I am a 4-time Liver Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed in 97’ a week after my 25th birthday. I had a 4-½ inch tumor on my liver - a rare form of Liver Cancer at my age, and it was at stage four. I was very young to have this type of cancer. The doctors could not understand it. When they went in to do a biopsy, it went terribly bad. They punctured the tumor spreading the cancer everywhere. I lost a lot of blood during the surgery and they could not keep up trying to put more blood into me. I actually died on the table during surgery. The doctors had to take out half of my liver and part of my diaphragm. They repaired the diaphragm with Gor-Tex, so I am now waterproof! After the surgery my family was told I would not live and to be prepared to say goodbye. But I proved them wrong. I was in the hospital for a month. Months later I was having Chemotherapy. I didn’t receive Chemo like most people intravenously, I had it injected directly into the tumor though my groin. This was an experimental procedure and needless to say, the chemo did not work. The cancer was not going away, it was growing.
I had another surgery in 98’ in which they removed half of my liver again. Yet it came back again and this time everywhere - my right lung, my esophagus, my liver, and tissue around my heart. In 99’ they went back in and removed everything they could that had a tumor on it. Half of my right lung, parts of my esophagus, tissue around my heart, and parts of my liver. The inside of me has seen more daylight than it should. Another year past, and yet again the surgery did not work. 2000 was going to be different. This time, the doctors tried something different, an experimental procedure. They injected the tumor with alcohol. It’s called An Ethanol (alcohol) Embolization. Believe it or not, it worked! The tumors have died and knock on wood.. Knock Knock.. It has not come back. It was an experiment that has saved my life. Because of research, I had a number of experimental procedures from the PET scan to the surgeries. I am alive because of the research and the funding for cancer.Cancer was an eye opener for me. I am so thankful that I had cancer. It showed me there is so much more to life than we know. Things are so much more special to me. I have met so many incredible people because of it, and it has brought me back to my faith, which is one of the biggest things that got me though this. Besides my family and friends, my faith kept me at peace. Knowing that no matter what I was going though or the pain I was having, I was going to be ok.During this emotional time in my life, I had the best friend a woman could ask for, my husband. We had only been dating for four months before I found out I had Liver cancer. Yet he stood by my side and was my rock. Cancer brought us together, and kept us tight. We have gone though so much together because of cancer and survived together. That says a lot.I believe in GOD and I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that with God’s help I will be able to do what ever I can to help the cancer community so those behind me have a chance to survive like me.I became involved with the American Cancer Society with their signature event, The Relay for Life. Getting involved and helping those like me. I wanted to be there for those who were about to go though what I had just did. A couple of years went by and I started to get involved with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. And now All I want to do is Help others, be active, be an advocate for cancer, get funding, and help cancer patients be Survivors! As one, we have the power to change the world.
Unity is Strength, Knowledge is power, and Attitude is everything!!!!!
I LIVESTRONG everyday. And so should you!
