Survivor Story: Rebecca Gyles-Johnson

My survivor story started a long time ago when I was 15 years old, in 1976. As it was so long ago, and since I was a child, the memories are not crystal clear, and I only know the basics. Of course, it is from a child’s viewpoint too.
My symptoms were mood swings and my bloated abdominal area. Also, I would have horrible pains in my abdominal/groin area. I remember many times doubling over in pain. There was one instance that I blacked out. My father made an appointment for me with our family physician. The family physician thought I could be pregnant, wanted to know if I had sex. I assured him no. I hadn’t had a boyfriend. I was referred to a gynecologist. I saw him for my very painful exam, my first pelvic. Before the exam, I was again questioned if I could be pregnant. I remember a student was working with the gynecologist. He snickered and was very unprofessional.
Surgery was arranged. I have an incision from a little above my belly button down to my groin area. My cancerous tumor was an 8-pound dysgerminoma that was on my left ovary. There was some cancer found behind my liver; thus, I was told that bumped me up to a Stage 3 cancer rating. My fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus were removed. Emotionally dealing with all of this was very difficult for me.
After my surgery, my oncologist conferred with a children’s cancer specialist in Canada. It was decided that I should have radiation on one of their newer, at the time, linear accelerator machines. I can’t remember exactly how many weeks or months I initially had the radiation treatments. I think I had the treatments just about every day of the work week for one to two months. That radiation targeted my abdominal area. As I was ending this round of radiation, my blood work counts were not good. I needed more radiation. I was very upset. This radiation was targeted up the left side of my body, all the way to my neck. I don’t remember how many of those treatments I was given.
After my treatments, I did not have any other cancer re-occurrences. About a year after my surgery, I did have a scare. Through ultrasound, it was thought that perhaps I had a growth in my abdominal area. Again, I had surgery; however, thank goodness, it was only adhesions that had to be removed.
It seems like my ovarian cancer story is ending here; however, due to the radiation I received, I developed heart issues. The radiation that went up the left side of my chest scarred two of my heart valves. In current times, radiation is more pinpointed than it was when I had the treatments. In December of 2017, I woke up with chest pains. My husband drove me to the hospital emergency room. My heart stopped twice. Eventually, I had surgery to replace my aortic and mitral valves.
I am still recuperating from the heart surgery. A lot of issues to deal with, and I am much older than when I had my ovarian cancer surgery. Life goes on……
Thank you, Rebecca Gyles-Johnson
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