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Tanya (tanya)


October 31, 2006


Portland, Maine


April 7, 1975


Ovarian Cancer


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


September 2006


Stage 1


07


Grade 1


No


Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel)


Cancer Survivor


Waiting for test results!!


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


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.


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.


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

June 27, 2007

Wow...Views: 643

I just noticed that my blog is listed as the most discussed web blog. I’m humbled! And it’s been sooo long since I’ve written.

Life is becoming a bit normal, I guess. I will finally have health insurance thanks to the wonderful state of maine, as of july 1st. They have a plan through the state that contracts with BCBS, and charges you based on how much you make. Well, I only worked a few months last year so Irvin and I got a really good deal. AND ALL PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE COVERED! NO APPLICATIONS! I just heard that maine is one of the top 5 states for health care, with hawaii at the top. Wonder why. So next month I see my new gyn-onc, and there will most likely be tests soon after, my favorite part. I feel great, but I also had cancer for probably 2 years and didn’t know it. But honestly, I feel really good. The bio-identical hormones I’m taking are working out great…I would recommend them to anyone who’s having issues. The HRT specialist I’ve seen has been wonderful, Sharzad Green from Community Clinical Pharmacy in Arizona. She’s a Pharm D., and knows WAY more about HRT than any doctor I’ve seen. She will do consultations over the phone, and I’m having my hormones shipped from AZ to ME, no problems!

In regards to the rest of the health insurance nightmare…I don’t know really, but I just heard that a lawyer might be taking the case. I’m not jumping for joy, mostly because my credit is in the negatives right now as I have stopped paying ALL of my debts. No sense in paying some bills and not the rest. Worst case scenario has come true: complete and utter financial ruin. Ok, not that bad…I still have Irvin. And my dear father co-signed on my “new” car after the bank laughed at me.

Adoption… We’re in the first stages right now, slowly trying to save any money we can. We had a VERY generous donation from a family member to get us started, which puts us close to half of what we’ll need. We thought about sending out letters to our friends and family to see if anyone had any extra lying around, but decided not to because we felt funny asking for money. I’m still not losing faith that it will all work out! ANd we decided we want a baby girl! I think we both have always imagined a daughter, and we’ll most likely have only one. Picked out the color for the baby room (yes…it’s a shade of purple, my favorite color!)

We LOVE Portland Maine…if anyone is looking for a laid-back, progressive, ocean-side small city, this is the place. I’m never leaving!

Much love to you all!

Tanya – so great to hear from you. Glad you are settling in up there in Maine. Love to hear about the health insurance up there and the application for adoption. What an exciting time.

Hi Tanya, I just started my blog here and look forward to knowing you. You are beautiful! I am so happy to hear about you now having insurance. Do they cover precriptions also? Do you have to pay a premium? I am very excited to hear how some states are helping their citizens. Feel good-take care of you! Sue

hello tanya sounds great I am a little behind on my blog we have been busy here .I hope all goes well with the adoption you deserve to have your dream come true.
all my love kara

Hi Tanya where have you been? I am hoping that you are well.
I will post on the Community and see if I can get a hold of you.

HUg Sherri.

Hello Tanya I am soo happy for you and your new babies. Cant wait to see a pic .I am anxious to feel the twins the doc says in a couple weeks I should feel them fighting for space Ha Ha.
I Have another Ultrasound on the 24th of april and it should confirm that we have a boy and a girl! Congrats again!
Kara

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Tanya's Stats

Posts: 34
Photos: 6
Events: 1
My Supporters: 7
I Support: 4
Comments: 167
Views: 8075



My Supporters:

 Gemma

 Sue

  Kara Marti

 Sherri

 Sam

 sue

 Taff


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I support:

 Sherri

  Kara Marti

 Gemma

 Sam





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