November 1984 on the Friday before Thanksgiving I was informed I was to have surgery the following Monday. Monday surgery was performed and it was more intense than expected. It was ovarian cancer, both ovaries, out of the uterus, and four tumors in the rectum. Every thing was removed at once and the rectum reconstructed. Of course the surgery was quite long. I was informed that it was cancer as I was coming out of the anesthetic; I was frightened. When I woke completely, I was frightened about what I was told, my young sons, and what the doctors were telling me. The surgery was radical and the doctors told me the chemo also would be extensive. There would be 12 chemo treatments, one very three weeks. Next year at the same time I would have surgery, where the doctors would look for any cancer cells.

What was told to me, and from what I knew, my chances were not too good.  I started my chemo treatments right after the first of the year.  I was given Cysplatium, Cytoxian, and Adriamycian, all have very serious side effects, hair loss, kidney damage, heart damage and seizures along with the normal side effects of chemo.  Also one of the side effects was the strong taste of metal of which was really strong with any beef or pork products, so there is no desire to eat which you have to do to fight back.  I didn’t have to reschedule any treatment.

I changed my diet, exercised and was very active with our boys while going through chemo, and how to accept there are no guarantees. My book, “Fighting Back Against Cancer” has information about diet, exercises, mental goals, and how I still fight back against cancer. The ebook can be purchased at www.beatingthebigc.com.

Gail Ingham
Survivor