To be honest, cancer was the furtherest from my mind. I started bleeding Vaginally towards the end of January. I was a bit concerned because I had well and truly started Menopause quite a few years ago.
Naturally, I got an appointment to see a GP (my regular one had gone on annual leave).
The GP told me that it was probably nothing, but advised me to have a pap smear (which I had successfully avoided for 28 years). I also had an internal ultrasound.
The pap smear came back clear, my relief was almost palpable.
Then for the ultrasound, that was a whole lot more than I bargained for. I'm a fairly private person where my body is concerned. At least it was a woman performing the procedure. But to have the ultrasound wand (the long thin one), introduced up my vagina was extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing, to say the very least.
The technician advised me at that time that I had a large uterine polyp which was causing all the bleeding, but thankfully she could not see any sign of cancer. Thank goodness, that put me comfortably in the clear.
Therefore, I wasn't at all concerned when I had to wait a considerable amount of time to see a Gyno. We have a Gyno clinic here at the hospital for Medicare patients.
When I finally did get to see a Gyno all my concerns were set aside by him. Yes, I certainly did need to have that troublesome polyp removed and hopefully within a month. But, he had never seen them come back cancerous. That really put me at ease.
I got in to have the surgery in five weeks. Boy, would I be pleased when this bleeding stopped.
I went off to theatre in a positive mood and felt thankful when I awoke that it was all over.
Little did I realise it was just starting.
Apparently the lining of my uterus didn't look "normal", so it was sent to pathology with a rush placed on the diagnosis.
Three days later I got a call, the head Doctor wanted to speak with me.
My hubby and I attended the visit. To say that we were concerned was a huge understatement.
The Gyno turned to us and as frankly as possible, said that the tests had come back positive for high grade cancer.
Oh Lord, no. Tears sprung to mine and bubby's eyes. We both sat numbly as the ins and outs of my illness were discussed.
We didn't hear much except the word cancer.
Two weeks later, that word is still ringing in our ears.
How do we cope, how do we manage, how do we tell the kids, I don' want to die. All these questions were spinning in our heads.
Now the fight begins.
