I am currently having treatments once every three weeks of carbo/avastin/taxol. They take anywhere from it will take 8-11 hours. As I mentioned before, this treatment is for a cervical cancer reoccurrence.
Here are some of the highlights of my journey so far:
Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer (due to bleeding with intercourse) - October 2012 Stage 1B2
Trachelectomy - November 16, 2012 (cervix removed and lymph node dissection).
Uterine Tear Repair - December 31, 2012 (I tore my uterus by lifting my son after surgery)
Blood in stool and urine beginning December 2013. Colonoscopy 1/18/14 indicated internal hemorrhoids, but no other concern. The blood in the urine continued intermittently, I would have bright red blood, sometimes only blood clots, sometimes strands of blood, and sometimes normal urine.
I was treated for an UTI with ecoli as the bacteria found in March 2014. The blood in my urine continued, I was referred to a urologist. Went to the urologist, they immediately were concerned about the possibility of cancer. We did a CT scan on 4/21/14. I met with the urologist on 4/22/14 and he said there were masses all over my pelvic area. My right kidney was completely blocked due to the tumor. He sent me to the hospital that day, I talked with the urologist and the oncologist resident. Since they were not going to do surgery immediately they released me that evening with an appointment with the oncologist on 4/30/14. At this appointment we discussed that the CT scans did not look good at all, which was surprising considering I had been in to the oncologist for my most recent exam on 10/2013. This was my regularly scheduled 6 month appointment.
Immediately he scheduled me for a biopsy and exam under anesthesia. I asked what else it could be, he told me it was cancer, there was nothing else that would be this large.
On 5/5 I had a surgery to attempt to insert a stent into the right kidney. They were unsuccessful and I left with a nephrostomy tube and bag draining my right kidney. I was also scheduled for my biopsy and exam under anesthesia for 5/5 but the OR was full and we had to reschedule that procedure.
On 5/6 I had a surgery to put in the Baird PowerPort in preparation for chemo. That procedure went very well.
On 5/8 I worked a 1/2 day, it was hard but I am a teacher and state testing was going on so I really wanted to work at least a little.
On 5/9 we did the exam/biopsy under anesthesia with the oncologist. The interventional radiologist also came in and made a second attempt at putting a stent into the right kidney. They were unsuccessful with the right stent again, they actually had the stent threaded but when they went to flush it they realized it had actually inserted into the tumor and not the bladder.
So, the results of the 5/9 exam/biopsy indicated that the tumor extends from the uterus and is wrapped around the ureter. There are also three enlarged lymph nodes along my aorta.
I have since found out that the tumor has actually invaded the ureter, which is what is causing the blockage.
Here are some of the highlights of my journey so far:
Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer (due to bleeding with intercourse) - October 2012 Stage 1B2
Trachelectomy - November 16, 2012 (cervix removed and lymph node dissection).
Uterine Tear Repair - December 31, 2012 (I tore my uterus by lifting my son after surgery)
Blood in stool and urine beginning December 2013. Colonoscopy 1/18/14 indicated internal hemorrhoids, but no other concern. The blood in the urine continued intermittently, I would have bright red blood, sometimes only blood clots, sometimes strands of blood, and sometimes normal urine.
I was treated for an UTI with ecoli as the bacteria found in March 2014. The blood in my urine continued, I was referred to a urologist. Went to the urologist, they immediately were concerned about the possibility of cancer. We did a CT scan on 4/21/14. I met with the urologist on 4/22/14 and he said there were masses all over my pelvic area. My right kidney was completely blocked due to the tumor. He sent me to the hospital that day, I talked with the urologist and the oncologist resident. Since they were not going to do surgery immediately they released me that evening with an appointment with the oncologist on 4/30/14. At this appointment we discussed that the CT scans did not look good at all, which was surprising considering I had been in to the oncologist for my most recent exam on 10/2013. This was my regularly scheduled 6 month appointment.
Immediately he scheduled me for a biopsy and exam under anesthesia. I asked what else it could be, he told me it was cancer, there was nothing else that would be this large.
On 5/5 I had a surgery to attempt to insert a stent into the right kidney. They were unsuccessful and I left with a nephrostomy tube and bag draining my right kidney. I was also scheduled for my biopsy and exam under anesthesia for 5/5 but the OR was full and we had to reschedule that procedure.
On 5/6 I had a surgery to put in the Baird PowerPort in preparation for chemo. That procedure went very well.
On 5/8 I worked a 1/2 day, it was hard but I am a teacher and state testing was going on so I really wanted to work at least a little.
On 5/9 we did the exam/biopsy under anesthesia with the oncologist. The interventional radiologist also came in and made a second attempt at putting a stent into the right kidney. They were unsuccessful with the right stent again, they actually had the stent threaded but when they went to flush it they realized it had actually inserted into the tumor and not the bladder.
So, the results of the 5/9 exam/biopsy indicated that the tumor extends from the uterus and is wrapped around the ureter. There are also three enlarged lymph nodes along my aorta.
I have since found out that the tumor has actually invaded the ureter, which is what is causing the blockage.
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