon her and her husband, so for the first time ever, we won't be with them for thanksgiving. Seeing as Thanksgiving is the one time each year I usually see her, I'm sort of extra saddened. (plus i just really hate having this tradition broken. it's always been a weekend-long event: travel thursday, greet and chat thursday, last minute shopping fri morning, cook all day friday, thanksgiving belated dinner friday night, hang out the rest of the weekend. ALWAYS. since forever. and now i'll just be sitting at home, except for the 5 hours when mom's family descends upon our house for turkey for the first time ever. this just means lots of cleaning. yes, it's good to see them, and i love them and all, but we see *them* for christmas. this isnt their damn holiday!) At some future date, Lenore will undergo a radical hysterectomy.
If you're like me and unsure what a rh involves:
"What is a radical hysterectomy?
Women with cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) or uterus (womb) may be offered a radical hysterectomy. This is different from ‘simple’ hysterectomy because not only are the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes removed, but also the upper third of the vagina and the tissues around the cervix. The pelvic lymph glands will also be removed at this time because the cancer can spread to these glands first (please see diagram). The doctor will discuss with you whether it is necessary to remove your ovaries as well." Borrowed from http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patientinfo/booklets/TextBooklets/Gynaecology/radical_hysterectomy.htm
I'm doing ok, don't worry. It's a funny coincidence, because i got my first HPV shot in the vaccination series about a month ago. Beyond Lenore's recovery, this gives me another reason to keep myself healthy, and visit the gyno regularly... that's another person in my family who's had a serious fight with cancer, and I'd like to do what I can to prevent my own illness.
If it's not silly to ask, please include my aunt in your thoughts/prayers/whatever you prefer. Thank you.