Cancer Journal 12: Next Steps

If I Can Do Cancer, I Can Do Anything - Surviving Cancer

Listen below to my Cancer Journal 12.  

I look back to when I was first diagnosed with cancer and I recall how terrified I was.  And I look at the profound effect having cancer has had on my life and is still having on me. 


Below is a link to a news story about the fact that Medicaid in Connecticut has been cut. So some cancer patients can no longer access radiotherapy. And this may particularly affect Black and Latina women patients.  This is what happens when there is no NHS.  This is why the junior doctors are on strike today.
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-ap-budget-deficit-medicaid-cuts-20160403-story.html

Listen below.  

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Black Women With Fibroids Face Higher Risk Of Endometrial Cancer

Black women and fibroids

Click here for my Cancer Journals. 

We have known for many years that Black women are more likely than other women to have fibroids.  Up till now, fibroids have been considered to be benign tumours, although they can cause problems including heavy periods, pain and infertility.  They are commonly treated by surgery and can lead to hysterectomy.  They can also be treated using herbal medicine. 

Now, a study from Boston University has shown that Black women with a history of fibroids have a 40% increased risk of developing cancer of the womb lining (endometrium). 

Click here to read more. 

Cancer Journal 9: Managing the Pain - Or Not

I had a complete hysterectomy at the end of May.  I just could not believe the amount of pain I was in afterwards. 

Listen below for more. 

See also:  Cancer Journal 8:  A Healing Process. 

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Cancer Journal 2: My Diagnosis

Continuing this blog series, “Cancer Journals”, named after Audre Lorde's classic The Cancer Journals.

Below is a letter I sent to my sister, who is a doctor, yesterday.  It is a bit technical, as it gives a few of the details of my diagnosis.

I saw the doctor at the hospital yesterday. I shall be having surgery on ----- and be in hospital for 4-5 days afterwards. The surgeon will be Mr. M----, who was the consultant I was referred to.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions. The cancer is inside a cyst which is either on my right ovary or in the peritoneum next to my uterus and ovary.  They are going to remove everything - my ovaries, womb and cervix, as well as some fat cells and some lymph nodes in the area. The cancer MAY have spread to the lymph nodes, but they are not sure.

They have not found a primary site for the cancer and are not sure whether the cyst is the primary. They expect to know more once the pathologist has examined the tissue.

I think that is pretty much all I know now.... I do find that the more information I get, the more upset I become, so I need to manage this.