SarahPants' Journey:
- 1 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 2 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 3 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 4 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
- 5 Loss Icon Loss
- 6 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 7 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 8 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 9 Decision Point Icon Decision Point
- 10 Procedure or Surgery Icon Procedure or Surgery
Patient: Ovarian and Fallopian Tube Cancer
Patient Info: Currently in active treatment (initial surgery, receiving chemo rounds/radiation), Diagnosed: over 9 years ago, Female, Age: 33, Stage IIB
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Misdiagnosed
Oh No
GPs and Gyno nurses blew me off three times before listening to what I really had to say. One Dr., after finally getting me an ultrasound, said that the tumor looked like it would just go away on it's own and that I didn't have to worry about anything. Another just said that the pain was just from a bruised cervix, and another diagnosed my lower back pain with "most likely a static nerve issue." It was ridiculous! I knew something was wrong- this problem was getting progressively worse over a year- but because I was only in my early 20s no one took me seriously... blahh!
Decision Point
I decided to seek out help from another Dr. at the advice of a NP from my school. She sent me to get another ultrasound- which ended up being a pretty frightening experience and then immediately referred me to a GynoOnc.
Health insurance issue
Oh No
On the day of my scheduled surgery, while I'm sitting in the pre-op waiting room with my husband, I get a call from my Dr. telling me that the surgery is canceled because the insurance co. hasn't processed all of my information yet. I had gotten married two weeks prior, had filled out paperwork for the switch before the wedding- and now it was canceled! Poop! We'll have to wait to reschedule for another two weeks :(
Fertility sparing surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Omentectomy, debulking primary tumor, multiple lymphnodes taken, multiple biopsies of kinds- eep!
Job
Loss
My recovery posed as problem to my employer- I'm a music teacher.
Remission
Celebration
Dr. told me that he was able to remove the primary tumor and the secondary that was on my bladder! Yay! I have to go in to have ultrasounds/bloodtests every couple of months. Also- he said that my left ovary was ok- and that I probably could have children!!! Ahh! This is so exciting because I just got married in August. We don't want babies yet- but having the option is one of the best things I've ever heard.
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
Had my first ultrasound since the surgery. Bad news- there appear to be tumors on my previously healthy ovary as well as the side where the surgery was performed
Decision Point
It is time to get a second opinion. Dr. A has referred me to another oncologist at MGH. I will be seeing him tomorrow.
Decision Point
We will be seeing a fertility specialist to see if I'm eligible for IVF. It's possible that I will be ovaryless after my my next surgery. HRT? So many things - too many things to think about.
Fertility sparing surgery
Procedure or Surgery
I just had my second surgery on Monday (April 2). They removed two tumors from my left ovary as well as new lesions in my uterus. I must have the most nimble and crafty surgeon, because he was able to spare some of my left ovary and didn't take the whole thing. This gives me a little bit more wiggle room to try to conceive a child or prepare for IVF with my own eggs. I feel incredibly fortunate that he's a master with fertility sparing surgery.