I had my first bout with appendix cancer in 2015. I had an appendectomy, hemicolectomy and 12 rounds of chemo at that time. I was doing quite well and cruising along until my recurrence in 2021. It came back on my ovary. As strange as it sounds, my husband and I were somewhat hoping it was ovarian stage 1. Unfortunately, it was stage 4 appendix adenocarcinoma (goblet/signet cell). It's rare and aggressive cancer without much encouraging data. I went in for cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemo. I had a radical hysterectomy, choleycystectomy, peritonectomy, omentecomy. I will never forget how many times I was told this was a palliative surgery...that I would never be cured...that I needed to "get my affairs in order". I think I still have a little PTSD from all those conversations. I got lucky as the disease was not as widespread as they thought. I got to keep my spleen and did not require an ostomy at that time. It was a tough diagnosis and subsequent surgery. I'm 2.5 years out with NED. I've plugged back into the living world and I am finally feeling a bit more like my old self. I find the emotional and psychological aspect of carrying a stage 4 diagnosis to be the most challenging part of this entire ordeal. It changes you and it can be a little isolating. I'm still relatively young. I had to bid farewell to my fertility, my dreams of motherhood and learn how to live again in this new reality. Sometimes it seems unreal...like a bad dream; but then I look in the mirror and the scars remind me. I'm grateful for the grace I've been shown.... but wow....what a ride it's been!

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