I'll never capitalize cancer

I have alot going on in my life, more than just cancer and chemo. Sure it's a big part of my life right now, but it's not the most important part of my life. You will never see me spell it with a capital "c".

I'm a Wife and Mom. I love my Family. I have good Friends. We do fun stuff and dumb stuff and sometimes we argue and then we laugh again. We go to work and to the grocery store and we go swimming and have birthday parties and get ready for the first day of school.

I keep saying that I don't want ovarian cancer to define me, but sometimes I just can't help it.

A good friend put it this way for me "cancer may be defining your life for the moment, but it is not your entire life. You seem to just make time for it." That made me feel better.

If you want to see it from the beginning, my cancer story begins in March.

The rest of my story is happening now.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

I have Cancer

Two months since my last post.

Well, I have been feeling pretty lousy lately, and Friday I found out why. I have a cyst about the size of a large orange near my right ovary, fibroids in my uterus and a panus of tissue near my colon and small bowel. None of these are supposed to be in there.

I'm sad, scared and angry.

Fortunately, I am just down the road from the best cancer treatment facility in the nation - MD Anderson at the UT Medical Center in Houston, TX. And thanks to some help from Advocare VP Mike Wade and Advocare Sci/Med Board member Dr Judith Smith, I have a better understanding of this disease, the treatment and possible outcome.

Should I put this personal information out there for anyone and everyone to read? Of course!

We all know to do our monthly Breast Self Exam, and what to do if we find a lump. But do you know the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer? Do you know what to do about it?

I think it is important that I share my story. Not for drama but for awareness.

My first appointment at MD Anderson is Monday morning.

2 comments:

I'm Ashley B. said...

It's 1 am and I am just coming across your post about cancer which stopped me in my tracks. Teresa! I don't even know what to say except that I immediately prayed for you. Please keep me posted!

Advocare Teresa In Beaumont said...

Thank you. I am feeling the prayers from my good Friends and Family. They truly lift my spirit. I am so thankful to have such wonderful support from people who pray OUT LOUD for me.

It's all happening so fast.

I feel like I should document this to keep my Family up to date, because sometimes it's hard to talk about it on 10 different phone calls each day. And Abby needs to know. I just pray that in 10 years we will be looking back and reading this together.

I think that the blog could be cathartic for me, and hopefully help someone one else as well, to let there be more awareness to the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and what to do.

You know me, I think my Dr was a bit put out about me being so pushy about taking action, but I don't want to waste any time.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.