Alex Mendolsohn

January 2019

I had just turned 61 and had returned from a trip to southeast Asia when I noticed that I could not get over a bad cough/respiratory problem. Soon I had yeast around my mouth and was feeling tired all the time, having always been an active high energy person. At my annual pelvic and pap exam I was slightly more uncomfortable with the exam but thought nothing of it, and neither did my PA. But six months later when I was unloading firewood, I suddenly had such severe pain I started to vomit. The next morning, I felt better, but by afternoon I had side pain again. I went to the ER thinking I had appendicitis. The ER doctor said I had a huge tumor and thought it might be ovarian cancer. I was shocked! My mother had colon cancer in her 50’s, and so I was on the look out for that, but ovarian? He told me to get a CT scan, CA-125 test, and see a gynecologic oncologist soon. My head was spinning!

Two weeks later, armed with a good friend, my CA-125 results (135) and my CT scan, I had an appointment with a gyn onc in Portland. He was concerned about a shadow he saw on the CT scan, the large size of the tumor, and he prepared me for other organs being involved. Surgery would be in two weeks. It gave me little time to wrap my mind around having cancer, needing surgery, and getting many things done. It was then that I came across a “In Her Own Words story” in the OCOASW newsletter about a runner who was determined to train and run a marathon post-surgery. Her story planted seeds for me to continue with exercise and to not give up! I had a six hour surgery that went well and did not involve other organs!! WHEW!! I was so lucky!

The diagnosis was high grade serous carcinoma stage 2B which is considered early stage. The local medical oncologist recommended the traditional six rounds of Carbo/Taxol. I was petrified and went home to think long and hard about it. I really didn’t want to do chemo. Slowly I changed my mind. I reluctantly went ahead with it for four months. I felt pretty worn out from the treatments/recent surgery and couldn’t imagine having energy ever again! I worked with a good acupuncturist/herbalist throughout the treatment, continued to do water aerobics, eliminated sugar, ate only vegetables, lived on smoothies and tried to keep my meditation practice going. I developed lymphedema in my legs and saw a wonderful lymph specialist who showed me how to do self-massage. I now wear compression stockings all the time.

Though my day was often done after exercising, I noticed I felt better physically and emotionally. I took advantage of not working and sat out in the garden. I started seeing my therapist more often and made other lifestyle changes. Miraculously, when the treatments were over I started to slowly bounce back. I had my port removed and celebrated being portless! I was amazed at my body’s resilience. I felt increasingly better for about 18 months, but when I went for my quarterly CT scan, there was evidence of a recurrence despite my CA125 being below 10. (The CA125 test is not reflective of disease for about 10% of women, and I fall into that category.) I had another surgery and decided not to do chemo again. I wanted a break.

But it did return a year later, and surgery was not possible this time because of the location of the tumors. My oncologist and gyn onc agreed chemo with Avastin added would be the best course of treatment. So in spring 2018 I had a port put in again and had five chemo infusions; most of the tumors shrank and even disappeared!! I did not do a 6th infusion because it coincided with a trip to France with two friends. I opted to go for a second opinion in Seattle and had genetic testing done. From that appointment I learned I had “recurrent OC.” The gyn onc advised having a pet scan, doing more chemo if needed until nothing was present, and then going on Avastin as maintenance therapy.

I wrestled with this advice and decided to go ahead with the chemo in Sept ’18. I started seeing a naturopath ND. I had another CT scan which showed that the remaining tumor had shrunk enough so I was able to start maintenance therapy two weeks ago. My hope is I do well on Avastin so I can travel, go camping, see close friends, be in nature, and give my share in leaving the planet a better place. Cancer gives many lessons, and I feel I have learned several of them….good self care, not bottling up feelings, being present, and following what’s important in life to each of us. I’m thankful there are many more treatment options out there now so that I might indeed have many more years for what Mary Oliver calls “This one precious life” because that is indeed what it is.