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Linda Case-Dietrich  Submitted on 01/03/2001 |
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I was diagnosed in August 1999, just three months after my wedding to a wonderful guy. I had been experiencing vague abdominal discomfort which suddenly changed to hard "grabbing" pain when I stood up or got up in the morning. Because I had just started a new job and my medical insurance wasn't in force yet, I put off seeing a doctor for a few months after the symptoms became really noticeable. I made an appointment within a week of my insurance effective date, and I'm so glad I did.
Fortunately when I picked my medical coverage, co-workers suggested Mayo Clinic; and I listened. My first visit to my primary care physician resulted in a transvaginal ultrasound and referral to a Gyn. Onc., Dr. Javier Magrina. At that time, my abdomen was the size of a 7 month pregnancy. (Looking back at my wedding pictures, I looked like a 50 year old pregnant bride) My surgery was 10 days later and I was diagnosed with Stage IIIc epithelial cell ovarian cancer. My CA 125 before surgery was 450. After 6 treatments with Taxol and Carboplatin it dropped to 3.9. Second look surgery in May 2000 showed no evidence of disease. I feel very blessed in my medical treatment. I am now facing the challenge of dealing with how the cancer and chemo have changed my body, along with the possibility of recurrence, which is seldom out of my mind. I try not to dwell on it, but it's there just the same. Click here for Part Two
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