Good morning everyone. Today I want to talk to all of our readers about a very important topic.
Recently my 30 year old niece was diagnosed with end stage ovarian and intestinal cancer. Yes, she is 30 years old. It started 2 months ago with abdominal pain which lead to the removal of her appendix. While in there, the surgeon noticed some tumors. About 3 weeks after that, they operated again and removed the tumors. They immediately started chemotherapy & radiation. That did not work and she got sicker.
She has been in the hospital now for several weeks and we just learned that she is going onto Hospice care and will be released from the hospital. Her prognosis? Well, they have given her 1 week up to 2 months to live.
She is married with an 18 month old little boy. This hit her fast and hard. The entire family is devastated by this news.
The reason I am sharing this news here on the TCC blog is this.
It is VERY important that we all get yearly physical exams!!! If you are female it is equally important to get into the gynecologist’s office and get your yearly exam, a pap test and a mammogram. I can NOT stress this enough!!! You NEED to be checked out yearly and more frequently if your family has a history of cancer!!!
I understand that not everyone has medical insurance or the funds to do this. However, you MUST find a way to make this POSSIBLE. There are programs out there to help fund yearly exams & free mammograms for those who can’t afford them. Call around, they are out there. If you have none in your town, it is WORTH the drive to a big city to obtain these services!!!
If her cancer was caught earlier, she would have a better prognosis than what she does. Early detection and treatment is the key (at this time) to beating this awful disease.
I am getting off my soapbox now but please…get your yearly exams!!!
Please remember….don’t give up. Doctors don’t know and can’t predict everything.
Sorry to hear about your niece. My thoughts go with you.
I’m very good about yearly exams: body, eyes, skin.
I’m so sorry to hear about your niece. Fortunately, you seem to have a very close family, so I’m sure her baby will grow up surrounded by love.
Ovarian cancer is a tough one; it can come on fast, and move even faster. Many years ago, I had a friend who was given a clean bill of health at her physical (including a PAP smear), but within a month she had developed a grapefruit-sized ovarian tumor and passed away a few months later. Sadly, ovarian cancer isn’t one that can necessarily be found early. Please don’t think that your niece could have done something sooner–it’s likely that her cancer wouldn’t have been found anyway. Just love her and comfort her in the time she has left. My thoughts are with you.
I am so sorry for you, her, your family! Please let her know how many people she has that care about her and are praying. Bless you for being so open in the post. It is a soapbox when you are just being concerned and want us all to be aware that it can happen to anyone. Cancer and hidden illnesses alike. Get check ups, stay informed, and trust your body and intuition if you think there’s something wrong. We almost lost my daughter when she was 30 to an illness. It’s scary to think about, but it’s better to be caught as soon as possible. How horrible for you all! I will have my family prayer for you and your family. Bless you.
Congratulations to the 2 winners.
I am very sorry to hear the news about your niece. There are never any words that can alleviate the suffering, but I shall keep you all in my prayers. You have reminded me that it is time to go to my gynecologist again.
How awful for your niece and family! Prayer going out to you all!! I just had my yearly checkup on Monday.