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.
Thanks for sharing your story, and I am so happy for you that you are cancer free now. Have a blessed Holiday season.
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Thank you, Donna, for sharing your story.
Thank you for sharing ur story. I too suffered thru cervical cancer in 08′. Went thru complete hysterectomy, I just celebrated 4 yrs Dec 12, cancer free. Best wishes:)
You caninspire many women who are going through female cancer. I finished chemo in May2012 betting stage 4 Breast Cancer. Colon work after chemo came back pre-cancerous. I am having a lesion removed from the salava gland and hoping for the best of that. I am giving as must help to others you are ffrighten with going to this mess. All I can say I got through it with giving it up to God. Others will do it different. I will help the no matter how they work it!!!! You go Donna!!!!
Congradulations on being cancer free—-cancer is such a scary illness that when I read other peoples journeys I feel less alone and less afraid, thank you for your willingness to share.
Thank you for sharing your story and I am happy for you that you are now cancer free. Your story kind of made me think twice about getting yet another opinion. I also bleed heavily soak a pad within 1/2 an hour to an hour cannot use tampons as they fall straight out again. I had cancerous cells removed from my cervix a good 15 years ago and every smear has been negative but after hearing your story I wonder.
Well done you! My tumor was also ‘missed’, I say missed as I went to the hospital in Oct, Dec 2011 and they said all was fine, but I had the same symptoms as you…then again in Jan 2012, saw a different doctor and bingo she realised what was wrong.
After chemo and radiation children are ruled out, unless my ovaries work and we can find a surrogate…
Keep up the being healthy and you’re a good role model of how to recover 🙂
Xx