As the school year came to a close this past June, I began planning a couple of small trips for the summer starting with Hershey Park. While in Hershey, I noticed I was a little out of breath walking up the hills throughout the park but figured it was the heat. I have also had back pains for a few years off and on but when we got home I just couldn’t get comfortable at night. One evening, my dad, my daughter, and I were watching TV and as I rolled over I couldn’t put any weight on my stomach. I was diagnosed with GERD years ago but I knew this was different so I made an appointment with my PCP. After completing a physical he ordered an ultrasound of my abdomen.

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I knew something was wrong because the ultrasound procedure was actually painful on my right side. My doctor called and said that there was a mass 10 cm x 8 cm in my abdomen near my kidney and that a CT scan would be the next step. When I was called into my doctor’s office to go over the CT scan that is when I got the shock of my life. He told me that he was referring me to an oncologist because there were several spots that showed up and that it looked like cancer. With the help of friends, I was able to be seen that week by a gynecological oncologist because the CT findings showed cysts on both ovaries so they felt that may be the origin. I was admitted to West Penn Hospital for another CT scan, blood work, and a needle biopsy. The original plan was to have a full hysterectomy and then proceed with chemotherapy and possibly radiation. I was told that my case was unique and some of the results were contradicting themselves. My case was also brought to the tumor board so several experts from all over the network could provide input on my diagnosis.

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The biopsy revealed that I have Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Cancer (NET, or carcinoid tumors) and they referred me to a medical oncologist. The doctor told me that I would be on two different chemo drugs as well as immunotherapy to help my body fight the bad cells. Unfortunately, the immunotherapy isn’t covered by insurance because there wasn’t a direct diagnosis and data to support that it would help my situation. A few MRI’s and a PET scan showed that in addition to the tumors on my ovaries, it’s in my stomach lining, my sternum, collarbone, lymph node in my neck, and throughout my back. One of the hardest things was hearing that you’re in palliative, non-curative care.

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I began chemotherapy on July 24th and I just had a CT scan on September 20th stating that the areas are stable but another lymph node in my pelvis was affected. The plan right now is to continue treatment and get either another CT or PET scan to see if it’s working. I have no idea if surgery is in my future to remove anything but I’m praying for more positive results moving forward. Loss of appetite has been a struggle for me this entire time. Between losing my hair and a lot of weight, I sometimes don’t feel like myself.

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I am a single parent of an 11-year old daughter, Brooklyn. We live with my father which is a blessing because we have had a few struggles as a family. At first I didn’t tell my daughter what was going on because I wanted her to have a normal summer. The day I got my chemo port in was the day I told her. I simply explained that the mass I had was cancer, I was going to be put on some strong medicine which would go and “punch all of the bad guys”, and that I may have days of pain and exhaustion. I told her that I may lose some or all of my hair and that I hoped I wouldn’t embarrass her. She immediately hugged me and said she didn’t care…it was just hair. Her positivity, helpfulness, and love keep me going each day. I am learning so much about myself through this…I’m asking for and accepting help, I’m rediscovering my faith, and I’m admiring the beauty in each day. There have been many days of severe pain, doubt, and fear but my family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors have all helped me through those moments.