It all began the week of 9/11.  That date forever etched in my mind not only for the atrocity in New York but that was the beginning of my cancer journey.  As the twin towers collapsed my GP was telling me over the phone that he had arranged an urgent appointment with a specialist for Thursday 13th September 2001.  From then on I was on the conveyor belt unable to get off. I was admitted to hospital that day and within 10days had a major operation to remove all my female organs and omentum.  The good news was that the ovarian tumour although cancerous had been fully removed and hadn’t attached itself to any other organ. There were also no cancer cells other than within the womb and right ovary which were very early stage.  I was diagnosed as Stage 2C. Chemo followed as a precaution to mop up any unseen cells. Check-ups followed gradually increasing to every 12 months until November 2009 when I learnt it had recurred. 

Exploratory operation followed February and another major operation March 10th 2010.  Unfortunately this time I wasn’t to be as lucky.  The tumour was attached to both the bowel and bladder so was debulked, hernia repaired and I was stitched up.  I suppose the bonus was that I did not have to live with a colostomy but I had to live with the knowledge that I would never be rid of the ovarian cancer.

Another round of chemotherapy then followed and a trial drug ICON 6 but I never knew if I had the drug or a placebo. As I had no side effects I suspect it was the placebo. Thirteen months later my CA125 had started to rise and following a scan I was taken off the trial and another round of chemotherapy undertaken.  Twelve months later CA125 started to rise again and I am now on my fourth line of chemotherapy. This time a far more intense regime called the Rotterdam Regime.  I am in the middle of the treatment at the moment finding it very debilitating with the tiredness which is relentless. I have had an extra two weeks off as my blood level was too low but hopefully it will have recovered sufficiently for me to start again next Tuesday 12th March. 

Arriving between 8am and 8.30, bloods taken, wait for appointment with doctor, wait for blood results.  When all is okay I then progress to admissions where my canula is inserted into my hand. Anywhere between 3.30 to 4.30 I am shipped off to a ward where my overnight treatment will begin. Usually I am discharged after breakfast to continue the oral capsules at home for the 15 days between the three Tuesday treatments.  I have my scan scheduled for April 4th. 

As I am set to lose my hair for the third time I have decided to shave it off before it goes and raise funds for three charities.

 

OVACOME – This has been a support network for me throughout my journey and I have enjoyed the interaction with ladies who are all in the same boat with Ovarian Cancer.  We are therefor each other to offer words of comfort and exchange experiences.

 

TARGET OVARIAN CANCER - To raise awareness of this awful disease which does not have the profile of other cancers or the publicity and can be so easily misdiagnosed. MPs  have been lobbied and there are now pilot schemes in three areas ofEngland which are including Ovarian Cancer alongside Breast, Bowel and Prostrate cancers.

RADIO MANCHESTER £1M – This is an appeal to raise £1 million to provide a mobile chemotherapy unit at the Christie in Manchester for patients who have to travel someconsiderable distance at present to attend the Christie involving veryearly morning starts at a very traumatic time for the patient.

Please give generously to any of these worthwhile causes and make my head shave worthwhile

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