Special Edition 2019, Laguna Beach, CA
"Love of Life" Luncheon
"Love of Life" Luncheon
This special edition will feature all the women that came, their personal cancer/molar story along with beautifully captured photos throughout the day event taken by Bluejay Photography. Please check in often as we will add on a new survivor attendee each week! Click here for a special story on this event!
Meet Michelle, Oregon, diagnosed 2018 placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT)
"July 2016 the worst year of my life. I went in for my normal 4 month check up with my second pregnancy and thought nothing of it. My first was very normal and relatively easy pregnancy. Yeah, I’d been super sick with the second, but thought, "Well maybe it’s just a boy." This wasn’t my first rodeo so I went to the checkup alone without my husband that morning. She wasn’t able to find the heartbeat. She rushed me over to ultrasound. The next thing I know is that the doctor was searching for the heart beat. I knew something was off. My heart sank. On the screen all I saw was a bunch of grape like cysts. The Dr told me then I had what’s called a pmp (partial molar pregnancy) and I would need a D&C (dilation and curettage) asap. I had zero idea what the heck that ever was. Fast forward post d&C, my hcg levels were still elevated. The Dr explained that sometimes it’s hard to kill cells in your uterus when it’s one job is to grow and nourish a baby. December of 2016 I had five rounds of methotrexate to get my levels to zero, and underwent monthly blood draws for six months to monitor my hcg levels . The Drs then had me wait a year until I could try again for another baby, but overall said I should be able to have a relatively normal second pregnancy after all this.
Long story short I waited the year after six months of negative blood draws and still was not able to conceive. I knew in my heart something wasn’t right once again. I went back to the Dr summer of 2017. They did some test and noticed I had an area of unusual blood flow in my uterus. My Dr was immediately concerned even though my hcg levels were still zero. I had another D&C scheduled for October of 2017 to see what was in my uterus. It was a cluster of cells they had tested at John Hopkins but still wasn’t 100% sure at the time what was going on. I was referred out to an oncologist and he suggested a hysterectomy because he thought it may be a rare gestational trophoblastic tumor, which was quite devastating to hear at 33 years old. I made the decision for my health, and being here for my family was more important than bearing more children. December 6, 2018 my hysterectomy was conducted the dr called a couple days later and this confirmed a PSTT. I felt a sense a relief I made the decision to have the surgery but overwhelming sadness as well. To this day I work hard on my mind, body and soul to live a happy fulfilling life full of giving back and honoring the struggle."
Long story short I waited the year after six months of negative blood draws and still was not able to conceive. I knew in my heart something wasn’t right once again. I went back to the Dr summer of 2017. They did some test and noticed I had an area of unusual blood flow in my uterus. My Dr was immediately concerned even though my hcg levels were still zero. I had another D&C scheduled for October of 2017 to see what was in my uterus. It was a cluster of cells they had tested at John Hopkins but still wasn’t 100% sure at the time what was going on. I was referred out to an oncologist and he suggested a hysterectomy because he thought it may be a rare gestational trophoblastic tumor, which was quite devastating to hear at 33 years old. I made the decision for my health, and being here for my family was more important than bearing more children. December 6, 2018 my hysterectomy was conducted the dr called a couple days later and this confirmed a PSTT. I felt a sense a relief I made the decision to have the surgery but overwhelming sadness as well. To this day I work hard on my mind, body and soul to live a happy fulfilling life full of giving back and honoring the struggle."
