oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

last week on august 25 i had laparoscopic surgery to remove my last remaining ovary. had i known a year and a half ago when i had a partial hysterectomy that i would get cancer & chemo and be thrust into early menopause, i would have had it all yanked. but oh well.

all this time i was going to have my ovary taken out anyway since i am ER+ and i wanted to give BC one less organ to spread to, but then my mom incredibly died of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer on june 22. the whole time she'd been taking care of me during my breast cancer, ovarian cancer was stealthily killing her and no one could figure it out until her autopsy. so my oncologist and gynecologist thought i should have my ovary out ASAP. as we speak, the pathologist is slicing it up like capicola to look for any minute sign of malignancy. i feel confident it will be clean, but mom's cancer was just too weird a coincidence.

as surgery approached i realized it was the very same day i had my first breast cancer biopsy last year! august 25. that fateful day. i hope this august 25 surgery has a much happier result. so friday, august 27 was my cancer-versary. it's the day you got diagnosed, right? nobody knew what to say to me when i'd announce it. i kinda thought it was a no-brainer. how about 'wow! i'm so glad you are doing so well, congratulations'? my sisters and i went out to dinner. as you can see, surgery didn't keep me down. (i'd rather have that again any day than have a port put in! for some reason that was my worst pain surgery.)

as the day approached i did not feel anything about the anniversary, but i did notice that evening over dinner i grew melancholy for what seemed like no particular reason. then on sunday i was in a hellish mood, both mad and sad. sure, i was acutely feeling the absence of my husband bob and my mom, both of whom would have helped me in the healing from surgery. plus i just plain missed them. neither of them ever got a cancerversary. they were dead that fast. but i wonder if part of the mad and sad was because i ever had to have breast cancer in the first place.

bob used to like to quote songs. he was a vietnam vet and like to say "thank you, lord, for thinking 'bout me. i'm alive and doing fine." i think it's from the song sign, sign, everywhere a sign. remember that song? so in bob's immortal words, here's what i say belatedly for my cancerversary - thank you, lord, for thinking 'bout me. i'm alive and doing fine!

thank you bob and mom, too. i think they're watching over me.

valerie

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Happy anniversay! Valerie.

Love your Avatar - the menopaws cat... :)

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

We're thinking bout you too Valerie!

Happy Cancerversary!

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Can understand why you'd be feeling mad and sad. Good on you for bouncing back so well and glad you had your sisters to share your cancerversary with. May there be many more to share with them. Trish

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Congratulations from me too Valerie, you've been through so much it's no wonder you felt angry!

I have everything crossed the ovary will be clear of cancer and many congrats again! :)

P.S LOVE your avatar!!!

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

thanks everyone! actually, my gyno/surgeon just called and said that my ovary was benign. yeehaw! i really felt confident it was, but nice to hear it all the same. now for my sisters to get BRCA tested.... i was negative, but who's to say what their status is, or mom's was for that matter.

isn't that avatar a riot? i got that as a birthday card from my sister last year when i was still pre-menopausal. since i am a catwoman too, it was that much more appropriate and i thought it would give everyone a laugh. :)

valerie

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Hey Valerie,
Love, love the avatar. It is so you. You had a hell of a year and I admire your courage and strength. We started this thing called cancer at about the same time. I always enjoy reading your posts and thank you so much for the pm you sent me.

From one kindred spirit to another......

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Great news on the path result Valerie!!!!:)

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Valerie;
Congratulations on your Cancerversary. What a year you had. Thank you for sharing about your Mom and Husband. They sounded like really nice people.
Hugs,

Kris....

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Valerie,

I drink to many more cancerversaries.

Joan

Re: oopherectomy & cancerversary - what a week
 

Congratulations Valerie. I think that the first cancerversary is the most daunting yet special and profound. Looking back on that year is mind blowing but realizing that you made it out on the other side is fabulous. Happy days!