In 2008, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. It was a huge shock, especially because the year before my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. We have no doubt in our minds that her OBGYN saved her life by catching it early. Thankfully, she has been cancer-free since 2008, but that year was rough.
Since then, my family has had other cancer scares — and I have certainly learned a few things, such as:
Know your family history
We’ve all been there. You go to a new doctor’s appointment and have paperwork to fill out. Usually, they ask if you or anyone in your family have certain conditions. My mom is a nurse, and she always made sure my sister and I knew what diseases and conditions were in our family history. Before my mom’s cancer diagnosis, I would always call her and ask her. Many cancers can be genetic. Knowing this information can help make sure you are screened early and frequently. Now I have that information on my phone as a note because as a Navy family, we tend to change doctors more frequently. I have also started asking my mother-in-law for this information for my kids and husband.
Get tested every year
In 2018, my Aunt Becky was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mammogram religiously every year, but two years ago during her yearly mammogram, they found a large mass. I can only imagine what would have happened if she had skipped that year. The scary thing is that she never felt it when she did her breast self-exam. After numerous surgeries, she is thankfully cancer-free.
Consider genetic testing
Genetic testing for cancer is not new although recently it has become more widely available. I had genetic testing done at the Mayo Clinic this past year, and it was a pretty simple process. First, I had to fill out a family history form. Then, I met with a geneticist who discussed my family history and told me what to expect once he had the results. Most people will see a genetic counselor when getting tested. He answered all my questions before I had my blood drawn in the lab. A few weeks later, he called me and discussed the findings. I found that I’m at risk for colon, breast, and uterine cancer. But instead of being scared, I felt empowered. Having this information meant I could be proactive and get early screenings and watch for the warning signs.
Speak up and listen to your body
In 2006, my mom went through menopause. The OBGYN nurse told her if she started to spot or bleed call to call them. In 2008, she started spotting and her OBGYN had her come in the next day. Initially, he thought it might be my mom’s fibroids, but he later told us a little voice in his head pushed him to double-check. He performed a vaginal ultrasound and did a biopsy. I’m so thankful he listened to my mom’s body and took the extra steps because, without him, she would have gone months without a diagnosis.
On the flip side, with my father, we had to speak up. They wanted to wait six months to retest his PSA levels (elevated PSA levels can indicate the presence of cancer) again but my mom said that made her uneasy so they found another doctor. This doctor said his cancer could have spiraled out of control if they waited. My dad is still fighting prostate cancer, but we are thankful to have a proactive doctor who keeps working hard to keep his cancer under control.
Never stop being a mother
My mom is a fighter. She had to have a hysterectomy to remove the cancer. Like a typical mom, she couldn’t just rest and recover in peace. During her recovery period, I had to have my tonsils out. My mom insisted on coming with me even though I was 27 years old, and she was supposed to be resting at home. My dad and aunt had to practically force her to go home after the surgery. She wanted to be there to make sure I was okay and that everything went well. Now that I’m a mother myself, I completely understand why she did that. She puts her kids first even when she is the one who needed to come first.
My mom is a cancer survivor. I know how lucky we are to still have her. On the first Sunday of every June, National Cancer Survivors Day, I will toast my mom, Aunt Becky, Uncle Mike, Uncle Pat, my Nanny, and all other cancer survivors. I will also keep in mind those like my dad who are still fighting and hope that one day, I will be able to say he is happily cancer-free.
