My name is Pauline and I
am 55 years old at the end of this month (August 2009)
I came to live in and work in Spain in 2002
with my husband, daughter and granddaughter.
All went well until October 2007 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer;
from here on in it would probably be better if I put events down in diary form:
Oct
07
Almeria
Diagnosed with colon cancer
Nov 07
Almeria
admitted to Hospital Virgen del Mar in
Almeria
for operation to remove the tumour.
It was decided that the tumour was malignant but at stage 1 so no further
treatment was necessary.
March 08
Symptoms of bleeding from the anus plus bloating of stomach (which i now
know is a classic sign of ovarian cancer) although not gaining weight.
After colonoscopy was told that it was the anastomosis (site of the
surgery) that was bleeding and not too worry; and to take more exercise.
July 08
Marbella while on holiday and feeling gradually quite ill,
tiredness unable to eat, and eventually vomiting was taken into the USP hospital
in Marbella
and was the diagnosed with a recurrence of the colon cancer AT THE ORIGINAL SITE
and a very large tumour (11cm) on my left ovary.
Operated on for full hysterectomy plus resection of the colon.
In hospital for 5 weeks.
August 08
Back home in Almeria
to arrange chemotherapy for the Ovarian cancer first as it was considered the
most dangerous. Had 4 sessions of
chemo in which I lost complete body hair after 2 weeks, but by
December
08 the bleeding had returned from the colon
cancer, so was sent for a pet Tac scan at
Granada
which showed that the bowel cancer
had returned once again IN THE SAME SPOT, so it was decided that I should have
adjuvant therapy of radiotherapy every day Monday to Friday for 30 sessions plus
weekly chemo.
Jan 5th 2009
started this intense treatment which was in Murcia, and for the first few days I
drove myself, but became increasingly ill and then saw the MACS advert in the
paper and telephoned Elaine, who became my guiding light.
Without the help and support that Macs offered me at the most difficult
time I do not think I nor my family could have survived, that was the
worst time of my life and,
in the end, I had to stop the treatment
at No 26 as I physically could not get out of bed to get into the car to go to
Murcia.
Mar 09
Went back to Marbella (because the surgeon and oncologist who I had met
previously were excellent and I really trusted them) for another operation to
remove the now smaller tumour and leave me with a temporary ileostomy with bag.
I should say at this point that my previous oncologist in
Murcia
only offered me a permanent colostomy which I did not want so went for a second
opinion to Marbella,
hence my return there.
I am now receiving FOLFOX chemotherapy
in Almeria for the colon cancer, which is the first real treatment I have had
for this cancer, just had my fifth session only another 7 to go then I go back
to Marbella for the reversal operation for the ileostomy. The good news is my
hair grew back very curly and I still have IT!
Despite all odds I am still
going strong and look well (most of the time) (and I have Macs support to thank
as part of the healing process).
Hopefully I will be at the
next MACS meeting, chemo sessions allowing, to meet up with the other fighters
in this war and I truly believe that there is always hope and a light at the end
of the tunnel.
Regards
Pauline
05/08/2009
