Hi all! I was told I had stage 3 grade 3 cervical cancer back in January of 2012. They first found it in November of 2011. It took me 6 weeks to get to see a gynecologist that my doctor had sent me to, as I had no insurance. He wanted me in surgery in 5 days, but because I had no insurance, he couldn’t do it. But he did get on the phone with his social worker and we had insurance for me within a week. My doctors are great people.
When I had my surgery on January 17, 2012, my mom and 21-year-old son went with me. After my surgery, the doctor went and talked to my mother and told her I had stage 4 cancer and would be dead within 6 months to a year. Well, this month marks the 6 month mark.
My cancer had gone to my ovaries and my right kidney and had spread to my lymph nodes. The doctors didn’t have much hope . When I went to see the doctor after surgery, he told me the news. I looked at him an said ‘Okay, what do we do and how do I beat this?’
I think I floored my doctors because I didn’t blink an eye and I’m such a fighter.
I had to have a stent put into my right kidney before my chemo could start. I also had to have my teeth pulled because they were bad and they were afraid of an infection.
Thank God for my aunt who called the head of the hospital where I live at 6:20 am because we couldn’t find a dentist who would take my insurance. I had the head of dentistry in my pre-op room on the day my stent went in. He, in turn, had me in his office within a week and then I was ready to go to chemo. I also had a port put in my upper chest for the chemo because the doctors didn’t want to blow any of my veins.
When chemo started, the nurses where I went were so nice and funny. They understand everything you are going though and will tell you everything they are doing. I love this place, and I’m so glad I am going there. I get hooked up to chemo once ever 21 days. I’m on a heavy drug called cisplatin and another drug (I can’t recall the name of right now). I go to the office at 8:30 am and have my doctor appointment, then I go for my chemotherapy. I am there for at least 8 to 9 hours per visit. I thank God every time I go, as my chemo is working and my tumors are shrinking. My blood work has been great since the 2nd chemotherapy treatment. Luckily, I’ve yet to get sick from any of the treatments. Treatment number 6 is tomorrow and then we will figure out our next move. But I am strong and I’m a fighter, so I am going to kick this in the ass 🙂
Christine
New Jersey
Submitted 6-24-2012
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
You go girl!!