Norma

I had my operation (hysterectomy and removal of omentum and lymph nodes from my abdomen and left side of neck) on 9 March 2005. Up to three years before diagnosis I had been feeling tired and had had a really bad dose of the flu, which left me with a low white cell count for some time.

I told my GP, who passed it off as being caused by an infection, such as a cold or similar. The next year,I reduced my working days from five to three days a week, as I was tired. I was a very fit healthy person who jogged or walked the dog for up to 90 minutes. I have always eaten well (bit of a health food nut!).

Early in 2005, I found a lump in the nodes on the left side of my neck. A biopsy result was negative, so nothing further was done. A year prior, I had had a femoral hernia operation and had been told to expect a few twinges now and then which I subsequently had. I went back to my GP in February 2005 as I did not feel quite right and he did a bit of prodding around but not an internal and I wasn't insistent.

There were some articles in the press about ovarian cancer and it sounded like my problems, so I went and saw a female doctor who performed an internal examination and measured my right ovary (11cm). She booked the necessary blood and ultra sound tests and two days later ovarian cancer was confirmed. 

My wonderful doctor booked me in for surgery with an equally wonderful surgeon for three days later. Of 35 biopsy samples my surgeon took, 34 were positive, including those from my neck.

After surgery, I had chemotherapy which I handled quite well and was able to continue exercising. I lost all of my hair, including eyebrows, but I crocheted hats with tassels, flowers and beads and felt comfortable. Strangely, I had crocheted two hats a couple of months before I was diagnosed and I am not even a hat advocate.

The few little nodules in my neck shrank with chemotherapy but in September 2006, I found a lump in my neck again. This was cancerous so a 10-day course of radiation was advised. This was not so good as I am mild claustrophobic and I needed to stay on a bed with a mask on during treatment, but I survived!

My surgeon put me in touch with The Australian Ovarian Cancer Study who used my tissue and blood from the operation. I gave minute details of my life to help researchers discover why some women get this disease and others don’t, and to try to find a dedicated test for ovarian cancer. For nearly three years I completed Wellbeing questionnaires and if I was in town, they would contact me.

Further scans and needle biopsies were taken in 2008 and because of positive results I will undergo 25 sessions of radiation beginning July 9.

I became interested in Kuan Yin - the Chinese Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Healing, Perseverance and many other attributes including Calming. A friend of my son brought a lilac statue of her to the hospital after my operation and I felt an attraction to her.

Over the past three or more years I have read, prayed and used mantras to Kuan Yin to help my meditation. I use a CD - Healing of Mind and Body (Rick Collingwood who is a hypnotist) and it helps with meditation and sleeping. I have a very positive attitude and was lucky not to suffer the "why me" stuff!!

I have also been travelling widely, including Cairns, cruising the Malaysian Peninsula, Sarawak and Sabah, cruising in the West Indies plus time in Honolulu, Miami Beach and Puerto Rico and three months in Europe, starting with a cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam!

This year I have had a six week holiday in Botswana, Zambia and South Africa and as soon as the radiation is over I will head somewhere else. People ask why I travel so much and my reply is that I am not going to die wondering. I am also a crafty person, which is a great way to relax and take you to a different place. I have also had the support of wonderful family and friends.

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