Well here we are. I can’t say 2023 is off to a good start. Not long after coming back from visiting my family for the holidays I found myself in a tiny office at UCLA Medical with my boyfriend (Christian) and my surgeon, having a very intense conversation about which of my body parts she is going to remove.
They call Ovarian cancer “the silent killer” because in many cases it doesn’t present with any symptoms. You basically go in for a cough and you are already at stage 4, but luckily we caught it when we did and my young surgeon confidently continues showing us the CT scan imagery of my abdomen identifying the various regions that could be cancerous, but basically – we need to remove my entire omentum (the thin tissue that lines the abdomen), my ovaries, uterus, and some other areas. I could feel Christian’s now clammy hand squeezing mine tightly.
I’m reeling, but processing all the information to examine later, I keep replaying the first part of the conversation – That there is at least hope of a full remission, that there is a good chance that I could walk away from this thing and have a normal life again. And although it is going to take 3 months of chemo, followed by a major surgery and more chemo, at least there is a good chance.
Christian interrupts the intensity with “Hey, sorry, I think I’m going to pass out”. He was as white as a sheet. The surgeon called the nurse in to bring him back to vitality. Some fresh air, water, and smelling salts (who knew that was still a thing)… He recovered and we finished up and drove home.
So my New Year’s resolutions is to stay alive, to fight this thing as long and as hard as it takes, and to not loose hope. Health is everything, it is so easy to take for granted. Please, get yourselves checked out, especially if you are going through or about to go through menopause, be healthy, pay attention to your bodies, and encourage your loved ones to do the same.
Much Love,
Kate
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