Patti's Experience

Since the day the doctors told us my cancer was gone, I've had many scares. After giving birth to my son I had many problems. I had four laproscopies because my remaining ovary was continually enlarged. Then in 1990 it was decided to do a complete hepterictomy. Finally my fear of the ovarian cancer returning was gone. But with that fear gone, many others arose. It was discovered that the chest pain I was experiencing is a mitral valve prolapse. In March, 1993 while I was going to school, to become a medical assistant, I had some decreased hearing in my ear. Finally in December my brother, who was in med school at the time, did a hearing test on me and thought it might not be as simple as water in my hear. I was diagnosed with a small brain tumor called an Acoustic Neurma. After that surgery, I was left with constant pain, memory loss and the loss of hearing on my left side.

At this time it has been four years since my last surgery. I am dealing with the pain of the last surgery. I also experience bouts of anxiety and depression. I sometimes feel as though I am the "sick one." But I guess my health will always be a part of me. It has made me appreciate how important health is, how important my kids, family, and life in general are. They say if you don't have your health nothing else matters. It's really a shame it takes losing your health to see that.

Any kids or family of kids with cancer who may be reading this, at one point 18 years ago I truly felt it would never end, but it does. Finally one day they take out the I.V. Then they tell you that you only have to come back once a year. And finally one day they tell you, you don't ever have to come back. That day was a little scary too. My biggest fear was that I felt I was the only one in the world going through this. You need to find someone to talk to. It helps to make friends with others going through this. And know that you are not alone.