The Body of Cancer

Having cancer is truly an experience you can’t really share because everyone’s body is different – everyone’s cancer is different. The stages are different meaning you can be stage 1-2-3-4. It is difficult to talk about. I watched m mother and sisters go through it, and I never thought it would hit me. I kept hurting in my lower part of my body. I went to the doctor, and they kept giving me all kinds of medication – just guessing with my life. Then I went to the GYN Department; thinking since I am a female, they might could help me. They did a biopsy on me, and something came back positive, but they said it was nothing a little cream could cure. I used the cream for about a month – the problem was still there. I decided to make an appointment to be seen in the Gastroenterology Department. My baby sister Raynell encouraged me to go there because they had helped her.

I had an upper gastrointestinal and a GI Endoscopy. This is a test that allows your doctor o look at the inside of your esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small intestine (called the duodenum) before any procedure is done. The procedure lasted about 20-30 minutes, and from there I went to recovery room. Completing this test where a tube was placed down my esophagus with a small light at the end of it and…..OMG – They found my problem. All this time I was going to my doctor and Gyn and it took the Gastro Department to locate and identify where the cancer was.

I had the surgery procedure done. Doctors had to remove six inches of my intestines, and they informed me they got it all (the cancer) out. I didn’t know whether to cry or shout so I did both. I had been through so much. (This was all 2018). Part of the recovering from this procedure was that I had to have five rods placed in my spine. If I hadn’t I was told I would be wheelchair bound. Not wanting that, I completed this surgery. God is good.

I currently have a hernia in my stomach (hiatal hernia) and reflux disease (Gerd) which can be an ulcer or cancer. Some of these conditions are benign and easily treatable, but I had to go through a lot just to get an answer. Doctors initially wanted to do surgery on the hernia, but they couldn’t – why?… The cancer had returned, and this time in my lymph nodes. It is a rare cancer but can be cured. I’ve been back on chemo for about a year now. There is no timetable, but the doctors say that the chemo is helping towards moving into remission.

I’m now 70 years old. I know tomorrow isn’t promised, but I’m not going to sit around and wait for doctors to act like they care. I’m going to tell my story. I love my body, and it’s sad to say that there are some doctors that care and some that don’t. My doctor only gives me pain medication, but I don’t give up. I have had X-rays, GIs, Pet Scans, MRIs – you name it, I’ve had it.

This is my life. My goal is to obtain my AA Degree in Child Development and to be able to live my life. My mission of The Body of Cancer is I hope that seeing or hearing my story may help someone fighting cancer. Don’t ignore the sounds of your body. We only get one, so please take care of it. This is my Story – This is my Life.