I was diagnosed with cervical cancer on September 7, 2004. I went to the doctor for
regular check ups, and my pap smears were always normal. I went back and forth to the doctor from May until September.
I asked her if I had cancer and she said "no." I knew in my heart that I had cancer because I lost a lot of blood during
the summer. The doctor missed it. It was already Stage 2B and a mass about 5 inches. I was
floored. I thought that I was going to die. The doctor told us that it was very aggressive and I would be dead
by Christmas. I had a hard time understanding why me. I was not permissive. A virus causes cervical cancer.
I was angry. I had an 8 year old that I was not sure if I will get to see graduate from high school much less college.
I had a D & C and a cone biopsy on September 7, 2004. I started radiation
on September 30. It made me sick. I had my first chemo on October 1 and the last one on October 29.
The last 3 made me very sick. I could not even take my daughter trick or treating. My last radiation was November
6.
I had to have 2 in hospital radiation implants to kill the last of the cancer on November 12-14 and November
29 & 30. I was in isolation because I was radioactive. I hated it. I had to lie on my back, and I have
back trouble so that wasn't fun, and I was all alone. I was in the hospital on Tony's birthday. He could not take
me to the hospital, so his best friend, Brian did.
I went to my radiation doctor on December 30, and I am cancer free. I
went to my gynecologist/oncologist on January 17, 2005, and she said that I was cancer free. I am
so much relieved. I was scared for a while.
My sister Peggy has breast cancer. She was
diagnosed just
before Christmas.
I thank everyone that prayed for me, and my husband. He is the greatest man that I know. He
was there for me every step of the way. He encouraged me through the rough spots. I hate the fact that we
cannot have any more children, but he said that he had rather have me alive and healthy. I wanted more children, but
I am glad just to be alive. I only missed 3 Fridays for the chemo, and the in hospital stays. I worked everyday
and did not tell my students that I was sick until it was over.
I wrote a book from Caitlyn perspective and made it an AR book for students at
my school to read and take a test on. I wrote it on the 5th grade level so anyone in the 4th and 5th grade could be
able to read it. Students would come up to me and tell me about a member in their family that had the cancer.
Sometimes students do not understand that teachers face the same problems that everyone else has.
It helps them to relate with us.
I went back to Vanderbilt Medical
Center. Everything is still looking good. I am 6 months and
still cancer free. I will feel better when I reach the year mark and even better, when I reach the 2-year mark. October 2005
My sister is cancer free, too. I am doing fine. I have to go to doctor
every 3 months. I am one year free now Yeah! February 2006
It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with cancer. I still
have some rough days. I still get tired easy at times, but I am still hanging in there. I am healthy for the most
part, but if something does not seem right, I make the doctor order some tests. I do not mean to be rude, but what
I went through with the cancer and it was all because of a doctor's negligence, and I decide never again. I will not
sit back and allow a doctor to influence me that it is all nothing. Yeah, cancer was nothing. Let them go through
it and see that it is nothing. They will be changing their tune. I am still a little bitter with it, but I live
with the side effects everyday with hot flashes, tiredness, and know that I will never be the same again. It still hurts now, but I know in ten or twenty years from now, it will not matter.
July 29, 2007
June
2007, I went back to Vanderbilt. I am doing fine. Tony is having a rough summer. He tore his bicep off his
elbow in March. Doctors fool around and he had to have a
Cadaver’s bicep. He had surgury
June 4. He has had a rough time with it.
July
2008, I am doing fine. Tony and I both went back to the doctors at Vanderbilt. His arm still hurts him.
I am doing fine. Hot flashes are still nasty.
I
went back to the doctor at Vanderbilt on June 17, 2009. Everything lookded great. I will be cancer free
for 5 years in December. I am so excited. I do not have to go back to Vanderbilt. Now if something comes
up, I will not hestitate to go back. I don't have the anger that I had. I am thankful to be healty and alive.
Caitlyn is 13 years old now. We are as close as ever and hope to remain so. There is no need for me to stay angry
because she will need me during her teenage years and if I stay angry then I can't be what she needs the most - her mother.