These posts are carried over from my original MyLifeLine page where I updated friends and family on my battle. I've now made them public and brought them to this blog because all cancer survivors have a story to tell. May mine encourage someone in their journey.
The ER doctor referred me to the OBGYN at Schneck, Dr. R. I had been told it would take up to a week for him to call me, but he called the next day. He was concerned and didn't hide it, but he also explained a few things the mass might be other than cancer. I will forever be grateful to him that he had the wisdom to immediately refer me on to the gynecologic oncologist at Acension St. Vincent. The mass was too large for laparoscopic, he told me, and if it was cancer, it would make no sense to have to have two surgeries in short succession.
He tried to impress upon me the need to have the ovary out. Each step of the way, people have assumed that I would be distraught over the loss of my fertility. What most people don't know about me is that I felt like I lost my fertility long ago. My pregnancies were incredibly hard, requiring medication throughout and sometimes IV fluids because of a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidum. Long story short, I am very fortunate to have the two beautiful kids I have.
When I told him I would happily give not one, but two ovaries, a uterus, and both fallopian tubes, he seemed a bit relieved.
Again, I was told it would be two weeks before I would hear from the oncologist. The reasoning was that the doctors at the oncologists' office have a board review before they accept new patients. However, it was scheduled within days. When I spoke to the woman who called, I told her what an answer to prayer it was that I was getting in as quickly as I was, she replied, "I'm just glad they brought me your file when they did. I was getting ready to be done for the day and you'd have waited until the next week if I hadn't gotten it."
Meeting with Dr. C again put our minds at ease. My leg shook so hard waiting for him to come in, I thought Bronson might have to hold me down. After talking with me about my medical history, Dr. C thought it might even be advanced endometriosis, so I breathed a sigh of relief.
He, too, seemed relieved that I was willing to lose all of my reproductive organs. "I'm glad to hear you say that," he said. "A lot of women want us to save them, but it sometimes can't be done."
At the end of the appointment, he noticed my shirt. I wore a Walk In Love shirt that says, "God is good all the time." I wore it specifically for the reminder, because the anxiety was eating at me day and night in the days leading up to this appointment. Dr. C said, "God is in control. We're going to be praying."
It's strange that I never considered how many people in the medical profession are Christians. Maybe you have to have some sort of faith working in that field. Maybe, these were just people that were placed in my path because I needed them right then. Either way, I'm grateful they were there.
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