Who are we ??
We are simply, a married couple who recently had our world 'turned upside down' after learning that my dear wife Lynda (Lyn) had been diagnosed in April 2007 with Ovarian Cancer, the type we were informed being "Cyst Adenocarcinoma".
For a while and before things went really bad for Lyn she had constant 'Bloated Feelings', this she always put down to her 'advancing years'. A matter of only a couple of weeks before her diagnosis she was to develop a large tummy that refused to revert back to normal.
Very unusual as Lyn had always maintained a slim physique. Needless to say as she was, 'of that age', she put it down to, "yet another thing women have to put up with". It was obvious though that things were not going right as within a VERY short time, only a matter of weeks, Lyn's swelling had developed to the size of a 4 month pregnancy.
A visit to her Lady GP was to suspect "Iritable Bowel Syndrome" (oh dear!!!). However a week later her condition was worsening, and a further visit, but this time to a male doctor, on an internal examination was to notice something that was "not quite right",
'it could a cyst', she was told.
Lyn was then, within a few days, to be examined by a consultant surgeon who confirmed the doctors diagnosis that it could be nothing more than a common cyst. The consultant indicated that she would have to have Lyn hospitalised to remove the fluid that had built up before she could perform her surgery. A total of 4.5 litres of fluid (Ascites) was to be drained from her Abdomen.
It is difficult to understand WHY the Consultant had not diagnosed cancer before her surgery (maybe suspected it), as Lyn's AC125 level (Cancer Antigen) (Tumour Marker Blood Test) had risen from a normal 35 or less to a horrific 1040, although, as many factors can affect the CA125 level, it should be realised that, this test is not a 100% certainty of definite cancer. Perhaps this is the reason we were 'spared' the suspected diagnosis before surgery.
When Lyn underwent surgery, the surgeon was to find that indeed it was not a cyst at all, but an Ovarian Tumour measuring 13cm. The tumour apparently attached to both her Ovaries, her Bowel and her Liver. I am sure you can imagine our horror, especially that Lyn has no incidence of Ovarian Cancer in her family. Following surgery and at the first consultation with the House Surgeon it was confirmed that Lyn had Advanced Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer
However we were thrilled to learn that, after 6 courses of Chemotherapy (CarboPlatin), there appears to be no trace of the disease remaining in her organs, and indeed she is on the road to recovery. Her CA125 level has now decreased to a remarkable 27.
Of course we cannot say, and will not
dare hope, that Lyn is 'cured', however time will tell. In the meantime we can only pray.
Ours lives now are totally different to what we lived before, we live very much for 'today' and let tomorrow take care of itself.
We were lucky to be recently interviewed by the local press. And, following the interview, they printed an interesting article on the alarming statistics of the increasing diagnosis of general cancers in the Merseyside areas. It is frightening to read that, by the year 2020, the incidence of cancer in the Merseyside area will increase by up to a staggering and alarming 54%.
Please CLICK HERE to read our 'attempt' to get the message heard.
I would really like to take this opportunity, through these pages, to say how much Lyn and I appreciate the wonderful work undertaken by the surgeons and hospital staff at Arrowepark Hospital, and the Oncologists and Nurses at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology {both hospitals on the Wirral}. No time was wasted in diagnosing and treating this awful complaint and for this we are so much indebted. And finally, a special thanks goes to Lyn's GP at Tree Tops Surgery Eastham. My
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
[To spare their blushes no names have been mentioned]
Peter Dobson