BY IVANA MIHAJLOVIC
Soon after my 30th birthday, in the late summer of 2009, I started having lower abdominal pain. People told me that my life will drastically change in my thirties, but what was about to happen wasn’t what I had in mind.
My primary care doctor’s diagnosis that I was ovulating sounded ridiculous, so I had my gynecologist do an exploratory laparoscopy. Two days after laparoscopy, on November 21st, I met the oncologist that was called to give an opinion during the surgery. He said, “we think you have cancer. I suspect it is a primary peritoneal cancer; you can Google it to learn more about it.” I am not sure if I got more mad about the cancer news or the way he told me. I remember thinking how my big “life change” is going to happen, just a few weeks into my thirties.
Within the next few weeks, I got two biopsy results that confirmed my peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. Of course, further seeing that doctor was absolutely out of question, so I looked up a real professional.
Dr. Rich Alexander was able to see me, and on January 25, 2010, he performed a 9-hour long exploratory laporotomy with cytoreduction of the intraperitoneal tumor and HIPEC with Mytomycin C.
After a week in the University of Maryland hospital in Baltimore, I went home. Three months later, I returned to full time work and my regular routine. Luckily, my cancer was found very early and hadn’t spread much, so I had a chance to have an easier “way out.”
Thus far, that surgery was the only treatment I’ve had, no additional chemotherapy or other therapies. My scans and follow-ups were on three months for the first year, every six months during the second, and right now every nine months.
Unfortunately, I don’t have answers on two very important questions: “how did I get it?” and “how long was it there?” Although, with recent studies and research of genetics, I do know that I do not have a gene mutation. My cancer was caused by exposure and that is a huge relief to my family and me.
Speaking of family, with mesothelioma I have gained a new family – my meso family – made of amazing people and fighters like myself. They are a great support and an endless source of strength and information.
I owe a huge thank you to the Meso Foundation for creating this unique family of fighters, caregivers, doctors, nurses and researchers.
Never stop believing!
