Donna’s Story (Cervical Cancer)

In 1995, I was in for the fight of my life. I wasn’t getting a normal period. I would get it for 3 weeks then it would stop for a week and then start back up ( heavy flow, I would soak a pad in an hour and a tampon in 20 mins ). If my husband and I would have sex, it would start again for 3 days (if I wasn’t already on).

I went to the doctor and she found the tumor which 4 doctors had missed, including an ER Doctor. She wanted me to see a cancer doctor out of The University of Chicago. When he saw it initially, it was the size of a golf ball. When he saw it 3 weeks later to do the radiation, It had grown to the size of a tennis ball. He told me and my husband afterwards that cervical cancer at stage one doesn’t grow that fast.

Then I was in the hospital for 4 days, flat on my back. I could raise up at a 30 degree angle. Then 3 weeks after that, when he saw that it was down to the size of a dime, he did the surgery. My surgery date was 10/31/95. I joked that with all the tubes coming out of me, I was going to dress up as the creature of the black lagoon. I had a radical hysterectomy, so no more children, but now I am celebrating 18 years cancer free on Halloween.

Donna
Arkansas
Submitted 2-9-12

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.