As I sat in the lounge chair with the IV finally firmly inserted into a less than welcome vein of mine following the fifth attempt by a very competent nurse to find a vein that still works, watching the poison called Chemo dripping into my vein, I decided I could not allow the month of October to end without acknowledging Cancer Awareness Month.
Today was my first day of another round of Chemo Treatment for the third time to try and hopefully stave off my stage 4 Ovarian Cancer for another three and a half years.
Cancer is a word that strikes fear in the mind of most everyone who hears it from their Doctor. If they are as lucky as me they find Dr. Paula Dhanda, Dr. Arthur Bikangaga, and Dr. Mark Turill to operate and follow up with Cancer treatment.
Many types of gynecologic cancers produce symptoms early enough for them to be successfully treated. But when the symptoms are ignored, the delay in treatment can prove to be fatal. Which is why women need to be vigilant about any symptoms they’re experiencing. We Women need to listen to our bodies more closely! If there is something that seems abnormal we must see our doctor. Chances are the symptoms aren’t cancer related, but it’s better to be safe.
I was diagnosed in April 2013 at a routine annual exam with my General Practitioner when I mentioned that I had just had a Mammogram but had not had a pelvic exam for a few years. He sat up an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner who reported finding a mass on what was left of my Ovaries after a partial Hysterectomy at age 37. A few days later Dr. Paula Dhanda confirmed and four days later Drs. Dhanda and Bikengaga performed surgery.
I was 74 at that time and with a few exceptions had lead a happy, healthy and blessed life. I had a great and loving family and too many dear and wonderful friends to count so if it was my time I was OK with it. However I had (still do) a long bucket list yet to fill, so my first thoughts and words were OK what do we do now and I decided to do whatever it took to stick around as long as possible. I had Cancer it did not have me.
I would be lying if I said it has not been an extremely trying, painful,sometimes depressing journey but I have tried to put a happy face on it. I am and always have been a very positive person so I wake up every morning promising to make it the best day possible for me and everyone around me. I encourage every one reading this to encourage the women in your life to continue insisting on having a pelvic exam as they are no longer recommended for women past a certain age. I would not be here to write this if I had not asked for one.
I now believe my Cancer was already growing when I was diagnosed with Diabetes in 2009 and believed it was the cause of my fatigue and other symptoms I now know are Ovarian Cancer symptoms as well.
Most of us have a friend or family member know of who has now is living with or succumbed to this terrible disease. To those who have lost someone my sincere condolences.
For me life is good and i hope to have the time to fulfill most of the items still on my bucket list!
As they say in my home town in Missouri, God willing and the creeks don’t rise.
Wanda Goforth Harris is a Hidden Valley Lake resident and member of Soroptimists International
