hope for the newbies: re-reading the original surgery report. boy have I come a long way!

evertheoptimist
evertheoptimist Member Posts: 140
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
today, almost 8 months since I saw my gyn oncologist for the first time, I re-read my surgery report, paying attention to all the details.

I feel, boy, have I come a long way! I know my cancer was extensively metastatic at the time of DX, but re-reading this report, it almost sends chills down my spine.

Something to the effect that omentum was essentially a solid sheet of cancer nodules. That, there were nodules studded all over the intestines, bladder flaps, all around the pelvic walls....

Plus the tumor the size of a large lime attached to the colon that couldn't be resected......

the list goes on and on.

No wonder my dr, upon seeing the mid chemo scan that essentially only showed the main tumor that did not shrink much, and nothing else, thought I was doing so well..... He said "you have no idea how well you are doing, considering....." He also told me that there was no point in taking any lymph nodes out for tests. He is not a dramatic type and is a man of few words.These were about the only times he sort of let it be known how bad it was.

As some of you know, I managed to get into remission handily after a dose dense therapy (18 weekly infusions with no break) with no side effects to speak of.

So, all of you out there who are new to this journey and scared, think of me - if I made it so far in an excellent shape, the odds are much better for almost all of you.

Comments

  • evertheoptimist
    evertheoptimist Member Posts: 140
    #2
    by the way, I must add: I
    by the way, I must add: I started to eat radically healthy the moment I got the diagnosis though I was a healthy easter before. All throughout chemo, I exercise 1.5 hour daily on the average. I think all this helped.
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #3
    evertheoptimist said:

    by the way, I must add: I
    by the way, I must add: I started to eat radically healthy the moment I got the diagnosis though I was a healthy easter before. All throughout chemo, I exercise 1.5 hour daily on the average. I think all this helped.

    Great insight!
    I love the way you are looking back and telling yourself, "wow I did it and I'm here to communicate the good news"!

    I've as well had thoughts of how did I get thru 6 rounds of intensive toxins thrown into my body, plus 33 sessions of external pelvic radiation. I had very few side affects from the treatments, plus as you, jumped into a new way of living with eating, exercising and lots of stress releases. Today I think prior to my cancer diagnosis I was very health, exercised like a crazy gal and thought I ate fairly well. This good base of health I'm sure got me thru the treatments to where I am today...NED 2 years post treatments.

    People who tell me they're stage 4, I remind them ----- DON'T EVER GIVE UP!! We're all miracles of life and there is always hope for each and every one of us.

    I look at cancer diagnosis as a glass 1/2 full....I was thrown this disease and with all my powers I will fight it and never, ever give up. I love challenges and boy did I get a doozie with this one.

    Hugs to all,
    Jan
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #4
    jazzy1 said:

    Great insight!
    I love the way you are looking back and telling yourself, "wow I did it and I'm here to communicate the good news"!

    I've as well had thoughts of how did I get thru 6 rounds of intensive toxins thrown into my body, plus 33 sessions of external pelvic radiation. I had very few side affects from the treatments, plus as you, jumped into a new way of living with eating, exercising and lots of stress releases. Today I think prior to my cancer diagnosis I was very health, exercised like a crazy gal and thought I ate fairly well. This good base of health I'm sure got me thru the treatments to where I am today...NED 2 years post treatments.

    People who tell me they're stage 4, I remind them ----- DON'T EVER GIVE UP!! We're all miracles of life and there is always hope for each and every one of us.

    I look at cancer diagnosis as a glass 1/2 full....I was thrown this disease and with all my powers I will fight it and never, ever give up. I love challenges and boy did I get a doozie with this one.

    Hugs to all,
    Jan

    Don't forget Attitude!
    Optimist, if I may add to what you have shared, I think your positive "I will live" attitude (e.g. your moniker here) also contributed to your good self care and medical treatment. The mind-body connection.

    Thank you for so much. Mary Ann
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #5
    jazzy1 said:

    Great insight!
    I love the way you are looking back and telling yourself, "wow I did it and I'm here to communicate the good news"!

    I've as well had thoughts of how did I get thru 6 rounds of intensive toxins thrown into my body, plus 33 sessions of external pelvic radiation. I had very few side affects from the treatments, plus as you, jumped into a new way of living with eating, exercising and lots of stress releases. Today I think prior to my cancer diagnosis I was very health, exercised like a crazy gal and thought I ate fairly well. This good base of health I'm sure got me thru the treatments to where I am today...NED 2 years post treatments.

    People who tell me they're stage 4, I remind them ----- DON'T EVER GIVE UP!! We're all miracles of life and there is always hope for each and every one of us.

    I look at cancer diagnosis as a glass 1/2 full....I was thrown this disease and with all my powers I will fight it and never, ever give up. I love challenges and boy did I get a doozie with this one.

    Hugs to all,
    Jan

    Don't forget Attitude!
    Optimist, if I may add to what you have shared, I think your positive "I will live" attitude (e.g. your moniker here) also contributed to your good self care and medical treatment. The mind-body connection.

    Thank you for so much. Mary Ann
  • sunflash
    sunflash Member Posts: 197 Member
    #6
    daisy366 said:

    Don't forget Attitude!
    Optimist, if I may add to what you have shared, I think your positive "I will live" attitude (e.g. your moniker here) also contributed to your good self care and medical treatment. The mind-body connection.

    Thank you for so much. Mary Ann

    Wow!! It certainly makes ME
    Wow!! It certainly makes ME feel better! What a wonderful turn of events for you...........takes my breath away!

    Congratulations on your extremely encouraging progress, and for sharing it with all of us!!!
  • norma2
    norma2 Member Posts: 479
    #7
    You are an inspiration!!
    Thanks for posting this wonderful message. It reinforces my belief that positive attitude makes things so much better. Looking back on my own diagnosis and pathology reports I had it is frightening. Back then my attitude was that something was going to be done about the cancer so I could go on with my life. And it was done and I have gone on. Much healthier. I feel great 2 yrs past diagnosis Stage IIIC Grade 2. To newly diagnosed ladies there is hope.
    Love all you gals....I pray for all of us. Often.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #8
    norma2 said:

    You are an inspiration!!
    Thanks for posting this wonderful message. It reinforces my belief that positive attitude makes things so much better. Looking back on my own diagnosis and pathology reports I had it is frightening. Back then my attitude was that something was going to be done about the cancer so I could go on with my life. And it was done and I have gone on. Much healthier. I feel great 2 yrs past diagnosis Stage IIIC Grade 2. To newly diagnosed ladies there is hope.
    Love all you gals....I pray for all of us. Often.

    evertheoptomist
    i'm interested to know where you are located, and where is the trial you're in? how's it going?

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • evertheoptimist
    evertheoptimist Member Posts: 140
    #9
    maggie_wilson said:

    evertheoptomist
    i'm interested to know where you are located, and where is the trial you're in? how's it going?

    sisterhood,
    maggie

    maggie,
    I am in NJ. The
    maggie,

    I am in NJ. The trial is a phase I trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

    However, it is for ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal - all ovarian related.

    Luckily, my hospital pathologist disagreed with my gyn onc's diagnosis and put "ovarian" on my file. This opened a lot of doors for me.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    #10
    evertheoptimist said:

    maggie,
    I am in NJ. The
    maggie,

    I am in NJ. The trial is a phase I trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

    However, it is for ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal - all ovarian related.

    Luckily, my hospital pathologist disagreed with my gyn onc's diagnosis and put "ovarian" on my file. This opened a lot of doors for me.

    evertheoptomist
    i have close cousins in tenafly, and blairestown, n.j, though never been there myself. that's so great that the hospital pathologist disagreed with your gyn onc's diagnosis, so that these doors opened for you. hoping all goes well with the trial, and there's not a control group getting placebos.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571
    #11
    Thank you!
    You make a good point. Many of us may have read our records and then put them away. You are truly and fighter and survivor! Thank you for posting your experience and reflections. You are an inspiration sister!
    Lori
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #12
    Northwoodsgirl said:

    Thank you!
    You make a good point. Many of us may have read our records and then put them away. You are truly and fighter and survivor! Thank you for posting your experience and reflections. You are an inspiration sister!
    Lori

    Your screen name says a lot about you
    And may your good health continue!

    Suzanne

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