SEPTEMBER IS
NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
MY PERSONAL
JOURNEY by Liz Anderson
My mom was 40 years old when she died from
breast cancer. I was 15 that February. I mention her first because even though at
the time, I thought it was all about my grief, I now realize her loss was so
much greater. I lost my mom. She lost everything she loved.
Females in
my family from multiple generations had been diagnosed with cancer and we were
all well aware it was in the DNA. Most
had died before the age of 40. My mother
and I did not share coloring, she was a brunette and I was a golden
blonde. What we did share was a common
body type, straight up and down with itty bitty breasts. While geneticists claim similar body type has
nothing to do with passing on cancer, I was watchful.
When I
reached adulthood, I made it my mission to be proactive. I would take charge of my own health. At 30 I began getting mammograms. Some of my doctors doubted my wisdom, but I
did not. At 40 I rejoiced at the fact
that I had made it so far with no signs of cancer. I got a passport, changed jobs, and began to
focus on doing more than surviving. At
50 the celebration continued. I looked
young for my age. I was healthy, fit,
and had a positive attitude about life.
I was living it!
When I was 52 I went for my annual gynecological exam and to schedule my yearly mammogram. Before I had always had mature graying male doctors with years of experience under their belts. One was recognized as the Best OB-GYN in New Orleans Magazine. This time I walked into the office and was met with someone completely different; young, recently graduated, female, Black. Well, wasn’t this a change.
After
completing my examination, I followed her into the office as I had always done
before. She told me during the pelvic
examination she felt a little something, and she was scheduling me for a
vaginal ultrasound. To me this was no big
deal; probably just a fibroid. I felt
great. I’d gone through menopause with
absolutely no problems. And so, on that Halloween
afternoon, I went to my appointment at Ochsner Main Campus. It was an easy test
with smiling radiologists.
Halfway
home, 20 minutes later, I received a phone call in the midst of a traffic jam
in front of the Superdome. It was Ochsner
calling to tell me they had found a mass on my ovary and had scheduled me for a
CA125 blood test and to see a gynecological oncologist the next day. The next day?
That was so fast!
The female
oncologist asked me questions about ovarian cancer symptoms. Do you have any of the following?
§ Abdominal bloating, indigestion or nausea
§ Loss of appetite or feeling full sooner
§ Pressure in the pelvis or lower back
§ A more frequent or urgent need to urinate
§ Changes in bowel movements/Constipation
§ Increased abdominal girth
§ Tiredness or low energy
§ Changes in menstruation
I had none of these except
for a very small belly when I fastened my seat belt. She asked about my family history of
breast/ovarian cancer. She asked, if my
doctors had ever mentioned that ovarian cancer is also on the mutated breast
cancer genes and if any had recommended genetic testing. No, they never had.
She was visibly angry and
told me that this has been a persistent problem in the OB/GYN field. She mentioned that if I had been screened for
the BRCA1 or 2 breast/ovarian cancer mutation, and tested positive, all of this
could have been avoided with a prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral
mastectomy after completing my family.
Now I was angry! Supposedly I had
gone to the best doctors in the New Orleans area. I had gone to a breast cancer
specialist. No one ever mentioned the
breast/ovarian association or the possibility of genetic testing.
She told me with my family history I should
have been recommended to a gynecological oncologist for my annual visits rather
than simply going to an OBGYN. She also
said I should have been presented the choice of genetic testing,
On my 53rd
birthday, I received the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. I had the genetic test for BRCA1 & 2 and
the results showed I had a 60% chance of developing ovarian cancer and an 89%
chance of developing breast cancer. But
it was too late. I already had received
the ovarian cancer diagnosis. After completing
my first course of chemo I chose to get rid of those itty bitties. Suffering
through one cancer was enough. And my replacements were bigger!
September is National Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month, and yet, few people even know that teal is the color of
OC awareness. Breast cancer gets all the
attention when it comes to women’s cancers.
Everyone loves and wants to save the tatas. Even football players wear
their pink cleats in October. Ovarian
Cancer is the ugly stepchild that no one pays attention to and pats on the
head. After all, it’s called the cancer
that whispers.
Ladies, if you have a family
history of breast cancer, be wary, be resourceful, ask questions, and Google
ovarian cancer as well as genetic testing for BRCA1 & 2. I know now that 3 of my female relatives died
from ovarian cancer, but because it was a “female part” it was never
discussed. Not even in the family, and
sometimes, not even with GYN patients.
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