TellEveryAmazingLady

My name is Louisa McGregor. I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer on Friday, April 27, 2007, which changed my life and the lives of all those around me forever. All I knew about this type of cancer was that it was one of the deadliest cancers to have, and that once diagnosed the prognosis was not good. I was diagnosed with stage 2C epithelial carcinoma (tumors that arise from cells that line or cover the ovary) high-grade cell (aggressive). I was 41 years old. I now know why prognosis and survival of this cancer is so poor. It is because doctors do not have all the knowledge, understanding and tools to help with early detection, which all comes down to lack of funding for research.

 

During my college years, I had a cyst on one of my ovaries and it burst causing me a lot of pain.  My husband and I have 2 children, a boy and a girl. In May 2004, I had pain which was unbearable and that also was caused by a cyst on my ovary. One month later, results of a sonogram showed a fluid filled mass in my cul de sac. It was the size of a hotdog bun. My blood work showed my tumor marker numbers were elevated. After consulting with 7 different doctors, I finally found a surgical gynecologist oncologist. So in July 2004, I had a laparoscopy to remove the small mass on my right ovary as well as the fluid filled mass. Endometriosis was also found and that was cleared out. I was only 38 years old at the time and the doctor did not want to remove my ovaries because I was still young. I was monitored by my gynecological oncologist every three months, and then every six months, because the endometriosis can grow back. I went for a few transvaginal ultrasounds over the next few years. One time it showed that I had Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, which is like varicose veins on the inside of the pelvic cavity. I also had a base line bone density test which showed the beginnings of osteoporosis, called osteopenia. I realize that family history is very important. After researching my own family, my mother had an ovary removed at age 38 and had a hysterectomy at age 48, but no cancer. My father’s grandmother and aunt had hysterectomies at age 42, but do not know why.

 

In October 2006, I went to my GYN oncologist and told her about a dull pain on my left side that I was having on and off. She told me to get a transvaginal ultrasound. But I never did have it done at that time. Five months later in March 2007, I had the transvaginal ultrasound. On Sunday, April 7, 2007, I did not feel well after I ate dinner. I felt like I had a balloon inside of me, and it was filling with air. The next day I called my GYN oncologist & she said it looked like I had an endometrioma and it had to come out. I went back to her on April 19, and I scheduled the surgery. I was having pelvic pain all the time. I had to have medical clearance for my upcoming surgery from my medical doctor and he said it was an inflamed stomach. This is why you need to make sure you see a Gynecologist or preferably a Gynecologist Oncologist as well because you can get symptoms that mask themselves as gastrointestinal problems. My CA 125 blood test came back elevated. Three years ago it was 55. Now it was 286. The normal range is 0 to 30. During this time I had been researching all the information about Ovarian Cancer symptoms.

 

I had the following: