Suzanne Riddle

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  As most of you know. Suzanne was diagnosed with cervical cancer on February 18th 2019. She had been having some issues and was concerned that it wasn't normal menopause issues. Horrible cramps every minute of every day was the final straw. Thankfully she went to a wonderful gynecologist who actually listened and didn't dismiss it as menopause. He took four biopsies from her cervix. Each biopsy came back positive for cancer. Her doctor then moved very quickly to find out the extent of the cancer. Test results on Monday, CT scan on Tuesday  and finally the  preliminary diagnosis on Wednesday with the oncologist. Stage 2b cervical cancer that has spread minimally to the vaginal wall and cervical canal. At this point the doctors believe that they caught it early enough that they can " not just treat it, but cure it". Right now their plan of attack is external radiation 5 days a week with low-dose chemotherapy once a week for 5 weeks. After that, internal radiation and chemo once a week for 5 more weeks. A radical hysterectomy is not recommended because that would take away the protection from the radiation for the bladder, colon and other internal organs. They are doing a PET Scan on Thursday, February 28th to make sure of the extent and position of the cancer and also make sure no other area is affected. We will get those results hopefully when we meet with the radiologist on Friday, March 1st or the oncologist on Monday March 4th. At these appointments they will also set up the schedule for the radiation and chemotherapy. They have assured us that once the treatment starts, the pain will drastically decrease. 
  We will keep everyone posted with journal entries about any test results and treatments as well as how its going.
  Thank you for all of your prayers and wonderful words of encouragement and hope. Love you all!
UPDATE: The diagnosis has changed. They did not catch it as early as they thought and it has spread to the pelvic upper and lower lymph nodes. It is now classified as stage 3c cervical cancer.