Angelina R. Sanner survivor story
On June16, 1991 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I had gone to the hospital with an attack of diverticulitis. While I was being examined the ER doctor asked me if I knew that I had a mass as big as an orange, I said, "No". Well, anyway, it turned out to be ovarian cancer, stage III. My CA-125 was 11,500. Shortly after the operation it went down to 500. They had to do a temporary colostomy, which in fact, was reversed at my six-month second-look operation. I had six months of cysplatin/cytoxin chemotherapy that made me deadly sick. At my six month second look operation, the doctor took a "gazillion" biopsies which were all negative. He said to be on the safe side; I should continue the chemotherapy.This time the drugs were carboplatin/VP-16. He had inserted a port-o-cath. This wenton for 2 months - when I had my first recurrence which was treated with 6 weeks of radiation, followed by 3 days in the hospital with concentrated doses of radiation. Then I took hexalin orally for about 4 weeks. By this time, Zofran had been discovered and my nausea was abated. I was fine for about 2 years. In December 1994, I was diagnosed with my 2nd recurrence. I received 1 monthly treatment of Taxol/carboplatin. Then because my blood count was so low they gave 4 more treatments of Taxol alone. Two years later, August 1996, I thought I was home free, when suddenly my CA-125 went up again, so the doctor examined me and I was in my 3rd recurrence. This time I was treated over the next six months with five 24-hr infusions of taxol and two 1-hr infusions of topotecan. These chemicals shrunk the tumor down to less than 2 centimeters. I talked with my doctor and together we decided to do something aggressive and remove the damn thing! So, in March of 1997, I was back in surgery. He removed the tumor, did a colostomy, resectionof my bladder and rectum and removal of port-o-cath. Unfortunately, this time the colostomy is permanent. ( But, I?ll never have to use Preparation H again.) Meanwhile back at the ranch, I was diagnosed with Parkinson?s in 1990 and then six months later with Pagets (a form of osteoporosis, which is very painful- because instead of the bones becoming brittle, they become soft). Well, with medication, canes and walkers, I am doing all right. The only thing that set me back with my Parkinson?s was that Taxol and Topotecan affected my balance and I kept falling. I have had some very bad falls, but luckily, nothing was ever broken. Thank God. I had a lumbar laminectomy in January 1994, which took care of my terrible back pain. Last December 1998; I had neck surgery that entailed removal of 3 bone spurs, and fusion using a piece of bone from my right hip. I wore a neck brace for over 13 weeks and was under "housearrest" because I couldn?t drive until March 23rd. And, boy have I gone shopping now. It seems that the spurs that were pressing on my spinal column and causing all that terrible pain had also affected my equilibrium and now I am walking much better and falling down less often. I am going to "Gait" therapy twice a week now and it is really helping. I also start speech therapy today. This time I have a very good feeling about this remission or should I say I am cured! It willbe a year in March, and I feel wonderful. The most important thing that I learned is that I was not alone. My husband and family were so supportive and helpful. We have four children. Two girls and two boys. We also have 10 grandchildren. I found out that I had friends I didn?t even know about. I finally retired in December 1994 after 19 1/2 yrs working in a District Attorney's office as Secretary to the District Attorney. The only reason I retired was because of my Parkinson?s, I couldn?t write or walk too well. I still keep in touch with all the people there. What I do now, is keep in touch with mychildren and friends through e-mail and I paint resin Santas. I started doing it for fun and to keep the arthritis at bay, but now I give or sell some to my friends. I would like to say to anyone who has just been diagnosed with having some form of cancer. DO NOT GIVE UP! FIGHT! LIFE IS TOO SWEET!
