I was diagnosed with Stage III
C ovarian cancer on June 20, 2005. At 46, the news came
as a total shock to me, my family and friends. I might never
have known I was walking around with ovarian cancer had
I not sought treatment for a different ailment. Fortunately,
the attending doctor noticed my abdomen was distended and
insisted I see my internist. Although I had been dealing
with an upset stomach for three weeks after a trip to Mexico,
I simply thought it was an intestinal bug. Within days,
a CA 125 blood test confirmed my worst fears; my numbers
(550) were higher than what is considered normal. After
a pelvic ultrasound, my gynecologist corroborated the diagnosis
and I was in surgery 36 hours later. The ovarian cancer
had spread through my entire abdomen, but thankfully, the
surgeon was confident he removed every visible cell.
After surgery, my CA 125
dropped to 220 and after one round of chemo, it went down
to 42. Since 35 is considered normal, I was elated. I have
a lot of life to live; my husband, Rob, and I have been
married for 23 years and have 3 incredible girls, Rachel
(20), Meg (13) and Lily (5). I plan to be here for them
for the long haul.
My wonderful circle
of family and friends has embraced me during this incredibly
difficult time. Their outpouring of love, their support,
prayers, and words of encouragement have kept me going.
I treasure them and appreciate their participation in this
endeavor to help me, other women afflicted with this disease,
and future generations.
