Make mine a double.
Last night my mom told me she has cancer.
I am still not sure how I’m feeling right now, but she is very confident in her doctor, and that everything will be alright.
Her doctor told her that she has stage 1 uterine cancer. She is scheduled to have a complete hysterectomy on January 7th. They don’t know right now if she will have to do chemotherapy or radiation treatments, but because they caught it so early, she probably won’t have to do further treatment.
She has had a lot of pre-cancer spots taken care of on her face and shoulders in the last few years, but it never occurred to me that my mom would actually ever have real, serious cancer (as opposed to non-serious cancer? I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore) that could put her health in danger.
I know that if this was someone else, and I was on the outside, I would think but she’s going to have a hysterectomy and everything will be fine.
But that’s my mother. Not a stranger. I’m not dismissing a single thing where my mom’s involved.
I’m so tired of fucking cancer in my family.
The only consolation I feel is that if there is one person on this Earth who could probably scare cancer cells away and make them never want to come back, it’s my mom.
She’s little, but she’s mean.
18 Comments »
Comment by Michelle
December 29, 2007 @
If there can be any kind of “good” cancer, stage 1 is most certainly it. Be glad she’s been so good about getting herself screened and has found it early. These days I hear hysterectomies can be done laparoscopically, with much less healing time. I’ll be thinking about you and your Mom.
Oh yeah, and a big Fuck You to cancer.
Comment by awittykitty
December 29, 2007 @
Hearing the “C” word is scary, especially when its someone close to you. But like everyone will probably be saying….catching it early is almost like a “Get out of jail free” card these days with all the technology and advances in medicines. Oh, and if mean people are safe, I guess that means we’ll both live to be 120. Take care.
Comment by DanjerusKurves
December 29, 2007 @
My best friend had the same thing, they sucked out her ovaries and voila! All done!!!
Comment by Anne
December 29, 2007 @
I will send good wishes for the mom, and tell you that I had my hysterectomy vaginally. No exterior incisions at all! I don’t know if they can do that when removing the ovaries, but even if its just a lap scar its sosososo much better than a full-blown opening.
Not a happy ending of ‘07, but
HAPPY NEW YEAR nonetheless.
Comment by Jess
December 30, 2007 @
I’m not sure if you remember, but I worked in cancer research for awhile…which, of course makes me NO expert, but based on the numerous clinical trials that I analyzed and reported, stage 1 cancer is EXTREMELY treatable, and i feel confident saying that you should take comfort in the fact that it was caught so early. she’s very lucky it wasn’t caught in stage III or IV, which is often when people finally realize that they have cancer. of course, a friend of mine’s aunt was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and is living, breathing, and kicking (literally), so anything is possible! 
stay strong. xoxo - me
Comment by Meany
December 30, 2007 @
Dude. If you need moral support or help thinking of new expletives to fit this situation, you know I’m here for you.
Comment by golfwidow
December 30, 2007 @
No matter who you are or how often you’ve dealt with it before, when it’s your mom, there is no comparison and no way to get around the fact that that is some scary shit right there.
Hugs.
Comment by Kathy
December 30, 2007 @
Oh, my dear, I am so sorry to hear about this; it must be very scary. I’ll keep a good thought for you and your mother.
Comment by Violet
December 30, 2007 @
Big love to you, and a wish for all the ass-kicking power your mom can muster.
XOXO
Violet
Comment by nogoodadddy
December 31, 2007 @
Let me help Meany in offering up expletives:
Fuck.
Do you want a hug? I know it’s me, but I’ll send you one of those internet hugs that people do. I may even try not to hate you today.
Strike that. “hate you as much”
Chin up
Comment by Jenn
December 31, 2007 @
Hey Andria,
My mom’s been through it twice and she’s kicked it’s ass thoroughly. But that doesn’t help much does it? You still want to cry like a little kid right now and that’s okay. It’s totally normal. Just hang in there and know you have a lot of friends out here in cyber-space who support you and who are willing to be shoulders to lean on. Big hug to you. -J
Comment by La
December 31, 2007 @
OMG!
Chances are since they found it so early, she’s gonna be okay. And she’s mean, right? That always helps.
Hey, if you need to cancel out for tonight, I totally understand, but I’m here for you if you wanna get somewhat blotto and have a sounding wall to yell to. I’ll even drive you home if that’s what it takes
Comment by scotvalkyrie
January 1, 2008 @
I concur with everyone here with the “Holy Fuck!” factor. As a Hyster-Sister, I suspect that your mum will have to have the full open-up-the-belly surgery, if for nothing else than to LOOK for anything suspicious. I highly recommend a little pillow to hug post-surgery for laughing, coughing, and moving about. Also, I recommend getting up and walking as quickly as is humanly possible post-surgery — it helps things move, and I tell you, they won’t let you out of hospital until you get things to MOVE, if you know what I mean!
Comment by mentalimages
January 1, 2008 @
My deepest wishes of good thoughts and excellent results for your mom on Jan. 7th
Comment by GoingLoopy
January 2, 2008 @
Well, that sucks. But catching it early = good, and from everything you said about your mom, she’s in otherwise good health and is feisty as all shit, so those things are definitely in her favor. You and your mom will be in my thoughts.
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Comment by warcrygirl
December 29, 2007 @
With them catching it so early and such there’s a VERY GOOD chance she’ll have the hysterectomy and her only complication will be a big assed moustache. A big part of beating cancer (both serious and non-serious alike) is a positive outlook.
CHIN UP MY DEAR. And thanks for the Hoary Christmas wishes, I’d have sent you a card too but I’m a lazy shit.