My friend was diagnosed positive cancer after her surgery which was performed on her birthday last month. It was a very sad day for her as the doctors removed both her ovaries, omentum , and 10 cm of her appendix. Ovarian cancer for years was called a "silent" killer — causing no symptoms until it was too late to be cured. Her primary doctor, who was an internist, ignored her when she told him that she endured weeks of sickness, knowing that something wasn't quite right with her. She was experiencing discomfort and indigestion after eating, her menstrual cycle suddenly stopped, an unexplained weight lost, feeling bloated and an extended back pain. She had all the signs, but the doctor didn't have a clue until she decided to see another doctor and was ordered to have an ultra scan check. Ovarian cancer is often already into its late stages, since the symptoms can be attributed to other causes and are non specific. It is often misdiagnosed as an intestine or gastric problem.The news about cancer hits her like a ton of bricks. It was devastating and totally unexpected, she just couldn’t believe it. She was diagnosed with a stage 3 Ovarian cancer and was recommended 6 cycles of chemo. Meaning that cancer is found in one or both ovaries and has spread to other parts of the abdomen. This is a serious challenge for anyone to endure and she didn't want to accept that she had an illness that seriously is fatal. My friend is now in self denial and she didn’t want her family to know the details of what went on and what is going to happen. At the same time she refused chemo and was thinking to look into the possibilities of alternative treatment. The thought of "poisoning" her body with chemo seemed overwhelming. She believed by choosing herbal therapy and because they are natural, they are obviously harmless. However, she overlooked the facts that a lot of herbal treatment have not been studied and has yet to be medically proven.
As a friend I tried to be supportive and advised her to think it over before she makes the decision she may regret later on. But then again everyone is entitled to choose what they wish to do. I know one of the best things I can do is just be her friend despite what she is going through and that I will be there for her. She really needs a lot of prayer, and a lot of luck. Anyway, I found this beautiful short poem to ponder ...
Money is the most envied,
but the least enjoyed.
Health is the most enjoyed,
but the least envied.
Life is strange...
9 comments:
Hmm.. jangan berhenti support her yah.. itu paling dibutuh kan sekarang.. Keep praying always :) God will show the way..
2 very important issues:1) When the appendix is involved tell her to look at the pathology report or get a 2nd opinion about the patholgy and make sure she was not misdiagonosed and has appendix cancer, specifically pseudomyxoma peritonei. My partner was diagnosed with stage 3b ovarian cancer - mucinous adenocarcinoma Oct 2001 and 3 1/2 years later on death's door, after going to another oncologist desparate because none of the chemos were working, we discovered she was misdiagnosed and she had appendix cancer that spread to her ovaries, not ovarian cancer that spread to her appendix. It was in the pathology report but ignored by her oncologist and surgeion. If diagnosed and treated appropriately, which may mean more surgery (MOS), she would have 85% chance of total remission. She can learn more about this disease at www.pmpawareness.org
2) Have her look at this site: www.thedcasite.com
While my partner is still surviving her ordeal of wrong diagnosis, her cancer had been mistreated for 3 1/2 yrs and they were unable to give her remission but gave her more time, supposedly about 2 years. Well, She is still active working full time and fighting her cancer and just recently started on this drug - NOT CHEMO - just a generic drug that has been around for 30 years called DCA. They are using it up in Canada, and the people that are taking it, many are having miraculous results from it by having stage 4 cancer tumors shrink right into remission. If I didn't see it in my partner's cancer, I wouldn't have believed it was possible. Her cancer after all these years is shrinking and with only pills and some supplements. The website has all the info about this drug, the studys and trials that are going on in Canada, and the fact that at least one clinic in Canada was given permission to treat patients with it, even though it is not been through trials, since it is already a known generic drub. My partner refused to give up from even her first diagnosis, did the chemo more times than I can count, and while she has been through a lot has had no regrets fighting cancer with chemo and whatever else she can try to kill this horrible disease. She feels her almost 7 year ordeal has been worth it and has had quality of life, although it hasn't been easy, and now for the first time in 7 years we feel she has hope of going into complete remission.
hi Elyani !
thx atas kunjungannya ke blog saya : http://doeljoni.blogsome.com
alamat email saya di ini_alamat_emailku-blog@yahoo.co.id
@Jane: thanks for dropping by and thanks for the well wishes.
@Doeldjoni : Mas, tadi saya sudah kirim email, mudah2an infonya dapat membantu teman saya ya. Thanks.
@Anonymous : thank you so much for your valuable information. Her Pathology report indicated that she had a Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma metastizing to the omentum, Complex Ovarian Cysts and Appendicitis Subacuta (minor degree of. swelling and/or hyperaemic serosal vessels of the. appendix). I guess she had more ovarian malignancy than a possible gastrointestinal cancer. But I did advise her to seek for a second opinion though since she herself is not too sure with her Oncologist. Right now she is still in the recovery process post her surgery.
About DCA, I do not believe we have that kind of treatment here in Indonesia. Most cancers are treated either with chemo, radiation, or a combo of medical and herbal treatment. Thanks again for dropping by. I really appreciate it.
We can never be too sure, it's always good to have second opinion if something isn't right. Especially if she feel sick.
El, hope your friend will be alright ya.
Keep on praying and always support her.
You write very well.
@Scarlett : thank you for your visit :)
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