Although I was first diagnosed with cancer in November 2004 - Fireworks Night actually, 2 days before my 48th birthday - I have only just discovered and signed up to this site, although I have subscribed to a couple of sites for women with gyneacological cancers for a few years. I have always fancied writing a blog - in fact, somewhere in cyberspace, there probably still exists the title page I wrote for my blog:"Walking the Dogs in Lower Normandy"! Sadly that was as far as I ever got - too busy walking those dogs, I guess! I gave that blog that title because it was my intention to record all the mad ramblings that popped into my head whilst I enjoyed said walks - bounce my ideas off likeminded people, give freedom to my creative urges .... but lo, here I am years later, starting a blog on a cancer site. Hmmm!
I'm not yet sure how this works - I find this whole site a bit wild and unwielding at present! So I'm going to make this first entry brief - a rare occurrence, anything brief from me, as you have yet to discover! I presume the first blog entry should just be an introduction. You can see my medical history from my profile - hysterectomy for fibroids 1989, chemo and radiotherapy for vaginal adenocarcenoma 2004/5, surgery for cancer in pelvic lymph nodes July 2005, removal of almost entire vagina Jan 2006 and then supposedly clear until ...ding ding, seconds away, round four!
I went to the GP with a tiny lump I'd noticed in the mouth of my inch-long vagina whilst showering, and long story short, the biopsy revealed, to my surgeon's surprise as well as my own, that the adenocarcenoma was back. Back? I suspect it had never really been away, just lurking in some nether reaches waiting to spring out when no one was looking too hard (although I had had a clear biopsy only in April 2008, after being very religiously followed by both a surgeon and an oncologist in Rennes, Brittany). I met the surgeon for the biopsy results on 14th October, and he told me the best case scenarion is that he will have to perform a urostomy and vulvectomy, apparently using a skin graft from my thighs to cover the hole left by the vulvectomy - doesn't say much for the worst case scenario, does it?! He sent me for a PET scan, which I had on 16th October, and on 30th October I will hear the verdict.
That's probably enough for a first blog entry, especially as I don't even know if or how this is going to appear somewhere!! IF it seems to work, I will maybe come back and tell you a little about myself, my idyllic life in rural France and my beloved animals - oh, and maybe even a little about my human family too!
FormerMember
Well done on finding this site at last and posting your first blog! I'm no good at all with technology but have managed to find my way around here gradually lol. There are so many wonderful people here to cheer along on good days and to offer loving support on the not-so-good ones.
Many 'firsts' for me too, first time I have written a blog, first time EVER been in a chat room ( my daughters pull my leg and say I'm talking in Porno chat rooms lol). I'm sure you will find your way around fairly quickly.
I am sorry though that you have become a member of a club that no one wants to belong to AND re-newing your 'membership'. It must be very scary to have to face all that again so sending you a big hug.
I look forward to reading more blogs from you and getting to know more about your family (human and animal lol) and where you live.
You have certainly had it rough. Do persevere on here, most of the people on here are lovely and we all have that certain someting in common which binds us together. Try the chatroom sometimes, it is mostly an uplifting experience.
for the results of the scan coming through on 30th October. Yes, it does sound as though the horrible thing was lurking all the time. Although your forthcoming treatment is so radical, we just hope that this time that will kick it out. You'll do that Walking the Dogs blog yet...
