Skip to the next year when I had a very watery discharge and seen as I was post menopausal I went to my GP who sent me for another scan and did bloods. A scan appointment, a painful hystroscopy and then a few appointments later I ended up with a diagnosis of both uterine and ovarian cancer which wasn't a surprise as mum had ovarian cancer before she died.
I ended up in James Cook University hospital having a hysterectomy in July 2017, key hole thank goodness. I was waiting for a nurse to help me out of bed and it took so long I did it myself with help from my husband. I slept in that chair overnight as it was more comfortable than the bed. Luckily I was discharged thr next day.
Then came chemo, hair loss, feeling sick and meeting some lovely people in the unit. I had radiotherapy and brachytherapy afterwards. This made me so tired.
I went back to work in June 2018 with 3 monthly oncology appointments with a consultant who is, once you get to know him, a helpful but can be quick asking his questions and doesn't tell you a lot unless you have a list of questions which is his quirkiness. A short while after I went back to work I went for a post nearer to home which I got and it's a great place to be. I told them at the start that I had had treatment for cancer and they were great with me. So I started on the 1st November 2018.
Roll into 2019 where I mentioned to the oncologist I was having issues with my abdomen with more pain than usual. A scan later showed spread to my abdomen so more chemo but a different kind. The spots as he called them reduced slightly but not enough to be in the running for chemo tablets. During this bout of chemo I was anaemic and had 3 units of blood.
So now what? Hormone tablets which, when I returned to work caused me breathlessness and when I was admitted to hospital a pulmonary embolism which they treated with injections for a couple of days. I had a scan the day after I went in which showed no PE but my logic was that the 2 heparin injections they had given me the evening before had got rid of it. I gradually became less breathless and was less tired at work.
Now 2020 and my adventure with the NHS during a pandemic. I had a feeling of pressure in my pelvic area. My appointment was cancelled in early April but it was getting worse so I pushed for an appointment and was quickly scanned afterwards. My cancer was now in my pelvis and abdomen. I am currently having chemo and have got hair loss but hardly any nausea thank goodness. I get tired very easily and get dizzy spells at the moment which scares me at times. I scare my lovely husband at times when I have dizzy spells and he worries about me which is only natural. I had to go to the hospital during the nightime before I started chemo and was catheterised during to me not being able to pee properly after an infection. Thank goodness that it was only in for 3 weeks. I went to see my manager at work who was great with me as she knew what had happened the year before. I was so emotional talking to her and her deputy but I couldn't have a more understanding workplace. I go in now and again to see them which is good for keeping me in the loop.
I now have less pressure in my pelvis and feel that I did the right thing pushing for an appointment as an appointment came through about a month ago which could have been that the cancer had spread more.
I am feeling positive about the outcome of the treatment atm but am anxious about my scan results which will be discussed at an appointment at James Cook on the 4th of September. We'll see what my oncologist says and go from there. Will it be worth all of the side effects I don't know but I try to stay as positive as I can do.
Thanks for reading the rambling of a 55 year old who does rabbit on a bit.