Wisdom after 20 years

At my 6-weeks check, the surgeon told me that everything looked good. No cancer - yet. They did see some changes in the lining of the uterus...

With my weight getting back to normal; with my lips no longer peeling and dry; with my energy restored... I am pretty sure I have avoided another 'cancer'.

Had to battle with my family doctor - a Mayo Clinic trained, well respected physician - when he casted doubts over my sanity wanting to have a prophylactic hysterectomy/oophorectomy. I did heed his advice to get a second opinion - I called my medical oncologist - who else would be better than the 'chemo' doctor who'd been overseeing the treatment of my breast cancer and recurrence for over 7 years?

But he did not initiated the preventive surgery. Why would he? He did not know about my Mother's Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Perhaps he did know. But he definitely did not know about my 2nd Brother's colon cancer surgery and chemotherapy past fall. Nor did my family doctor. Can't really blame them. How are they supposed to keep track on our family members whom they did not even know?

After two brain (tumor) surgeries and two breast cancer surgeries (with chemotherapy), I finally wised up and prescribed my own preventive measure. Thanks to all the 'on-line support' groups, I gained knowledge and learned from others' experiences. First, I requested for a genetic testing for BRCA. To the surprise of my oncologist, it came back with a 'Variant of unknown significance'. But he brushed it off since it was just a VUS. When the family doctor treated me as a hypochondriac and suggested me to seek a second opinion, I contacted the oncologist's office and let the oncology nurse know about my 2nd Brother's newly found colon cancer. There's a name of possible cluster: 'HNPCC' - I found on the Web. It stated that even if the genes weren't there, one is still susceptable just the fact that several members of the family already have those types of cancer.

The oncology nurse called me back and said the oncologist told me to go ahead.

Then one of my breast cancer support group members told me about this site. What a lucky girl I am! In addtion to all the needed information, I've received wonderful support from my fellow hystersisters.

But I did not see the 'cancer' support group until now. So I thought I would share my story along with some thoughts.

The first surgery I had was a brain tumor surgery that lasted 23 hours. I went through 30 days of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy after 10-day semi-comatose in the ICU. I called the ordeal my 40 days in the wilderness - just like the ancient Israelites' 40 years... It was a journey of my faith...

But we are human. Regardless how many miracles we experience, we still get distracted, we still think that 'we' are the ones who had won the battle...

I'm so appreciative of my family and friends. Yet they are also human. They have limits. We all do. And they know I am a veteran cancer fighter, they know I can take care of it... And I did!

I'm ready to start anew, ready for a 'normal', cancer-free life - again. After all, June 20th will be the 20th anniversary of my first major surgery. I am a wiser, more experienced cancer fighter. I know I will survive - and thrive!