Francine Milano
Diagnosed 2003
There is hope indeed . . .
The Martha C. Kinnecom Peritoneal Cancer Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation
www.PrimaryPeritonealCancer.org
PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER FOUNDATION
Keep Hope AliveI certainly consider myself blessed to be a survivor of Primary Peritoneal cancer, and I take few days for granted now. As a minister and clairvoyant medium, I view it all from a very spiritual perspective and feel those who are called home are just as blessed for different reasons. Maybe my life-long view of "the other side" was one of my survival tools.
I was diagnosed in 2003 after a few years of complaining about a pain in my abdomen that was getting worse. I went to several OBGYNs and because they couldn't feel the tumor in a physical exam due to where it was situated, they ALL told me it was just gas and no other tests were suggested. I finally went to a new family doctor and told her about this pain and said that if she was going to tell me I had gas, I was never coming to see her again. Finally, that day someone took me seriously and sent me for an ultrasound. That was just the beginning of my journey of not only learning to appreciate every day, but why you must manage your own health care.
Since my diagnosis at age 40, there have been many more cases and more doctors are now experienced in the matter. In 2003 though, I made every doctor's mouth drop when they saw my exploratory surgery photos. It still looked like regular blood and guts to me, but apparently I was a circus freak and didn't even know it. I had one ovary pushed forward into my hip and another pointing toward the back. One doctor asked if I had a bad accident as a child. I had pieces of omentum attached to most of my lower organs and in fact my hysterectomy was quite long and complicated, requiring several surgeons--all eager for the big event I might add. They took my gallbladder and carefully debulked much of my bowel as well. Even at that point, cancer wasn't mentioned. The tumor was suspected to be a cyst and it wasn't until after my surgery that we learned what we were dealing with. It doesn't usually proceed in that order for most people, but I suppose finding out just weeks before my first chemo treatment offered me less time to dwell on it.
From there, my story is probably similar to many. I buzzed and donated my hair to avoid the trauma of pulling it out one clump at a time. My husband was my main rock, and I reached out to others on the web to give and receive support. Many of my chemo-buddies were called home to heaven. I feel I was asked to stay for a little longer, and perhaps if I was not so insistent on some quality attention to my pain, it could have easily gone another way. I have some residual effects from chemo. I feel I aged a little faster, but no worse for the wear. My diabetes has progressed a bit, and in fact I had to survive a small stroke as a result too! I celebrated five years in remission this year, and I am living my life's purpose in helping others. I want people to know that you can survive this cancer. I live with a cartoon drawn question mark that hovers over my head, and it follows me around all the time. Sometimes I do forget it's there though and as time goes by, it becomes less important. My only job now is to do my best in living life to the fullest.
