Dawn Feiler-Nelson

Welcome to my CaringBridge site. I've created it to keep friends and family updated about my new wrestling match with cancer - this time it's ovarian (last time it was breast cancer).


WARNING:
Friends and Family ~ this ain't gonna be pretty. There may be some cussing, definitely some crying, probably some heavy drinking, possibly some barfing but THERE IS gonna be a FIGHT.




Around September 1, 2012 - Had some really bad junk food for lunch and ended up with a stomach ache. Didn't think anything of it, since the chemo back in 2008, I periodically get a crumby stomach ache that lasts a day or two but goes away without issue.

September 10, 2012 ~ Time for my annual "lady check up". During the examination Dr. Hutchinson (the obgyn) says, everything looks fine and asks how I'm feeling. I explain I've had the same bloated feeling and stomach ache now for 2 weeks. She suggests it's a gall bladder issue and that "I'm the right age" - whatever THAT means. She arranges an ultrasound for me later that day across the street at the hospital from her office.

After the ultrasound, the radiologist comes in and tells me I have ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity), my lymph nodes are enlarged, he's called Dr. Hutchinson, and she's expecting me back in her office right now. I cross back across the street to her office, she sits me down, pats my knee and tells me she's very sorry but I have cancer.

Needless to say, I was ASTOUNDED! I've done everything I'm supposed to do to keep cancer away:
1) bilateral mastectomies and lymph nodes
2) prophylactic chemotherapy
3) had my ovaries removed
4) I see my oncologist quarterly and get the appropriate scans
5) I eat an organic diet
6) I lost 25 pounds on Weight Watchers
7) I eat my supplements daily
8) Increased my vitamin D intake
9) De-stressed my life
10) Even quit drinking caffeinated coffee

I was amazed the doctor was bold enough to make such a diagnosis based on one ultrasound. I explained that I would be contacting my MD oncologist, my naturopathic oncologist, and my alternative oncologist to discuss this AFTER some additional testing. She said that was just fine.

September 11, 2012 ~ I have a CT scan and it confirms the ascites, and lymph issue.

September 17, 2012 ~ I have an ultrasound guided biopsy and during the biopsy, the doctor removes over a liter of fluid from my abdomen (Weight Watchers would be proud...I lost 3+ pounds that day).

September 20, 2012 ~ The results from the biopsy came back today. I have: Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma consistent with ovarian cancer. (go ahead and say that twice with gum in your mouth). In English:
~ it's cancer in my abdominal lining
~ it is NOT the same kind of cancer I had before
~ it is technically ovarian cancer but without ovaries involved

....like I said in my intro message, this isn't going to be pretty....