Shannon

    In 2005 after what I thought would be a routine visit to the OBGYN for a prenatal exam my life would change drastically and very permanently!! My doctor apparently saw something on my cervix and said that he wanted to do just a tiny little biopsy to get a closer look and assured me that it would not harm the baby was carrying. So, of course I agreed and when I left I really didn't worry that much.My doctor was seemmingly calm and after having been a patient of his for 10 years and him delivering my daughter I trusted if there was anything to be concerned about he would certainly inform me. Well about a week later I got a call from my doctor himself, I remember the words like it was yesterday, " Shannon I am sorry to tell you this, but....you have invasive cervical cancer and I set an appointment up with a gynecologic oncololgist, I need you to go as soon as we get off the phone -- he is waiting for you to come." Okay I said and then hung up. I felt my world crashing in around me and I dropped the phone on the ground and began to not just cry unconsolably but literally began wailing was I going to die, what about the baby I was carrying?!

    I did as my OBGYN reccomended and visited the gynecologic oncologist and after examination we started to discuss my options: chemo and radiation therapy or a radical hysterectomy and if none of the cancer had spread I would not have to undergo chemo and radiation. I asked about my baby my Lord what about my baby surely I would undergo all this after delivering my baby, right?!!! Wrong, the doctor said that if I did not have this done I would either die during the pregnancy or shortly after so I made the choice to undergo treatment. That was a really difficult decision for me but actually God made the decision for me because I miscarried befor my surgery anyway. Thanks to insurance I was unable to have the hysterectomy done with the first gynecologic oncologist and my OBGN highly recommended a doctor that accepted my insurance and could operate on me in a hospital that my insurance would allow. Dr. Hector Arango was his name how can I forget? He is my life saver!!! Well February 11, 2005 at the tender age of 24 I had a radical hysterectomy and a few days later more devastating news came, I would need to undergo 6 weeks of radiation therapy and 6 doses of chemotherapy because some of my lymphnodes had shown positive for cancer. At this point and time so much had happened that I was just beside myself with overwhelming emotion!!! So I underwent the chemo and radiation therapy and for 4 years now have shown no signs of recurrence. Since then I have changed so much, the cancer really changed me, I really tried to just move forward and leave the cancer behind and although gone from my body it left a huge impression on me!!! I am reminded every time I see a pregnant woman, have to attend a baby shower, or have someone ask me when I am going to have another child. I just want to burst out in tears because the answer is NEVER, but I kindly smile and just say one is enough, but that is such a lie!!! I would love to share the parenting experience with my new husband or give my daughter the sibling that she wants sooo badly. I made a promise that I would never allow any other woman to EVER have to experience this terrible disease EVER!!