Living Life
  • Blog: Living Life with Cervical Cancer
  • Living Life with Cancer
  • Erica's Story
  • Pictures
  • Media News

Holding Pattern & Mental Toll

2/7/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
This week I had to make an unplanned visit to my gynecologic oncologist.  If you are grossed out by medical information, now would be the time to stop reading.  I was having increased blood in my bowel movements.  I mentioned it to my nurse and she had me come in right away.  Apparently it is a symptom which can be caused by Avastin.  That is the hardest part about treatments.  Each treatment, even a treatments that doesn't make you overtly sick, brings along its own potential side effects.

I saw the nurse practitioner and she hoped since I wasn't exhibiting any other urgent concerns I could move forward with my Avastin treatment, scheduled for next week.  They got me scheduled to see a GI specialist, add that to the list of doctors I never thought I'd have to see, for President's Day.

Well, I received a phone call Friday that changed our plans.  My gyn-onc wants me to postpone next week's Avastin treatment.  The concern is, if the GI doctor were to need to do a procedure I would need to be off Avastin for 28 days before that procedure could take place.  You see, Avastin can make it harder for your body to heal, more side effects.  So, I will be postponing this week's planned treatment until I can see the GI doctor on February 15th.  I don't like it, and  I expressed this to the nurse practitioner I was talking to over the phone.  She said she understood but they really felt that we needed to hold this treatment so when I see GI I would have been off Avastin for 28 days and if something more serious were happening and they needed to do a procedure I wouldn't have a waiting period.  They also mentioned that my kidneys could use a break.  Too much rationale and science for me to dispute.  That doesn't make it easier though.

It is difficult mentally to have to miss a treatment.  The Avastin is suppose to be stopping the cancer from spreading and/or growing.  When I have to miss a treatment all I think about is what could be happening inside my body during this missed treatment.  What could be happening?  It is scary and mentally taxing. 

1 Comment
CarolynJean Frazier
2/7/2016 11:44:50 am

Erica, I love you. Please I beg you to ask God for help, get your life right with God before it's to late. You know your bible the doctor can do so much, you need Gods help. Zack Lee is a preacher in Indianapolis 502-492-9797 he can help you. He was my preacher,but moved up there before Christmas, real good person to talk to ,in his 30's.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Erica is a 32 year old cervical cancer advocate who is out living cancer for the third time. When she isn’t advocating for cervical cancer and HPV awareness as a Cervivor Ambassador, she previously oversaw the STEM program at the school where she was an educator; she now helps coordinate the robotics program. Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their Indianapolis neighborhood, as well as pursuing new and adventurous hobbies. She can most recently be found fawning over kayaks and daydreaming of returning to whitewater kayaking with First Descents, an organization for young adults impacted by cancer. 

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Cervical Cancer
    Chemo
    Hospital
    Nephrostomy
    Photography
    Surgery

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.