I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2016. The diagnosis was a complete surprise. I had been for my usual annual gynecological exam and always received healthy results. There was some need to urinate frequently – but I had always had that issue which began in my youth. Managing and maintaining my health has always been a priority. I was unaware that ovarian cancer was not detected via my usual check-ups and had no idea of the possible symptoms.
I had played 18 holes of golf three days in a row with some friends and discovered a knot in my abdomen. I thought it was simply a pulled muscle from golfing. After noticing the knot was not going away and becoming painful, I went to my general physician who scheduled CT scan. That led to a referral to an oncologist who did another CT scan. Upon the results of that scan, I was scheduled for surgery for what was thought to be a benign cyst. After waking up from debunking surgery, I was told I had stage 3 ovarian cancer. Shocked at this finding, I had a port placed and began chemo.
Having faith in God, an extremely strong family support as well as many friends to assist gave me the will to power through the difficult circumstances, of this disease. With the hope that by raising awareness, there will be an early detection test and other treatment options. Sometimes when I think back to when I was first diagnosed, I try to recall if there were any other symptoms I noticed (now that I know the signs and symptoms) and how things may have worked out differently had I been aware of the symptoms then, or better still if it could have been detected before I even had symptoms. My prognosis
would have undoubtedly been better and instead of going through extensive debulking surgery followed by months of chemotherapy – I may have simply had a hysterectomy and continued with life. An early detection test would have allowed me to do this.
Today, I have had no evidence of disease, and I praise God for that. My passion is to bring hope to the future to make others aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Currently there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and science is so important to this crusade. The problem with ovarian cancer that it is not talked about enough. People don’t know enough about it, so it becomes the silent killer. Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are either dying too quickly or they are not well enough to educate others. That is why my mission is to talk about this disease while I’m still alive, while I can make a difference, while I can help contribute to raise awareness. I’d like to see an early detection test; to keep women from being a victim to this disease. We need people to be voices and to get involved. Ovarian cancer can be cured. Hopefully with everyone’s support of time and money, science can accomplish this. My hope is to spread awareness of the signs and symptoms and to help find early detection screening. As in my case, had I known the signs and symptoms or had there been an early detection test, I may not have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, stage 3.
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