I’m a lovely 38-year-old cyber security expert who was diagnosed with rectal cancer on February 9, 2023. I had just moved to live with my mother when I was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and a blood infection. I was very sick. After several emergency room visits, I was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 rectal (and lung) cancer. Prior to then, I was very healthy. I never thought, in a million years, that I would get cancer. Not only was the diagnosis shocking, but the recommended treatments of chemotherapy and radiation would make me sick, take my hair, and destroy my uterus and ovaries, thus making it impossible to carry or have my own biological children. I was 85 lbs, exhausted, destroyed, and much that made my life worth living was gone.
Life is a choice.
The emergency colostomy surgery they did saved me. I could now eat again, and slowly, I found more reasons to live: a bath, my beautiful white Persian cat, online shopping, Zelda, my brother, my sister…
Finding the Mayo Clinic was a complete blessing. I got the best oncology team, recommendations for egg harvesting, ovarian transposition surgery, treatment for numerous complications, psychological therapy, pain management, a young adult’s support group, friendly and competent nurses, and new hope.
To date, I’ve completed 7 months of chemotherapy, which reduced the size of the tumor by 60%. Still, radiation is the best way to eliminate this form of cancer. I did everything I could to preserve my fertility organs in preparation, and we even got proton radiation approved by my insurance, which will hopefully improve my chances of having children one day.
Jodyy’s LifeList:
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Vortex of Attraction cruise with Esther Hicks.