Yesterday, I was officially discharged from my Oncologist!
It has been five years since I had bowel cancer , aged just 25, and since then, thankfully, my health has been very good with no sign of anything nasty returning.
I have been having yearly appointments with my Oncologist, the consultant who looked after me throughout my chemotherapy. These have been mainly routine, asking me if there’s anything I’m worried about, and having a feel of my tummy. Yesterday was my fifth – and last one.
I took Isla along while Lilly was at nursery. I arrived at the clinic and was ushered straight in by my doctor. He told me I was being discharged and that I had been a “superstar” patient. I introduced him to Isla and we chatted about the fact that, five years ago, our conversation was about whether or not the chemotherapy I was about to have would leave me infertile. The fear of not having children was absolutely the worst thing about the whole experience, but my doctor had tried to reassure me that the chances of the chemo making my infertile were “slim”. But, as I said to him yesterday, a slim chance is still a chance, and you just can’t help but worry.
If I could have had a crystal ball to look into my future and see myself with my two wonderful daughters, it would’ve saved me a lot of tears, worry and anxiety. But then again I feel blessed that I never took for granted my ability to have children, and I hope I’m a better person for experiencing that incredibly strong yearning for a family of my own. If nothing else I hope it has given me empathy for others who have difficulty conceiving, and hopefully means I won’t take my girls or my hapy life for granted.
I was incredibly lucky that my cancer was discovered when it was, before it spread, despite my own failure to recognise the symptoms of the anaemia that I’d probably been living with for years. I’ve learnt that you should listen to your body. Sometimes, being a little bit more of a hypochondriac might just save your life. And I’ve learnt that cancer doesn’t just happen to other people, or just to old people. I’ve also been lucky to have a wonderful husband with me throughout all of this, and a great family.
My consultant asked me yesterday what I put my “success” down to. A funny question. I haven’t “done” anything. I’ve just carried on living. I was lucky to be treated by a fantastic surgeon and to have had great aftercare from my Oncologist. Thank you Warrington Hospital. I owe you a lot.
I have been very, very lucky.
Wow! What excellent news! You are lucky indeed!
A very moving post!!
Congratulations on the discharge and the will to carry on living and have a family!
Cancer Free – YAY!!
just had to stop by and say wonderful news ! I wish you the world !
Hello *waves*
what wonderful news to have! You must be feeling on top of the world 🙂
Xx
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I’m so pleased to hear your news, what a huge milestone for you. You truly deserve your health for your positive attitude & appreciation of your family life.
To the future!
Hxx
Such wonderful news – and so very lucky to have still been able to have your beautiful girlies xxx
I just stopped over from a twitter #FF thing to meet someone new. I had no idea I would get a post like this. I hope this doesn’t sound too odd from a newcomer but I am so happy for you that you are healthy and cancer free. That is wonderful news.
congratulations, you have been through so much and so young I’m so glad you are discharged must be such a relief x
Thank you so much everybody. It is a lovely feeling. In many ways the whole experience still seems unreal. I feel very thankful to have been one of the lucky ones, and I hope my luck stays with me for a long time to come.
Thanks so much for all the kind words x
Great news, Congratulations! it must be such a relief xx
Gemma that is such an amazing and inspiring story. Congratulations!
Wonderful. I knew nothing about this but am so thrilled to hear you’re a-ok. And what a blessing to have your two gorgeous girls. Lots of love. x
Gemma, I have just booked tickets for The Night Garden Show and came across a link to your site.
I can really empathise with your feeling that it didn’t seem real. I have been in a similar position, two brain tumours in two years and mir scans every three months for the foreseeable future, but also a wonderful surprise pregnancy and a beautiful angel girl. I can talk about my situation with little emotion (save for when I worry about my part in my daughter’s future), I have shed tears over some parts of your story. I think it is something we have to do to survive.
I just wanted you to know that I am really spurred on by your story. I live in the hope for the day that I too share your enviable check up free position!
Good luck and keep having fun with your lovely girls.
H x
That really sums up how I feel about it, to be honest. For a long time I expected them to tell me “oh, it wasn’t that after all, we made a mistake…” I couldn’t really believe I ever had cancer, I never felt like somebody with cancer! I still feel like that a little bit, and bit of a “fraud”. I was so lucky that by the time I knew I had it, i was pretty much cured.
Like you, the only time I ever really feel emotional about my situation is if I ever let the thought of cancer returning enter my mind (which I don’t do often). I couldn’t even think about leaving my two little girls, and the thought of that is the only one which scares me. Mind you, any mother could just as easily be hit by a bus, so i suppose all mothers must have that same fear, deep down.
I hope all is well with you at the moment, and that your tests won’t reveal any more problems for you. It sounds like you are a very brave lady. xx