How I Learned I Had Ovarian Cancer

How did I learn I had  Stage IV Ovarian Cancer? Well, I had pain for many years, and I remember as early as high school (01 graduate) being told I had Ovarian Cysts, which doctors wanted to regulate with birth control. They said it would alleviate the problem, but in college I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and cringe when I remember the pain of having cysts rupture on occasions. Despite the pain, I gritted my teeth and reassured myself this was my normal.

 After I married my husband, Benjamin, in October of 2008, I went to my family doctor, and once again reiterated my concern for the cysts, pain, and my new normal. He made a referral for me to see a very reputable OBGYN, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear it was the same doctor who delivered his children.

I appreciated the referral, I mean come on he delivered a doctor's children, he's gotta be good, right!?! I felt hopeful in his hands, and confident he would provide a solution to the pain and concern I'd carried for years. I met with the highly recommended doctor, and he told me there's really no way to know what is going on around a women's uterus and ovaries without having an exploratory surgery. This is basically true, however, a doctor can determine the difference between a cyst and mass in most cases. 

I was scheduled for surgery  immediately, and with exclusivity of the Dr. came my choice of hospitals, which was certainly impressive. The surgery was outpatient, and I came out with two small incisions. The doctor told my family I had an infection, and I was sent home with some serious antibiotics. On my follow up appointment the doctor walked in the room, and immediately and literally  said " well you're never having kids". 

I really heard nothing else after the doctor said those words, and left the office with  more of his antibiotics, but nothing ever got better. I found a NEW OBGYN who I really liked, and carefully reviewed the surgical notes to help me understand better what the doctor found during the surgery. She told me my insides where messed up pretty bad, and I had "clubbing" in my tubes that likely would prevent children. I told her I was still having pain, but she was adamant that I should not have another surgery until Benjamin and I decided if we would ever "try" for kids, because another surgery could damage everything. 

Fast forward to four years later, I had a big disappointment at work after trying for several promotions, and the heartbreak was exactly what I needed to shake me to demand answers. I researched options and received good recommendations on a SPECIALIST (key word), and when Benjamin and I met with Dr. Parekh, in August 2012, he immediately felt a mass on my ovary within seconds.... and he was concerned.

Dr. Parekh ordered an ultrasound and determined it was a mass, but he did not think it was Cancerous. The plan was to forgo a full hysterectomy for the time being, and remove as much ovary as necessary to eradicate the problem. During the surgery the doctor found more than he bargained for, it was obviously Cancer, and it had spread to my uterus, tubes,  and now we know a metastasized mass. 

My regret in my journey towards diagnosis is looking back I should have questioned the first doctor. Not because of how he treated me after the surgery, but I should've questioned the referral in the first place. The doctor who delivered my physician's children was not a Cancer/Pre-Cancerous specialist. His office was decorated with pictures of all of the babies he had delivered over years, and I'm sure he would have been perfect if I'd been there to have a baby.

Looking back on the doctor's notes from my 1st surgery, it said I had a black cyst on my right ovary, which is where my Oncologist believes the Cancer originated.. So, it's  not certain, but obviously likely I had the Cancer during the exploratory  surgery I underwent surgery four years before my diagnosis. I don't hold any ill will towards the doctor, but do wish he would've been more sensitive and treated me nicer the last time I saw him, but then again, I wish there we a whole lot more people in this world who were a little nicer!!

Ovarian Cancer Awareness-

Teal is not just for Tarah or Tenaciously Teal. It is to remind us that Ovarian Cancer whispers, and is most often found in its' later stages, immediately decreasing a women's chances of survival. According to the Ovarian Cancer Coalition (2014), 70% of women with Ovarian Cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is in an advanced stage, and it's there're 22,000 new cases of Ovarian Cancer annually. Let's raise awareness together, and assist women in finding Gynecological Cancers early and before the disease progresses!

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms:

-Abdominal Bloating
-Indigestion or Nausea
-Feelings of Pressure in the pelvis or lower back
- Increased Abdominal Growth
-Feeling tired or low energy