Basketnut - Lori - Alumni Hostess 2007

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Basketnut - Lori - Alumni Hostess 2007

Basketnut - Lori - Alumni Hostess 2007

Date : 02-13-2005 - 06:00 PM - Readers : 2957

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Hi! My name is Lori and I was born in 1960. I married my high school sweetheart and had two children with my DH, a boy and a girl. I also have a grandaughter born in 1999 who is the light of my life!

I work as a Human Resources Manager in a large manufacturing plant. I have been in the HR field for the last 18 years. My hobbies include spending time with my grandaughter, movies, gardening and of course basket collecting (hence my username).

My gyn history was very uneventful until I turned about 37. Every month my periods got harder and longer. Once the severe clots and anemia started I knew it was time to do something. I also had problems with some urinary stress incontinence. My GYN suggested a TAH along with a Burch Repair. I agreed, and it was performed on September 17, 2001. My GYN and I both agreed that because of my age (40) if my ovaries looked good, he would keep them. They looked fine, so they stayed. My diagnosis was adenomyosis. I had joined HysterSisters a few weeks before my TAH and hung around lurking on the boards for a few months after my hyst.

My life was fairly uneventful until June of 2004. I had been treated by my GP for years for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But in June of 04, I knew that what was going on was more than IBS. My only symptom was a very swollen and distended abdomen. My GP ordered a CT scan which came back showing a softball size tumor on my right ovary. Within one week I had been seen by a GYN/Oncologist who performed my surgery almost immediately. My diagnosis was Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. What a shock to me and my family.

I began chemo on July 22, 2004 and finished November 4th. I worked full time thru my chemo other than the day of and usually a couple of days after. I did very well with chemo (taxol and carboplatin), with my worst side effect being neuropathy which I am still dealing with. At the end of November I had my post chemo CT scan which showed another 2 cm. mass in the same area as my ovarian tumor. So, back in for a second look surgery on December 2, 2004. All was benign, what a wonderful Christmas present for me and my family.

In the fall of 2005, my CA125 began creeping up slowly. On December 30th of 2005, it was decided that I was indeed in a reoccurence phase and I began single agent carboplatin, finishing in April of 2006.

In July of 2006, my DH of 27 years began experiencing stomach pains and eventually was diagnosed with gastroesophagial cancer. Only 6 weeks after his diagnosis he passed away. It has been devastating for our entire family. About a week before my DH passed away, my CA125 jumped up to 229. So, once again I was started on single agent carboplatin. In November, my CA125 began rising again, so I received a new chemo called Taxotere. This regimen was totally ineffective and my CA125 jumped to an all time high of 468. I am currently on Carboplatin and Avastin and should finish in early 2007.

Although I continue to battle this disease, I am enjoying my family and life to the fullest. Life for me has changed for the better since my cancer diagnosis. I know it is hard to understand it, but it is true.

So, in June of 2004 I was back to this wonderful website for encouragment and support. But, this time I wasn't on the Post Op boards, I was visiting the Cancer Concerns Forum. What a wonderful group of women. I have been truly blessed to have each and every one of them in my life. It is truly my pleasure to give back to all that have given so much to me by hostessing on the Cancer Concerns Forum. If I can be of help to anyone, please feel free to email me.

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