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Name:
Tanya (tanya)

Member Since:
October 31, 2006

Location:
Portland, Maine

Birthday:
April 7, 1975

Type of Cancer:
Ovarian Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
Right Ovary: Atypical proliferative (borderline) serous tumor with multiple foci of invasive low grade serous carcinoma. Left Ovary: Same thing, just micro-invasive.

Diagnosis Date:
September 2006

Stage of Cancer:
Stage 1

Tumor Size:
07

Grade of Tumor:
Grade 1

Lymph Node Involvement:
No

Chemotherapy:
Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel)

Profile:
Cancer Survivor

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
Waiting for test results!!

Cancer Symptoms:

None really, maybe a little bloating and abdominal pain. This is the scary thing about ovarian cancer; few women have any symptoms at all.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

I’ve had 3 surgeries total. The 1st was laproscopic when they discovered I didn’t have endometriosis, what they originally thought I had. That’s when they discovered that the 2 huge tumors were either cancerous or pre-cancerous. On the 2nd surgery they removed the 2 tumors and managed to save my ovaries, but the patholgy sent to Johns Hopkins came back showing a 6 mm invasive carcinoma in my right ovary, and the left ovary had a micro-invasive tumor. On January 29th, 2007, I had a total ovarian hysterectomy.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Paclitaxel(Taxol)/Carboplatin(Paraplatin) combination, intravenous, 4 treatments total, 3 weeks apart. My first treatment was Oct. 17th. The side effects weren’t been too horrible. Days 3-6 I felt really bad, but I never vomited! I just felt VERY weak, and VERY sick. I was so pale I scared myself in the mirror, and sometimes I felt so bad I couldn’t even talk. I had HORRIBLE constipation like never before, and I still have heartburn, which I never got before.

Hormone Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

Bio-identical HRT in the form of transdermal creams: includes Bi-estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone…started March 2007.

No side effects to speak of so far! I highly recommend seeing a HRT specialist to look into bio-identical HRT. After reading “What your doctor may not tell you about menopause” I refuse to go on the “conventional” synthetic hormones most doctors prescribe.

Tanya's Cancer Blog

April 24, 2007

"Health insurance hell" stories? Views: 378

Just wondering…I know a lot of you out there have also been affected by health “insurance” companies and the issues that arise during cancer treatment. I’m interested in hearing anyone else’s horror stories, especially about insurance policies being canceled, etc.

I’m not letting this one go! I’ll admit I’ve been playing ostrich for a little while, but I need to stay strong and not let those bastards get the best of me.

I want to get the word out to ALL people, especially people with cancer, that we need to know what’s going on with our health insurance. I don’t want anyone else to end up in my situation.

Posted on April 24, 2007 at 4:38:41 PM by Tanya ( Link to this post.

"Health insurance hell" stories?, Post a comment.

6 comments)

I can’t believe what health insurance companies are allowed to do in the country. I sure hope it changes and will help fight the fight in any way I can.

Posted on April 24, 2007 at 5:31:55 PM by jill

I actually had a really good experience with my health insurance… however, I will be sure to send anyone I hear of who is having trouble your way. Kick them in the ass Tanya. This country needs more people like you!

Posted on April 24, 2007 at 6:53:37 PM by slockwooclimbs

Tanya – Just checking that you are receiving this comment.

Posted on May 2, 2007 at 7:20:13 AM by jill

Thanks! Tanya. I have not had any trouble with Insurance. But some do.

You go girl!

Sherri

Posted on May 2, 2007 at 10:17:16 AM by karlak

Hi Tanya & Irvin!
Hope things are going well for you. Doug and I are getting ready to move up to Vancouver, Washington (outside of Portland) in a few weeks. I’m wondering how you did traveling with your cats across country on your recent trip? Any tips? I’ve got two cats who have little experience traveling in cars. It’s 1400 miles from Phoenix to Vancouver….and could be a long trip. I did get some sedatives for them in case they get too upset. Any other ideas?

Other than that – how are you guys doing? Anything new of late? Hope you are both happy and healthy. You two are a great couple and deserve the best ~

Hope to hear from you soon ~ Blessings, Caryl

Posted on June 3, 2007 at 3:17:44 PM by Caryl Taylor/Doug Crouch (unverified)

Hi there good to see ya.

thinking about hope all is well with you.

Sherri

Posted on June 4, 2007 at 9:36:03 AM by karlak

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