Testimonials

Michelle's Story

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In the Spring of 2011, I was 46 years old and thought I was perimenopausal. I had many of the symptoms used to define that stage in life. My symptoms included fatigue, more frequent periods, feeling full quickly, mood swings, trouble sleeping, and some hot flashes. Thinking that some of this was due to my weight, I decided to get more active. I always loved to play volleyball, so why not sand volleyball. Some friends at work had a team and I was graciously asked to play. The first night I dove into the sand and seconds later I had pain radiating throughout my abdomen. It was not relieved by standing, sitting, or lying and it was more difficult to breathe. I called a friend with emergency care experience who recommended I go to the emergency room. My daughter, who happened to be home from college and with me that evening, drove me there.

 

It was about a 20 minute ride, but by the time we got to the ER parking lot the pain had subsided and I didn’t think I needed to go in. I mentioned that I thought I could go home when she pulled out her best “mom” look and said I better get into the ER. (Wow! I taught her well)

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My husband met me there. My son was on a mission trip. After a few more incidents of radiating pain and my first experience with IV dye, they sent me home with an OBGYN appointment in 2 business days. My niece gave me a ride to the appointment and we met my husband there (5/26/11). We were told I had huge cysts on my ovaries and it may be cancerous. My OBGYN told me “It is what it is” and NOT to read anything on the internet. My surgery was scheduled 20 days later (6/15/11). I remember trying to keep it together so I wouldn’t scare my niece on the ride home. We didn’t know exactly what would be found so we waited to tell our children until after surgery. Surgery included a complete hysterectomy with cavity flushing and testing of the cysts that had also attached to the lining of my uterus.

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My husband was at my side the entire time I was hospitalized. I woke up with an abdominal binder, NG tube, compression on my legs, and more than a little drug induced drowsiness. My surgeon and OBGYN had told my husband that I had stage 3 ovarian cancer. They took it all out but to be extra safe I would have chemotherapy after 8 weeks of recovery from surgery. We then told our children the news, which was much more hopeful than we initially thought, but just as well a kick in the gut for them. Trials and tribulations along the way made this time drag on. Asking for help would have aided my progress, but I was not good at that. 

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My first session of chemotherapy (8/11/11) proved to be a little troublesome. As the nurse was explaining how I might present if I had an immediate reaction to the medication, BAM, I did. The pharmacist was at my side in an instant with medication to help me through this. I scared the other people in the therapy room waiting for their chemotherapy. 

So, every 3 weeks for 6 sessions I headed to chemotherapy, premedicated to avoid this reaction again. My family, friends and coworkers helped me greatly by keeping my life as “normal” as possible. I was also very fortunate to be a part of the Mosinee High School soccer “family” that kept me occupied watching some excellent soccer. 

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I completed my course of chemotherapy successfully (12/8/11). A little fear of IV line placement/needles took a few months to subside. I had NOT looked anything up on the internet and all was well! I am incredibly blessed to be one of the survivors of Ovarian Cancer.  I thank God, Radar, Sarah and Leigh without whom I would not have made it through this ordeal. I also thank those extended family, friends, and coworkers that have really taken the time to care. 

 

Love,

Michelle

 

My goal is to give back to my community by supporting families and patients on this journey, providing education and awareness about ovarian cancer with the hope of finding a way to diagnose and treat this sneaky silent killer through supporting research.