When we lost our mother in January 2015, 3 weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, my sister and I made a pact to get screened from head to toe for any and all types of cancer. I just needed to get health insurance. Unfortunately, I went through one life changing event after another and rebuilding my life took center stage and fighting cancer got pushed to the back burner.
November 2016, I had a standard physical, pap smear, stress test and blood work right away when my insurance kicked in. That was as far as I went. Then in July 2017, my feet go fat. I spent 4th of July and my birthday, July 23rd, in the emergency room having all kinds of test ran trying to figure out why. Both hospitals diagnosed Peripheral Edema, or build up of fluid and sent me on my way. I didn't like that answer so I decided it was time to find a new doctor.
By referral, I went with Dr Goff and I couldn’t have made a better choice. It took him all of five minutes to read the hospitals diagnosis and my medical history to decide we needed to screen for cancer. He started by referring me to an OBGYN, Women's Imaging Center, Dermatologist and Genetic Counselor and he assured me there would be more to come.
Results… Ovarian cancer diagnosed Stage 1A, cervical negative and Breast Cancer diagnosed 0 TIS, NO, MO. Initially I withdrew as I went through the stages of grief and depression. I was in denial and I wasn’t ready to fight. I could wait a while and it would go away. My doctors didn't like that answer and decided I needed to move forward. Now. Early detection is everything.
Decision time. There are many treatment options available. I welcome everyone's input but please realize everybody is different and it comes down to personal choices. At this time, My preference is to forgo chemicals and radiation and opt for lifestyle changes and surgery. So I will be having a radical hysterectomy within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, as we wait for more results, I will be studying and researching options for prevention and /or treatment for the next battle.
I want to thank everyone for giving me the space I needed, for listening, for your prayers, love and support. I've attached some information for you to review. Because I love each of you, I promise to be relentless until everyone has a clean bill of health.
It's time to go All Carla on Cancer. Together, We got this
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey. Learn more about CaringBridge.
