My first post - to thank all of you for giving me strength and the will to fight this darned disease

HellieC
HellieC Member Posts: 524 Member
Brief (!) diagnosis history:
Sept 2001: D&C for abnormal bleeding - diagnosed as hyperplasia with atypia(? cancer)
Oct 2001: TAH/BSO - no cancer found - declared cured - no further treatment required!
Dec 2007: abnormal bleeding - scanned, biopsied and diagnosed as vaginal vault recurrence (adenocarcinoma, Grade 1) - original hysterectomy sample re evaluated - still no cancer found.
Jan 2008: 6.5 weeks radiotherapy (total dose 60 Gy) to pelvis
July 2008: declared NED and stayed clear for 2.5 years until
July 2010: abnormal bleeding - scanned and found second recurrence at vaginal vault and wrapped around sigmoid colon
August 2010: Resection and sigmoid colectomy. All visible cancer removed. Biopsies taken from bladder and peritoneum during surgery showed adenocarcinoma microscopic metastases (Grade 2).
Sept 2010 - present: receiving taxol/carboplatin, 6 cycles, one cycle every three weeks.

Dear ladies.
I am a 52 year old living on the south coast of England (United Kingdom)). I have been reading and following your posts for a while but this is the first time I have entered the discussions. I just wanted to say a big "thank you" to you all. I have gained such strength from reading about how you are all coping with your individual diagnoses and treatments. We really are quite a select band of ladies, aren't we? All our diagnoses are individual but we all share a tremendous fighting spirit!
As we approach a new year, I am sure we are all quietly wondering what the future holds for us. But if we all continue to support each other, we will get through this dreadful ordeal and kick cancer right where it hurts!
I received my 5th carbo/taxol infusion yesterday (just one more to go - yippee), so I am feeling Ok at the moment, but will probably be flat on my back, aching like crazy by tomorrow, so thought I should write my first post and wish you all a Happy New Year before the dreaded poison knocks me down for a few days!
Wishing you all good things - particularly those wonderful words "No Evidence of Desease"
Kindest wishes
Helen

Comments

  • kkstef
    kkstef Member Posts: 688 Member
    Welcome, Helen!
    I am so glad that you have posted! You are so correct.....this is a wonderful group of women who are incredible warriors. The willingness to share information and the comraderie is truly amazing.

    I will be cheering for you as you finish your last chemo in 3 weeks....that will be a huge celebration I am sure!

    Please keep us posted on how you are doing and thanks for joining the discussion!

    Wishing you a wonderful 2011 and a long life NED!!

    Karen
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    kkstef said:

    Welcome, Helen!
    I am so glad that you have posted! You are so correct.....this is a wonderful group of women who are incredible warriors. The willingness to share information and the comraderie is truly amazing.

    I will be cheering for you as you finish your last chemo in 3 weeks....that will be a huge celebration I am sure!

    Please keep us posted on how you are doing and thanks for joining the discussion!

    Wishing you a wonderful 2011 and a long life NED!!

    Karen

    A Warm Welcome
    Thank you for sharing with us. We are a unique group; I think you have to experience this to really understand it. You're almost there with chemo; hang tough. You will feel better soon. It's easier to do this holding hands. Thank you for holding hands with us.

    Diane
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    Hello, Helen!
    Hello Helen:

    Welcome to this site. I am glad that you are almost thru with your treatment! Those couple of days after treatment really takes it out on you. Like you said achiness and tired! But I can see that you are a true fighter and a real trooper! Wishing you the best for a happy and healthy New Year!

    Kathy
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    Helen, I too send a warm welcome
    Sorry to hear you have joined our group, but I am so glad you are tolerating your chemo well, and you are almost finished with your treatment. I wish NED for you in 2011, too. Keep that positive attitude and keep fighting. In peace and caring.
  • HellieC
    HellieC Member Posts: 524 Member
    Ro10 said:

    Helen, I too send a warm welcome
    Sorry to hear you have joined our group, but I am so glad you are tolerating your chemo well, and you are almost finished with your treatment. I wish NED for you in 2011, too. Keep that positive attitude and keep fighting. In peace and caring.

    Thank you all for your replies
    Hi ladies
    Wishing you all a Happy new Year. Thank you so much for your caring replies - it is good to know you are all there for me and we can share our battles with "the big C". It's feels easier to continue to fight when there is an army behind you, than when you are alone! I am in the "aching" stage post chemo today, but don't feel quite as bad as I have during previous cycles - so I am greatful for small mercies! I usually get a sensation in my teeth - like they are way too big for my mouth (like Bugs Bunny), which is really weird - but that hasn't happened yet either! Perhaps I will get off lightly this cycle!
    Kindest wishes to you all
    Helen
  • Always Hopeful
    Always Hopeful Member Posts: 234
    HellieC said:

    Thank you all for your replies
    Hi ladies
    Wishing you all a Happy new Year. Thank you so much for your caring replies - it is good to know you are all there for me and we can share our battles with "the big C". It's feels easier to continue to fight when there is an army behind you, than when you are alone! I am in the "aching" stage post chemo today, but don't feel quite as bad as I have during previous cycles - so I am greatful for small mercies! I usually get a sensation in my teeth - like they are way too big for my mouth (like Bugs Bunny), which is really weird - but that hasn't happened yet either! Perhaps I will get off lightly this cycle!
    Kindest wishes to you all
    Helen

    Sorry you've had to join us
    Sorry you've had to join us but what a great place you've found. The ladies on this board provide so much support and information...they never cease to amaze me.

    Glad to hear you are weathering this last chemo treatment well. Hang in there, you're almost finished!

    Wishing you a 2011 filled with wonderful things...especially N.E.D.!

    Peace and hope, JJ
  • clscurnutt
    clscurnutt Member Posts: 26
    A warm embrace to you as you
    A warm embrace to you as you participate in this interesting, yet necessary world of discussion, support, fears, tears and, yes, joys. Each time I sit down and read new posts, my emotions run the gamut of highs to lows. This is a pretty phenomenal group of women. I'm grateful for each of them. Hope you get thru this next week with as little discomfort as possible.

    Never give up. Never surrender.

    Lynn
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    Helen
    Wishing you the best in your treatment!

    Keep us posted on your progress...

    Wishing you well..

    Laurie
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member

    Helen
    Wishing you the best in your treatment!

    Keep us posted on your progress...

    Wishing you well..

    Laurie

    Happy New Year Helen
    And thank you for your encouraging comments. Best wishes to you as you complete your chemo.

    May you and all have a blessed 2011! Mary Ann
  • susafina
    susafina Member Posts: 131
    daisy366 said:

    Happy New Year Helen
    And thank you for your encouraging comments. Best wishes to you as you complete your chemo.

    May you and all have a blessed 2011! Mary Ann

    Welcome Helen
    Happy New Year to you too.
    I am glad you decided to post and join our very special club. I am sad to hear about all that you have been through. Always know tha we are here for you. It is great to hear that you are almost done with Chemo. You will feel better soon.
    You sound that you have been feeling pretty good. This is great. When you don't feel so good let us know we will help in any way possible. Keep posting!
    SUE