Introduction of my Friend, Diane:

I have been friends with Diane since high school.  We shopped for prom dresses together, we were in each other’s weddings, and we’ve shared a lot of life experience in between that time.  Diane is a life-long friend.  She is one of those friends that we can go months without talking, but when we resume a conversation, we just pick back up where we left off.

When I found out that I was going to have a hysterectomy, Diane was one of the first friends I reached out to.  I always thought a hysterectomy was for people our grandmother’s age, not for young people like us, but I knew Diane had a hysterectomy about a year ago (at the age of 43).  She was my go-to sister for preparing for the procedure and planning all post-op supplies.  By the way, I am still asking her questions about post-op symptoms and expectations.

So, I asked Diane to contribute her amazing story.  I am so proud of her!

(I have only made minor edits so you can hear it from her perspective.  This story is printed as a Guest Blog, with Diane’s permission).

Diane’s Story

In the Fall of 2020, I received a disturbing phone call while I was baking apple pies.
“Hi, Mom,” I said as I picked up the phone.
“Hi, Hon,” she replied, “Dad and I have some news.”  They both explained that Dad had cancer.
I suddenly had more important things to ponder than baking pies.

The following months were filled with prayer and worry as I watched my dad become brittle and
frail from the chemo, and my mom become stressed to the point of breaking. She was not only
caring for my dad, but she was a full-time night shift House Supervisor at the hospital she and I both
worked for.   This was during the worst part of COVID. Winter 2020-2021. The hospital
could hardly accommodate the influx of patients, and the staff was strained.

One day, my dad’s oncologist suggested that he have genetic testing to see if he had any gene
mutations that could make cancer more likely. So, he in fact was positive for the BRCA1
mutation. The day he got the news, he was on the phone to my sister and I along with all of his blood relatives.  You see, his own mother had passed away of breast cancer when he was a teenager.

I immediately made an appointment to get the testing done. Later, I came back positive for BRCA1
as well. I had expected it, and I wasn’t happy about it. As the daughter of a nurse who had seen it all,
I knew that ovarian cancer was the deadliest form of cancer. I picked up the phone right away and called my
OBGYN to talk about a full hysterectomy. My doctor ordered a blood test, CA125, a cancer marker and a pelvic US. Both turned out normal except for a small cyst on my right ovary that wasn’t bothering me. However, were set for a full hysterectomy in just a couple weeks.

The morning of surgery came, and I was a bit nervous. I was prepped by the OR team and as I was
getting on the surgical table, my doctor gave me a reassuring pep talk. Later, I woke up in the
recovery room with what felt like a period cramp.  A few
minutes later my doctor walked in and came over to my bed. I thought it was very sweet of her to
come check on me so soon after the surgery. Then, I realized her demeanor was solemn. She took
my hand and asked the nurse to draw the privacy curtain closed. My smile dropped. She told
me that she had found cancer that was in my peritoneal area, and it looked like it may have spilt from
the ovaries. After she found it, she had to notify another surgeon to come and help. He removed my
appendix and 2 lymph nodes that were nearby in case they had cancerous cells in them as well. All
tissue removed was sent to pathology for testing. I lay on the bed staring off into space. I felt kind of
numb. Not scared. Not yet. My doctor’s eyes were tearing up as she told me that she had already
talked to my husband, and after getting a CT scan, I would get to go to my hospital room where I
would spend the night. I thanked her and told that I was very grateful that she noticed it and took action.

That evening when I got to my room, my husband said he had called my parents and they wanted to be called again when I had arrived in my room. I had my parents as well as my sister and her
husband on speaker phones. I reassured everyone that I felt
fine, and I told them what the doctor told me. Later, my dad explained that he was very grateful he had cancer, otherwise it might have been too late when mine was discovered. 

The next day, I was able to go home. The day after that we went to my parents’ house for dinner, to be together, and to try to make sense of things. My sister and her husband had come in from
out of town too. On the way over, I was feeling scared and uncertain about my future. Suddenly, my
husband pointed ahead and said, “Hey, look at the rainbow!” I looked up and saw a beautiful
rainbow straight ahead popping out of a fluffy cloud made bright pink and orange by the setting
sun. I nearly teared up feeling instantly comforted. I felt that it was a sign from God to me to tell me
that I was going to be fine, and to trust in Him. It was His sign to me of hope.

Later after I had gone home, we were told I would be handed over to a Gynecological Oncologist
who would take me into surgery in a couple of weeks. As soon as I met her for the first time, I knew
she was exactly what I was hoping for. A warrior of a doctor who would help me fight this diagnosis.
I remember meeting her after she operated on me, and I was receiving my first chemo treatment at
her office. I had asked if we knew yet what stage the cancer was at. She paused and said she would
go check. She came back into the room almost giddy and announced, “Stage 2B!” It was treatable!
It was survivable!

I am now nearly one year past my last chemo treatment. I am still seeing my doctor every 3
months for a checkup, because we are looking for any sign of it coming back.

Right now, I am preparing for the next part of this adventure. Since BRCA1 makes it more likely for a woman to
develop ovarian cancer and breast cancer, I made the decision to get a double mastectomy with a
flat closure. No reconstruction. It is too much to endure after what I went through last year.

Today is November 2 as I write this, and I will have the double mastectomy in 6 days. If you are so inclined, I would
be very grateful if you lifted me, my 2 doctors, and their team up in prayer.

Also, if you take anything from my story, I hope it is to consider getting genetic testing if you have any history of cancer in your family.

God Bless,

Diane

Friends, I have invited Diane to share a post-op update with us when she feels like it in several weeks.  Please pray for her surgery and recovery.

Be Blessed,

Dr. K