Knock. Knock. Who's there? It's me!

Me who????

Me. The big C. Again.

Well crap. What a way to start the year. During the winter break from school and work I had this unsettled back pain and I also kept on having off and on bouts of pelvic pain, right along my imaginary bikini line. I ignored the pelvic pain and just thought it was gas because we all know we can overdo it during the holidays. But the back pain WOAH! I took Oxy for two weeks and little to no relief from the pain. I went back to work and have been toughing it out for a month. The Friday before my birthday I went to my doctor to insist on an ultrasound. Why? Because this darn pain has been very persistent on a daily. I've had trouble in the past with ovarian cysts. Yes the ovary develops a cyst when it releases the egg every month and eventually heals itself. But sometimes it doesn't and either medication can be prescribed to hopefully dissolve it or a minor outpatient surgery to correct it. Well, during my pelvic ultrasound which went rather quickly, I was told to undress from the waist down and the second part of the ultrasound would take place. Ummm....whaaaaat??? :eek: I went and changed, came out and the stirrups were propped up on the exam table and the technician explained what would happen next. Well damn, at least the gel was warm. So I had a transvaginal sonogram. Which took looooonger than the first part. About 15 minutes or so! Yes, internal prodding this way, that way, up there down there, over to this side, over to that side. My god! The part that hurt the most was when she moved that sucker toward my back bone. Made my back hurt worse and I told her so, in my stern voice. Grrrr. I walked out of there like I just hopped off the bull at the rodeo. Not a great feeling whatsoever.

My doc was supposed to call me with the results by last Wednesday but he never and he doesn't work Thursday's so I had to track his ass down Friday, Vday. So this is the news. I definitely have a cyst on my left ovary the size of a pinky nail. The other one has something much bigger, about 1/2 an inch. Okay, what is it? His words, "Well, it doesn't look good for that one. I've already called your gynecologist that took care of your hysterectomy for the endometrial cancer...." I went deaf at this point. What the fuck...

So after the panic cleared and gathered myself I asked about the next steps and plans for treatment, surgery, chemo, radiation, what???? My next step is a CT scan of my pelvic and abdominal area. Afterward I'm thinking why the abdominal area? But I chase any thoughts out of my head. Remember the unresolved back pain? It's now mid back and down the sides of my hips. Worse case scenario is this, ovarian cancer and it has spread to the bones by way of my back. Could have already spread?! Damn, when I get cancer it grows rapidly. Fuck.

I'm hoping and praying really hard this is not the case. I'm hoping the pain is caused by this fucking thing attached to my ovary and let's remove the ovary, chemo if I have to and the cancer hasn't spread.

Here's the kicker. What made me insist and be really firm with what I wanted from my general MD, was an article on WebMD "10 Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn't Ignore." When I read that article for the ovarian cancer symptoms it all fell into place for me. Plus I have a precursor for cancer. Right now I'm typing this feeling nauseated, fatigued, bloated so bad that my underwear are cutting into my skin, lower back and hips are hurting really bad, and my left ovary feels like sharp fingernails are pinching it! Moral of the story, listen to your body and do not ignore any type of pain that does NOT go away!

Next steps: tomorrow morning blood tests, CT scan Wednesday morning, Gynecologist visit Thursday to review CT scan and discuss treatment plan.

Comments

Sprinkles - I am so sorry to hear your news. I know you are a fighter. Keep posting here if it helps you..Hugs.
 
Oh, Sprinky.....you know where I am if you need me, ok?

I am pretty pissed off on your behalf. No one, not even cancer messes with my sista. Please keep me up to date, because I'm going to worry. :hug:
 
Thanks to you both and big hugs. I was supposed to have surgery this morning but my insurance wants more information from my doctor, so it looks like Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. We are going radical by removing both ovaries and that means instant menopause for me. Whether the mass is benign or malignant will depend on pathology after surgery. CT scan showed 2 cysts on left ovary and of course the mass on the right. I'm in great spirits as I'm looking to everything positive at the end of this ordeal.

Thank you everyone that has read this and maybe it sparked a thought with a loved one that may be having their own early symptoms. Be vigilant! :biggrin:
 
I sure Hope all goes well for you. Will be thinking of you. I also hope the surgery is SOON and effective and conclusive. Hang in there dear one.
 

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