Post by SarahCate on Aug 7, 2013 0:45:50 GMT -6
Hi! I'm SarahCate, and I'm the woman who started this site (and ultimately, the organization that will accompany it someday). Since I'm the reason this is all here, I'll let you know a little about myself:
I'm 32 years old and I was diagnosed with Stage 3C Uterine Cancer in March of 2012 after more than a year of pain, discomfort, exhaustion, and issues. A month later I had an emergency D&C at which point they discovered my uterus was quite literally filled with tumors. On April 30th I had a complete hysterectomy with a bilateral oophrectomy. In additional to removing my uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, they also took 43 lymph nodes for testing. One of the nodes returned with Cancer, turning my simple... surgical cure into a treatment strategy.
I began Radiation with booster chemo at the end of June, got a break in August, and began systemic chemotherapy (Carboplatin and Paclitaxel) the first week of September. I finished chemo with only 1 delay and 1 transfusion just before Thanksgiving of last year, and entered remission officially on December 13th, 2012.
During the beginnings of my official cancer journey (ie: post diagnosis) I used up all of my FMLA time, and unfortunately- lost my job. Since Remission I've decided to go back to school and get my degree in computer graphics and design, and fortunately I have a lot of family support so that losing my job didn't mean losing my home or opportunities. Unfortunately that support doesn't extend to taking care of the $10,000 (and growing) in medical bills. And that is part of what drove me to start creating TYCS. Not just to provide emotional support for persons with gynecological cancers at a younger age, but hopefully to someday provide financial support as well.
For now, I'll settle for creating a safe space where fighters and survivors can come and learn, vent, share, support and be together.
And someday I'll start chipping away at those stupid bills. Just like I know we all will.
My message box will always be open, and anyone who likes can request my fb or tumblr if desired so don't hesitate to ask.
After shaving my head, but before I lost my eyebrows
.
.
Me on July 16th after my first post-cancer Haircut.
So, that's me. As more people sign on to help with moderating and administrating, I'll add pictures and bios for them as well. In the meantime, feel free to introduce yourselves in the Day By Day section!
I'm 32 years old and I was diagnosed with Stage 3C Uterine Cancer in March of 2012 after more than a year of pain, discomfort, exhaustion, and issues. A month later I had an emergency D&C at which point they discovered my uterus was quite literally filled with tumors. On April 30th I had a complete hysterectomy with a bilateral oophrectomy. In additional to removing my uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, they also took 43 lymph nodes for testing. One of the nodes returned with Cancer, turning my simple... surgical cure into a treatment strategy.
I began Radiation with booster chemo at the end of June, got a break in August, and began systemic chemotherapy (Carboplatin and Paclitaxel) the first week of September. I finished chemo with only 1 delay and 1 transfusion just before Thanksgiving of last year, and entered remission officially on December 13th, 2012.
During the beginnings of my official cancer journey (ie: post diagnosis) I used up all of my FMLA time, and unfortunately- lost my job. Since Remission I've decided to go back to school and get my degree in computer graphics and design, and fortunately I have a lot of family support so that losing my job didn't mean losing my home or opportunities. Unfortunately that support doesn't extend to taking care of the $10,000 (and growing) in medical bills. And that is part of what drove me to start creating TYCS. Not just to provide emotional support for persons with gynecological cancers at a younger age, but hopefully to someday provide financial support as well.
For now, I'll settle for creating a safe space where fighters and survivors can come and learn, vent, share, support and be together.
And someday I'll start chipping away at those stupid bills. Just like I know we all will.
My message box will always be open, and anyone who likes can request my fb or tumblr if desired so don't hesitate to ask.
After shaving my head, but before I lost my eyebrows
.
.
Me on July 16th after my first post-cancer Haircut.
So, that's me. As more people sign on to help with moderating and administrating, I'll add pictures and bios for them as well. In the meantime, feel free to introduce yourselves in the Day By Day section!
