(no subject)

[rivka]

I can't believe that my midwife got through that whole conversation without using the word "cancer" or "tumor." Because if this is gestational trophoblastic disease? Then it's a tumor. Even in the benign form, 20% of patients wind up needing chemotherapy because some of it grows back. And there are also forms that are initially malignant.

The NCI website describes GTD as "highly curable," so we're not talking about tragic deathbed scenes here. But it looks like she wasn't kidding about the intensive monitoring, and for damn good reasons.

Comments

[wiredferret.livejournal.com]

Your midwife is a smart lady and knows that we are wired to not be able to listen to anything after certain keywords. Like cancer.

However, you are smart and she is smart, and you have a plan of action, and GOD I wish you weren't dealing with this.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

I just read your links, and I sure hope it is not trophoblastic disease (which I had never heard of, and my goodness the human body is a strange place). It sounded like they can't be sure from the ultrasound, and the surgery will confirm or clear you? Here's hoping.

[eeyorerin]

That was my reaction too! (After "oh no, how horrible" it was "the human body can DO that? Whoa.")

[rivka.livejournal.com]

After the surgery they'll need to do a pathology exam on the, I guess at this point we call it the contents of the uterus. She said it will take about a week to get the results.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

I did a little web searching accompanied by swearing and muttering after seeing your post. Then I took deep breaths and reminded myself that I have a lot of respect for your midwife and trust that you are getting good medical care.

Then I swore some more. It doesn't actually do anything but I seem to be wired for swearing when 'vamp until ready' appears in the score.

Love to all of you.

[aloha-moira.livejournal.com]

To be honest, after I read the link in the last post I thought you were purposefully using words like "mass" to avoid saying "tumor". :/ But I hope that, whether it's GTD or the less scary option (?) you will get through it as smoothly as possible.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually read the whole article before I posted the link. And yet it certainly hadn't escaped me that the two main sources of information I found were from NCI and the American Cancer Society. I was still managing to think of it as something else at that point. Denial is a beautiful thing.

[aloha-moira.livejournal.com]

The human mind is wonderfully designed to tune out information until it's ready to process it; I'm amazed that your poor neurons have been able to handle this amount of information and emotion at all. (and God, I hope that doesn't come across as trite.)

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

GoodThoughts still continuing; candle on what passes for my altar is lit.

[puzzlement.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry to hear your news. I send my best wishes for your health as this is followed up, and my sorrow for the grief and horror.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

no words here. please have a puppy nose.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the other post yet (backwards is LJ). Nothing but sympathy here. Let your friends help you through this; they will. I wish I was close enough to be useful. If there's anything I can do, please let me know.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Your midwife is clearly smart. A good resource.