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I am a recent Cervical Cancer patient. I am still recovering. I know that without the support of my loved ones my recovery would not have gone so well.
When I was first diagnosed I came to the groups and looked for a place I could get support and information and maybe vent about my fears. I was disappointed to find that there was no place for me in the groups. There were specialized cancer groups and groups for teens, but no general cancer support groups. I decided to create my own.
We are all in this together...what color Ribbons do you wear?
Pink - Breast Cancer
Lavender - General Cancer Awareness
Teal - Reproductive Cancers
Clear - Lung Cancer
Purple - Pancreatic Cancer
Orange - Leukemia
Black - Melanoma
Brown - Colon Cancer
Royal Blue - Also Colon Cancer
Burgundy - Multiple Cancers
Gray - Brain Cancer
Blue - Prostate Cancer
Gold - Childhood Cancers
Yellow- Liver Cancer or Live Strong/Lance Armstrong Foundation Ribbon
~~MY story~~
10 yrs ago I was diagnosed with mild cervical dysplasia. For those who do not know this is basically cells that are abnormal, but not cancerous and they are not "considered" dangerous. For the last 10 years my diagnoses has gone from mild to moderate to in 2001 pre-cancerous. 2001 was when I had my first scare with the pre-cancerous diagnoses. At that point I had a survival rate of 80% for 5 years for living cancer free, meaning that my pre-cancerous cells only had a 20% chance of becomming cancerous in 5 years. February 2006 would have been my 5th year, I guess I didn't make it to my 5 year anniversary.
I have had more Colposcopies, Biopsies, Acid Treatments, and Cryo Treatments then I can count. I guess I should have known that Cancer was in my future at some point...but when you are in your 20's you really don't think about those things.
In May of 2005 after 4 years of Normal Pap Smears I had my first Abnormal Pap come back. Well to my shock my Dr. said lets wait and see what happens. Looking back now I probably should have pushed him to do the Colposcopy then especially with my history, but I think I knew what the results would be. So fast forward to August 2005, I go in for a re-check and another Pap Smear (oh what fun).
My Dr. seems convinced it is all precautionary and everything is gonna be ok, he doesn't think anything is out of the ordinary. I try to keep his positive outlook and ignore the previous 10 years of my medical history. Well needless to say the results come back as abnormal once again. Still being positive my Dr. recommends a Colposcopy and Biopsy. My Dr. thinks that maybe my mild dysplasia is back. A few days goes by and the results come back...I am not so lucky it is a little worse then mild dysplasia, my Dr. needs to do a more in depth procedure to see how much worse it is. So now we move on to the LEEP. UP until this point the words Cancer have not really been mentioned...he does tell me I have Carcinoma In Situ....well google that...tell me what you get. Basically it is Latin for Cancer is present. Anyway I have the LEEP done, my Dr. is still trying to be up beat and positive and pretend like this is not as bad as it is and that maybe I don't know how to google or I don't know Latin (which I took 3 years of). The results come back from my LEEP and well when a Dr. calls you and tells you we need to see you and I quote "immediately" you know it is not good. This is when the everything is ok, there is nothing to worry about expression fell off my Dr.s face and he said we need to operate and we need to do it NOW! You have Aggressive Invasive Stage 2 Cervical Cancer...no more Latin terms....he put it in English for me.
Basically they found that the cancer had spread past my cervix, but the results were inconclusive as to how far past my cervix or how abnormal the cells were that had spread. So I went to my Dr. on Monday (9/26/05) and found all this out and was in the hospital on Wednesday (9/28/05) having a Total Hysterectomy to remove all they could and hope that they got it all out in time before it had spread too far.
Well I found out the cancer had spread into my uterus and my lymphnodes. Luckily all of it was benign, so as of right now I am in the clear. I did not have to have chemo or radiation. I just have to recover from a month of surgeries and emotional ups and downs. I had to get regular blood work to check my blood count.
*UPDATE*
As of Jan 2006 I am still in the clear...no more cancer cells. My Dr. moved out of state and left my file in somewhat of a mess. I haven't been re-checked for my 6 month post op yet, which should have happened about 3 months ago. I am currently looking for a new Dr. that my insurance will pay for to have my records transferred being that the one that took my old Dr.'s place doesn't seem to be doing his job. I had to have some scar tissue removed 3 times after my Hysterectomy and I still have much less energy then before my surgeries, but I have been told repeatedly that it is normal. As of right now I am living my life to the fullest. I stayed in school during my entire ordeal and somehow managed to maintain a 4.0. I will be starting Indiana University this fall to begin working towards my Masters in History and Classical Studies. Life is short, live it love it and learn from it.
I am a Cervical Cancer Survivor and I am proud. |
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