I realised half way through this afternoon that today is the 10 year anniversary of major life-saving surgery.
Ten years ago I had a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy (so both ovaries gone as well) and omentectomy. Diagnosis early ovarian cancer. Caught so early that, in fact, I didn't need any chemo.
It wasn't all plain sailing. I had a mirena in and had no idea if I was peri or postmenopausal at the time; I was lucky not to have too many symptoms but surgican menopause isn't what anyone would choose. Complications of the surgery included developing a big hernia, which needed fixing the following year, and ongoing issues with a prolapse. And it gave me health anxiety against which I continue to fight.
But ten years! I feel very lucky. I really thought then that I might well die. And I've had a LOT of fun and great times in those 10 years.
I'm posting this in case anyone else is currently having symptoms or undergoing investigations. Yes, I was lucky; a lot of women with ovarian cancer are not so lucky. But some are and not all ovarian masses are cancerous so maybe, if this is happening to you, you will be lucky too. Here's to another great 10 years (and more!) for all of us!