MMMT Stage 3C1 - 5 Year Survivor today

As of today I am five years clean from Stage 3C1 MMMT (carcinoma sarcoma) Uterine Cancer.  

I was 55 when I was diagnosed.  Tumor in Uterus was stage 1A but I had 2 microscopic cells in 1 lymph node so it was upgrade to stage 3C1. 

Very brief history, I was post-menopausal in 1992 at age 36. In 2004 started spotting again went to my regular gynecologist Dr. Connie Roberts at UT Southwestern Medical Center performed a D & C and everything was normal and clear.  I had yearly PAP’s and in Sep 2010 had a colonoscopy which was normal. 

March 7, 2011 started bleeding and intense pain. Went to regular gynecologist Dr. Roberts she performed another D&C with hysteroscopy March 25. The results went to pathology.

April 1, 2011 got the call from Dr Roberts that the pathology report was back and it was cancer. 

She scheduled an appointment Monday 4 April with a gynecologic oncologist at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center on the North Campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center.  Dr. Jayantha Lea is a Gynecological Oncologist doctor and was chosen for me.  She is a God send and remains my doctor today.  She is patient and caring and takes time to explain everything. 

On April 8, I had a total abdominal hysterectomy with the uterus, tubes, ovaries, cervix removed including the Omentum.  I started chemotherapy treatment with Carboplatin / Paclitaxel on May 6, for 6 treatments every 21 days at the Cancer Center.  Day 14 after the first treatment I lost my hair in clumps then buzzed it with a #1 electric razor then later used shaving cream and a razor to shave it bald.

Last treatment day was 22 Aug 11.  To celebrate my five year mark I went a got my very first and probably last tattoo to mark the milestone.  It is a butterfly with a peach ribbon and a roman number V.  I have to admit it hurt like the dickens but I figure I have come through cancer and I can make it through this too. It is my new picture.  

One thing I learned from all of this is to keep a positive attitude.  I went into this journey as OK, I have cancer, let’s take care of it, get it out, get the treatments and move on.  I found out that I was stronger than I thought I was.  Yes I had a few bad days but on the whole it was positive.  One thing I tell women that ask me questions about what my symptoms were and how did I know something was wrong, the answer is no one knows your body better than you, keep in tone with it.  When something just does not feel right go to your doctor.  If the doctor just says you’re going through the change and you do not like that answer find another doctor that will listen to you and your concerns and actually will run some test to determine if anything is going on.  Do not just take the answer that nothing is wrong.  Prayers and good luck to everyone that is on their journey through this thing called cancer.

trish