Survivor Stories

Stories of individuals, sharing information about their experiences so others may be more aware of early indicators or of what to expect along the way.

SURVIVOR STORY #1

My name is Sandi and I am a 34 year-old wife and mother. On December 7th, 2004, I was diagnosed with stage 1c mixed germ cell ovarian cancer. This is my story…

In December 2000, I married the most wonderful man in the world…my husband Rodney. We were headed to Denver, Colorado in 2 weeks to begin our new life together. His company was transferring us to Denver for 2 years for him to open a new office. I quit my job and decided to be a full-time wife and mother.

Six months later I became pregnant with my son. During my pregnancy I only gained 18 lbs. That was a concern to my OB/GYN, but she said for me not to worry. My doctor thought that maybe my thyroid was a little out of sync. After numerous tests, including a many blood tests, all seemed okay, except for an elevated alpha-feto protein level. She continued to monitor me bi-weekly through ultrasounds until my son was born.

My son was born on April 1st, 2002 after an induced 4-hour labor. He was finally here! We were as happy as could be that our new family had begun. I was a little nervous having to stay in the hospital for 2 nights. I had never been to a hospital other than to visit my aunt during her battle with Leukemia.

After 3 months, I became concerned because I was still bleeding. My OB/GYN did an internal ultrasound and discovered I had 3 fibroid tumors with the largest being attached to the lining of my uterus. She said this was causing the bleeding and that it should stop on its own (which it did). She also told me that “most African-American women have fibroids and not to worry. If they become bothersome, then we will look into a hysterectomy.”

February 2003, we moved back to St. Louis. It was wonderful to be around friends and family again! For the next year I continued to have no real problems from my fibroids. I told my new OB/GYN that I was concerned about my weight and sometimes the cramping in my lower right abdomen. She did and internal ultrasound and confirmed the same as my previous doctor in Denver, fibroids. She told me again that my choices were to deal with the discomforts or have a hysterectomy.

About 6 months passed and then I began to have really bad lower back pain, constant pain in my lower right side and I still weighed about 20 pounds less than my normal weight. I continued to tell myself, “ it’s just your fibroids. If you want to have more children, you just have to deal with the pain and discomfort”. So I did. During my annual exam the following Spring (2004), I just mentioned the discomfort and did not have an ultrasound.

Prior to that doctor’s appointment, I decided I was ready to return to work. I enrolled my son in full-time daycare and began to look for the “perfect” job. The only catch was, I was so tired all of the time and wondered how I would be able to run a household and work full-time.

As the summer wore on, I found a part-time job, 3 days a week. I loved working again and enjoyed the work I was doing. The fatigue, back pain and heavy monthly cycles did not pass. I just kept pushing myself.

In the fall, we decided to move closer to my husband’s job and found a beautiful home in Creve Coeur. We sold our home in 3 weeks and were all set to move on December 8th (2004). So I began to do all of the packing and sorting through junk we no longer needed. Everyday, I was so exhausted, I would sometimes just sit and cry. But, I thought, what did I expect…packing a 4- bedroom house with a fully furnished basement. I decided to quit my part-time job and focus on the move.

One week before Thanksgiving, my son had an asthma attack and we rushed him to the emergency room. Needless to say, my physical ailments were put on the “backburner”. I told myself I’d deal with my physical problems once we moved and after the holidays. Well, the pain just couldn’t wait any longer. The following week, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, my husband rushed me to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain.

In the ER they did a simple urine test. The ER doctor never examined my abdomen although I asked her several times. She told me I had a Urinary Tract Infection and prescribed antibiotics for the next 3 days. I took them and felt a little better, but I felt so full all of the time. By the third day, I felt like I could barely breath and my insides were very sore. I went to see my primary care physician. He immediately said it was a gynecological problem and for me to leave his office and go have an ultra sound immediately.

I called my husband, told him what was going on and not to worry, I’d see him at home in a little while. As I lay on the table having an external ultra sound, I felt things weren’t looking too good. Then when the technician said she needed to do an internal ultrasound. I knew something was wrong. I had no idea just how wrong.

After I was dressed, the doctor at the testing center said my primary care physician needed to speak with me on the phone. He told me I had a tumor 16 centimeters in diameter and that they needed to schedule surgery. He wanted me to be admitted to the hospital that afternoon. I actually said “I’m sorry, but we are closing on a house next Wednesday, can’t this just wait until after the holidays?”

He explained the seriousness of the situation. Told me that if the tumor ruptured, I would have to have emergency surgery- not a good situation at all. He said I could wait until the next day and meet with my OB/GYN.

The following day, Friday, December 3rd, my life changed forever. My doctor examined me and was surprised that my stomach was flat. She said she thought I would come in looking 6 months pregnant with a protruding belly. At the time, I had no idea that she thought I had Ovarian Cancer and that an enlarged abdomen was a symptom. After the exam, she said I was set up for surgery on Tuesday, handed me a brochure on Ovarian Cancer and sent me on my way. How at that moment I wished I had allowed my husband or mom to come with me. I was “Miss Independent”. I thought this was just something to “just deal with”.

My husband met me at another doctor’s office for a C.A.T . scan. We sat in the parking lot and cried for about half an hour. After the tests, we went to pick up my son from daycare and began to make the appropriate phone calls to friends and family. Life was just a sad blur for the next few days.

I was devastated. How could I have Ovarian Cancer. I had never heard of it until that day. Besides, all of the characteristics of the “typical” woman with Ovarian Cancer just didn’t describe me. I had even consulted a doctor on the Internet who replied “I seriously doubt you have Ovarian Cancer. A 34 year-old black female has about a zero percent chance of it. Your doctor doesn’t know what she is talking about.” His words gave me some hope, and I had convinced myself that I was just going in for removal of the tumor and a partial hysterectomy. I’d be back to my old self in a few weeks.

Surgery went well. I only had my right ovary and fallopian tube removed and of course the tumor. It was found to be mixed germ cell ovarian cancer and I was staged as 1c. The following day, in one of my medicated fogs, I looked up and there was a red-headed angel standing at my side smiling down at me. I later found out that was my oncology nurse whom would be my best friend for the next 3 ½ months. She told me that I would start chemotherapy the following Monday.

The day after my surgery, Wednesday, we closed on our house, Thursday movers, my husband and mother moved us into our new home and on Friday I came home from the hospital. So from one Friday to the next, I had been diagnosed, had surgery and was due to start chemotherapy in 3 days.

Over the next 3 ½ months I went through 5 rounds of chemotherapy, Monday-Friday everyday each third week. I would arrive at 8:00 Monday and leave around 3:00 in the afternoon each day. The physical and emotional parts were rough, but I knew it would save my life. I am fortunate to be able to still able to have children if I choose and there is a good possibility that I am now cured.

I have a precious 3 year- old that missed his mommy and a husband that needed his wife. My husband lost his mother to cancer when he was young and I am determined he will not lose me too. I will do what ever I need to do to be healthy both physically and mentally for my family.

I thank all of my wonderful doctors and nurses that helped my family and me through this. I was so lucky that it was caught early and my caregivers had the knowledge and skills to save my life.

Now it is Summer 2005, and I am once again looking for that “perfect job”, having fun with my family and just finished decorating our new house. Life is good….life is so very good!