When I found out something was wrong: In September 2012, I had a Pap smear as part of my routine maternity care during my pregnancy with my third child. The Pap came back abnormal, and the follow-up biopsies showed intermediate to high grade dysplasia. There were not really treatment options available during pregnancy, so I was told to come back in my 3rd trimester for a colposcopy and to consult with an oncologist.
My Pap history: About 10 years before, I had an abormal Pap and a colposcopy. LEEP was recommended, but I got a second opinion and was told these things sometimes go away on their own. I decided to wait and see, and every Pap since was normal.
My postpartum check-up: I gave birth to a very healthy, happy baby boy on May 23rd, 2013. Six weeks later, I returned for my postpartum visit. My midwife knew I hadn’t done any follow up on the abnormal cells, and so she did another Pap test. During the exam, she feels a mass that she describes as being about 1cm large. This time, I made an appointment to see an oncologist.
The oncologist appointment: The oncologist thought that it looked like a fibroid. But just to be safe, he did a biopsy. He then went over what the test and lab results could or could not mean. He reviewed the statistics with us and told me that not all CIN3 cells develop into cancer; of the ones that do develop, it takes a long time. Also, most women who get cervical cancer are much older than I am…My husband and I leave feeling pretty good. We’ve dodged a bullet. A week later, I get a call asking me to come back in. Once I met with the doctor, he gave me the news. It was cancer.
My treatment: Initially, I underwent anesthesia for a planned cold knife cone biopsy. But once I was under, they determined that my tumor was too large to be removed that way. I would have to have a radical hysterectomy. When my son was 6 months old, I had the surgery that removed my uterus, cervix, part of my vagina, and the surrounding tissue. The pathology report from my surgery came back with 2 out of 3 high risk factors for reoccurrence. My doctor recommended chemotherapy and radiation treatment. I had 4 chemotherapy treatments, 25 external radiation treatments and 2 internal radiation treatments.
What I want women to know: I want women to understand their bodies, what these exams and test mean. And I want women to know that there is a vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer.
My life now: I haven’t quite come to grips with being a survivor yet. I still worry about reoccurrence, and I still have bad days where I cry about what I’ve lost. But, I do take pride in being a survivor. I know my own strength. And I know that if you are facing cervical cancer, you are not alone. There is an amazing network of women out there who care deeply about helping. I hope by adding my voice, and telling my story, I can make a difference.
Check out Juliet’s blog: But, I Ate So Much Kale.