“LIfe isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” ~ Vivian Greene
My journey started in November of 2021. I knew something was wrong. I hadn’t felt like myself for several weeks and was having periodic sharp pains in my side which I attribute to pulling a muscle (when or how I had no idea as I hate exercise and try and avoid it at all cost!) I’d had multiple CTs, a colonoscopy, and even a trip to the ER. Each time I was told there was nothing wrong with me. But then in January of 2022, a CT showed a shadow which the Radiologist advised I have checked. The general surgeon told me he was 99.9% sure it was dead fat cells causing the pain. I could get a steroid injection or he could do an exploratory laparotomy and do the injection at that time. Well, of course I had to know for sure, so I chose the laparotomy. The surgeon did not think that was the correct choice, but it was my choice to make. In recovery I’m told they found the cause of my pain…I have cancer. I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer and then in February of 2022, MD Anderson changed my diagnosis to Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PPC). PPC is considered rare, not curable, usually accompanied by complications, such as bowel and/or urinary tract obstructions and of course, let’s not stop there…a short life expectancy prognosis. Great…..
If you’ve stumbled upon this page, I’m sorry as it means either you or a loved one has cancer. I’m a wife, mother to 2 beautiful girls and grandmother to two adorable, do no wrong grandbabies! I’m a good person and try to live a good life…so why did “I” get cancer? That question will not only drive you crazy if you keep asking it, but it can also put you in a negative mental state (not where you should be or need to be!) It is what it is, so let’s put our big girl panties on and deal with it the best we possibly can.
So now what? How do I navigate my way through this new and not so great chapter of my life? How do I stay positive and keep moving forward? How do I turn my lemon (cancer) into lemonade? How do I increase my longevity against all odds? Welcome to my journey through Primary Peritoneal Cancer. I am not in the medical field, nor am I a licensed dietician. I do not promise or claim any of the information contained on my website can cure you of PPC. My only desire is to share the information I have gathered through many hours of research in hopes it can help another person suffering from PPC in some way.