I feel like I can now say that my friend Daniella & I go 'way back', as it's been nearly 8 years since I've seen her, but we've kept in contact by phone & email all this time. Her & I met during our time working at NASA Langley Research Center, and found out we had a similar background as we are both the oldest of 4 girls. We both came from very different parts of the country to take the co-op/internship in Hampton, Virginia. I came from Michigan at the time & she from New Mexico. She resides there today with her husband (great story how they met, btw) and her 2 beautiful children. Back then, her & I shared tips on where-to-find jewelry, make-up, how to best pluck your eyebrows, what engineering classes we had taken & need to take, where to eat hot spicey Thai food, and we went club hopping throughout the week so we could Salsa/Merenge/and Bachata the nights away.
Daniella & I on one of our dancing nights:
Tony (now Daniella's husband), Daniella & I on another dancing night.......(yes, Daniella was one of the last people to see my hair CURLY! since it went away after I had children):
Proof we worked at NASA.....sort of. I couldn't find a picture of Daniella & I actually at our workplace at NASA. This picture is not an accurate depiction of where we worked either......this pic was taken when I drove down w/some other interns to the NASA center in FL to watch a launch.....this is me on the launch pad next to the spaceshuttle....I have to say, the whole experience was amazing!
Daniella saw me through most of my 2nd half of my pregnancy when I was expecting Olivia, and helped to host one of only 2 baby showers I have ever had. Today we chat about birthing, nursing babies, stamping, sewing, our children, and her (fairly) recent chemo treatment for a growth on her ovary. She is one amazing woman.
Here is Daniella with her husband Tony, her little boy Isaiah, and her daughter Julianah:
Daniella recently sent an update about herself to some of her friends. I asked her if it would be alright if I could 'reprint' it and share it on my blog. She agreed. (Names of Drs have been changed to protect their privacy) To all my girlfriends: read up!
Hi everyone!
It has been a very long time since I have sent out an email about my health. I recently had my 3 month check up and I received another bill of good health. Two years ago this month I started chemo and my long journey of exams, blood work, testing and the uncertainity.... Although I am in good health, we are however, "watching" a cyst on my right ovary. And this is why I have decided to send an email.
When I first discovered that I had a "growth" on my left ovary (~3yrs ago) and that I was going to have to have it (ovary) removed, I had several emails/calls/etc asking me if I had gotten my pap. The answer is yes, every year. The second was, what did you feel. At the time this all happened, we had alot going on. I was pregnant with Isaiah and had all-day sickness and we were bidding on our first house and the only symptom I could remember was that it felt like a sprained muscle. Well, this time around when I started to feel a "pain" on my right side, I paid close attention. Partly because I wanted to tell my doctor and partly b/c I wanted to share with you, so you will know the symptoms.
So lets go back to August 2008. I started feeling a pain on my right side. I noticed it more when my bladder was full, or if I wore boots/high heels and walked on a hard surface, or if I wore a belt with my jeans and was sitting for long periods of time. I had just had an appt with my oncologist, Dr. P, so I thought, hmm, my blood work looked good, he said my ovary "felt" normal during the exam, so maybe it is just my period. September 2008. The pain by now was worse. At times, I had to take an ibuprofen just to make it bearable. Sometimes it would radiate to my lower back. I was not sleeping well and felt tired. The pain now lasted longer than just a few days, it was most of the time. I had an appt with Dr P at the first of Oct, so I thought I would wait and I did. Oct 2008. My blood work looked great. During my appt, I told Dr P about my pain and when he did my exam, he said my ovary "felt" normal and it did not feel enlarged (which would indicate a cyst). And this is important b/c he does this EVERY DAY, he is trained in this, he knows what he is supposed to be feeling. This is why I am sending this email to you! But being the great doctor he is, he listened to me. He decided he wanted to change my birth control to a combined hormone pill and get me an ultrasound ASAP. I got an ultrasound and it confirmed what I thought. I had a cyst on my right ovary. It measured 47cc in volume. The radiologist said it was probably a functional cyst (those that we women get from time to time). But b/c of my history she wanted to see me again. Jan 2009. I went in for my second ultrasound. And bad news was that the cyst was still there, good news was that it had decreased in size to 22cc in volume. That's more than half!! This is b/c of the new birth control. I had an appt w/ Dr P the next day. During the appt, my blood work looked great (all good news) and the cyst was already shrinking. He is optimistic that with new BC it will dissolve. How long? Probably about 6 months. But the good news, is that I really do not feel it anymore. And b/c it is decreasing in size, he is not worried of it being cancerous. So that is why we are watching it, just to make sure.
So after all that background information, this is what I wanted to pass along to you. YOU know what feels normal. If you are having a pain on one of your sides that lingers around for longer than 2 weeks, you need to call your doctor. If you get an exam and everything "feels" fine, but you know better, request an ultrasound. Even my doctor, who specializes in this, could not feel this cyst, remember that! And remember that a pap does NOT screen for ovarian cancer, but for cervical cancer. And yes, most cysts are benign, but those that are not can be deadly. Ovarian cancer is a slient killer. We, as women, just get too busy to listen to our bodies and by the time we do, it is too late.
Did you know that Sept is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month? I didn't until I went through all of this. Did you know that teal is the awareness color? I didn't. I think it would be great if the same awareness could be done about Ovarian Cancer that is done with Breast Cancer. We all know pink is the color and October is the month. I think this is great, but it would be great if the same coverage would be given the month before to Ovarian Cancer. So take this information for yourself and pass it along. You want to ask more questions, feel free. I am open.
Please do not think that I sent this to you to scare you b/c that was not my intention. I think information is power and I hope I just empowered you!
daniella
Thank you Daniella for your awesome witness & openness to share. I hope you have the Happiest of Birthdays D!
Lots of love,
Jen
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