It’s a year since I was diagnosed. I can still remember the phone call I received from a registrar dispensing the difficult news at such lightning quick speed and in such a matter of fact way that everything inside me started silently screaming and panicking as j couldn’t take it all in. I had to ask her to stop while I caught up. Then it was waiting, then an MRI, chest X ray, waiting, then being given my predicted stage (1A), then waiting, a pre-op assessment, waiting, then a hysterectomy; waiting then my post op histology results that revealed I’d been restaged to a stage 2 and needed radiotherapy and brachytherapy. I was also told they’d found I had had a rare precancer in my Fallopian tubes which, if I’d not had a hysterectomy, would have led to high stage ovarian cancer. So basically being diagnosed with cancer potentially saved my life. Such a lot to take in. Then more waiting, then an oncologist appointment to explain my treatment plan, waiting, then 25 daily radio sessions and 2 brachy sessions. I was finished by mid May, A few mild bowel side effects in weeks 4 and 5, which settled down within a couple of weeks of treatment finishing. Had covid in August. Oncologist check ups in June, September and one more to come in December, then onto patient-led follow up.. I’m doing okay but had a bone scan which shows I have osteopenia (bone thinning) from the radio for which I need to take calcium and vitamin D supplement to try and improve my bone thickness. I will have another bone scan in two years’ time. I am still experiencing post radio tiredness but am hopeful that that will continue to ease. Not connected to the cancer, I have also been diagnosed with spinal stenosis (from arthritis), causing leg pain, and may need spinal surgery. I still have my tattoo marker dots from my radio. But I’m okay. I’m recovering physically and mentally and feel a bit more like myself every day. But there’s just something about having cancer that changes you. I’m me again, but I am also changed. What a year it’s been. It feels like I’ve mislaid a year somewhere and am now trying to catch up. Onwards and upwards.
EDITED TO ADD: And still using a dilator or vibrator once or twice a week as told!
