Julie was in her late 50’s when she started experiencing spotting which progressed to heavy bleeding. This continued for 3 years. She recalls her primary care physician telling her, “It’s ok. Some women just do that.”
The problems did not end there, however, as her left leg started to become weak and swollen; she was unable to bear weight. Julie went to the doctor again and recalls being told, “It’s ok. You’ve just overdone it, that’s all.”
Julie had her share of things not being “ok” in her life though. At 29 years old she became a breast cancer survivor and had to undergo bilateral mastectomies. She also lost her mother to gynecologic cancer. Determined to be absolutely sure that everything was ok, she convinced her doctor to do an abdominal ultrasound. The physician assured her the results were ok and that there was nothing to worry about. So, she didn’t worry. Her bleeding had even begun to slow and she believed the problem may be resolving itself.
A few months later, she was due for a PAP smear and decided to go to a gynecologist to have it done. She had been getting them with her primary care physician but had a feeling she needed to check with a specialist. The gynecologist informed her that the abdominal ultrasound she had previously was actually not “ok” and in fact showed a tumor that needed a biopsy immediately, which they were able to do during the appointment.
Three days later while waiting in a drive-thru lane, she answered the fateful phone call from her gynecologist: “I’m sorry to tell you. You have cancer.”
Utter devastation.
Everything began to happen quickly with a D&C to remove the tumor, a hysterectomy, and the discovery of the true story behind the cancer’s origin. It did not begin in her uterus but had actually started in her fallopian tube and metastasized to her uterus. The tumor was pressing on nerves and impairing the circulation of her left leg, causing the weakness and swelling she had begun experiencing months earlier. She felt as though she was living in a nightmare.
Fortunately, her gynecologist had sent her to Dr. Jay Carlson, an oncology gynecologist at Mercy, and he was able to remove everything affected by the cancer in a lengthy operation. She began her treatments with him and then Dr. Marcia Hernandez once he retired. Chemo was to take place once every week for 6 months with a then-undetermined amount of radiation.
Although lifesaving, the chemotherapy was anything but a cakewalk. Julie was unable to tolerate the full dose of the chemo drug prescribed for her due to kidney failure. She experienced continuous nose bleeds, sunken eyes and a gray appearance. Unable to care for herself throughout her treatment, her brother stepped in to take on the role of her caregiver. Feeling blessed, she credits her brother and being “surrounded by angels of mercy” for helping her make it through.
Six years have now passed with no recurrence of her cancer, and as Julie reflects on her journey, she has this to say, “Doctors aren’t perfect. We have to accept personal responsibility for our health and ask the questions. Get that second opinion. We have to look out for ourselves.”
The problems did not end there, however, as her left leg started to become weak and swollen; she was unable to bear weight. Julie went to the doctor again and recalls being told, “It’s ok. You’ve just overdone it, that’s all.”
Julie had her share of things not being “ok” in her life though. At 29 years old she became a breast cancer survivor and had to undergo bilateral mastectomies. She also lost her mother to gynecologic cancer. Determined to be absolutely sure that everything was ok, she convinced her doctor to do an abdominal ultrasound. The physician assured her the results were ok and that there was nothing to worry about. So, she didn’t worry. Her bleeding had even begun to slow and she believed the problem may be resolving itself.
A few months later, she was due for a PAP smear and decided to go to a gynecologist to have it done. She had been getting them with her primary care physician but had a feeling she needed to check with a specialist. The gynecologist informed her that the abdominal ultrasound she had previously was actually not “ok” and in fact showed a tumor that needed a biopsy immediately, which they were able to do during the appointment.
Three days later while waiting in a drive-thru lane, she answered the fateful phone call from her gynecologist: “I’m sorry to tell you. You have cancer.”
Utter devastation.
Everything began to happen quickly with a D&C to remove the tumor, a hysterectomy, and the discovery of the true story behind the cancer’s origin. It did not begin in her uterus but had actually started in her fallopian tube and metastasized to her uterus. The tumor was pressing on nerves and impairing the circulation of her left leg, causing the weakness and swelling she had begun experiencing months earlier. She felt as though she was living in a nightmare.
Fortunately, her gynecologist had sent her to Dr. Jay Carlson, an oncology gynecologist at Mercy, and he was able to remove everything affected by the cancer in a lengthy operation. She began her treatments with him and then Dr. Marcia Hernandez once he retired. Chemo was to take place once every week for 6 months with a then-undetermined amount of radiation.
Although lifesaving, the chemotherapy was anything but a cakewalk. Julie was unable to tolerate the full dose of the chemo drug prescribed for her due to kidney failure. She experienced continuous nose bleeds, sunken eyes and a gray appearance. Unable to care for herself throughout her treatment, her brother stepped in to take on the role of her caregiver. Feeling blessed, she credits her brother and being “surrounded by angels of mercy” for helping her make it through.
Six years have now passed with no recurrence of her cancer, and as Julie reflects on her journey, she has this to say, “Doctors aren’t perfect. We have to accept personal responsibility for our health and ask the questions. Get that second opinion. We have to look out for ourselves.”