Hi Everyone...
i have never joined online forums before but I am hoping to contribute to this community as well as get support from you awesome group of people...
I have been anemic for several years...thinking it was a family pattern, as my four other sisters had the same problem, and treated themselves effectively with iron supplements. This was unfortunate for me, as I assumed I only needed to take iron and I'd be fine! And that is what happened...I got my iron levels up and regained my stamina by taking iron three times a day.
However, after no other symptoms, at the end of February, I developed a bad pain in my lower right abdomen. I ignored to for two days, as it was the beginning of my menstrual cycle. Finally, on a Saturday, I drove myself reluctantly to a walk in clinic. When the doctor pressed on my abdomen I screamed and she looked at me with an ominous glance. Sent me off immediately in an ambulance without saying much else to me.
A long night waiting in the ER...back and forth with a CT scan and more waiting.. then I was told I'd be having an appendectomy right away.
At 4am, they cut did a laparoscopic appendectomy. I woke up in pain but smiling...thinking of the children's storybook, Madeleine. Appendicitis is common, and now I can brag about it happening to me!
There was a creepy looking photo next to my bed of the inside of my guts. I assumed it was the matter from the burst appendix...all crusty and gooey and sore looking. No one told me about that photo..I just proudly took it home and stuck it in my medical folder.
It wasn't until 2 days later that my surgeon finally connected with me and told me I had cancer. It came from my colon and perforated the tip of my appendix...releasing an unknown amount of cancer cells inside of my abdominal cavity.
Fast forward one month...I met with Dr. Martin Goodman at Tufts in Boston (I live in CT)..he may be doing the HIPEC in the summer...maybe not.
I begin Chemo tomorrow...Xeloda pills daily for three and Oxaliplatin IV once every 4 weeks.
I still have so many unanswered questions...such as: Why are they waiting to operate? What stage am I? Has it spread to any lymph nodes or organs?
I do have a small spot on my liver, but they don't know what it is...
And the chemo! I'm dreadfully nervous for my first session...still awake at 3:30am. My two huge dogs are sleeping with me..so that helps.
Is there anyone out there with a similar situation as mine? I know we are all unique, but no one else understands the feelings we have deep inside unless
one has experienced it as well. Family and friends are great, and I am so grateful for them...but they have their lives and I feel quite lonely.
Thank you for listening to this lonnnnnnnnng message... and I hope you all are sleeping peacefully!
xo