It was spring of 1986. I was a young woman with three young girls. I had always been a very active person. I guess that is why I was so surprised to find myself suddenly tired all the time. I was taking birth control pills, and for several months, I had been having trouble with excessive bleeding. It was not the normal menstrual cycle. Normally, my cycle would come on every month, heavy at first and wind down after three days. Like clockwork. Suddenly, I was bleeding for ten or fifteen days at a time. Sometimes I would have a two- or three-week break, and then the bleeding would start again. I went to the doctor several times about the bleeding. It was draining me, and I knew that is what was making me so tired. The doctors decided that it was probably from the birth control pills, so with a new pill and a B12 shot, I would head home. The B12 was administered because I was anemic. I am certain this was caused by the excessive bleeding. After four different types of birth control pills, the bleeding did not stop.
When I began having severe pain during intercourse, I decided it was time to see another doctor. I am very glad I did. The first thing the new doctor did was give me a pap smear. This is, without a doubt, one of the most uncomfortable examinations I ever had (that and a mammogram), but one I have learned saved my life. It was this examination that revealed that I had cervical cancer.
The pelvic examination and the pap smear itself was very painful. Any time the cervix was bumped or touched I would experience great pain. The doctor put a solution on the vagina walls and on the cervix so that he could see if there was a problem any were else. He also performed a cone biopsy to see how far into my cervix the cancer had spread. I was subjected to a battery of tests. They ran tests to make sure it had not spread to my urinary system. I had to have countless Xrays, an M R I and a C T Scan. All this was done to see if the cancer had spread to any other organs and to determine how they would treat my condition. I was so fortunate that it had not spread, that it was confined to my cervix.
The doctor informed me at that point that I indeed had cervical cancer and would require treatment. He also explained that I was very fortunate to have displayed symptoms so soon because a lot of women do not. It is those women that find their cancer has spread through the vagina into other organs. I felt very fortunate.
My doctor told me that I would first need to have a hysterectomy. I came to terms with the prospect of a hysterectomy fairly easily. I had my three girls, and did not plan to have other children. He did not think that I would loose my ovaries, and he was correct. I came through the surgery very well, and thanks to the loving support of my Mother, was able to go home in the first week.
I was only required to go through a very short-term bout of chemotherapy. I took the medication orally and suffered from nausea but did not loose my hair. I was given medication to control the nausea and managed to get through the chemotherapy much easier than I thought I would.
I have had no return symptoms and have been cancer free for twenty years. Two of my three daughters have been diagnosed with cervical issues. It is very important to have regular pap smears and pelvic exams. Early diagnosis can save a life. It did mine.
