And the verdict is...

In short, no radiation or chemo needed at this time, and hopefully ever. Woot woot.

The longer version is that the cancer is exactly where they anticipated it to be. It's microinvasive meaning it's at such an early stage that there is no visible tumour. They won't even stage it at this point.  I had a patch of 6 mm x 1mm of cancer tissue on one side of the cervix. The uterus is clear.  They feel confident that it was all removed by the surgery I had in April. The recommended course of action is still a full hysterectomy to be done sooner rather than later. I might get more information though when I head back to see her in 3 weeks in which she will have met with her pathology team to discuss the itty-bitty details.

The Team of Experts behind my recovery
During this time, I will be referred to the gynecologist that will be performing the hysterectomy to discuss the surgery approach as well as then booking this in. From what she was saying, it could be anytime from now until the early Fall. The oncologist team won't do the surgery themselves because in their gyne-cancer world, I am not sick enough which would result in my constantly getting bumped - which is music to my ears.  Therefore the run of the mill gynecologist will do. They are recommending me for a radical which means the whole kit and kaboodle (cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries).

Also in the mean time, I am being referred to CHEO Genetics, once again, to get genetic testing to find out about any gene mutations that could cause other cancers such as ovarian/breast. Some of you know that a year back, I tried to get genetic testing to see if I had the gene mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2 which heightens your chances of ever developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer and because of the full family history, I was not considered at that much more of a risk than the general public of developing these types of cancers. Well, now with these developments to my own health, it is recommended to find out if a mutation is present and then we will have more information moving forward. Even with a radical hysterectomy, you could still develop cancers such as peritoneal which my mom had in the end (and is not a pleasant or positive one). So having this piece of info will be good for me to have, as well as my family/kids.
 
And eventually, I will have to be referred  to a menopausal specialist/counselor to discuss all the complications that can arise from early menopause and also any plan on treatment or hormone therapy. I don't know too much about this stuff so this will be informative. Apparently there are great options that are not hormone or drug related to helping to regulate all that side of things. Guess I will have to learn all this stuff.

So today was exhausting. It was jam-packed with information. Some of it made sense, some of it not. Above is a summary of the conversations and I think i've captured it as best I can. What stuck with me the most is NO TREATMENTS AT THIS TIME. I'm a little confused about having to see her again in three weeks once she's met with her pathology team. Not sure if it means that it could change the recommended path forward but for now I am going with what was told to me today.

The after effects
I am tired. I am overwhelmed. I am relieved. I am dazed. I am confused. I am glad today is over with. Now there are other things I will have to wait on as well as other health matters I will have to focus on, i.e. being the iron deficiency which my doctor is still confused about. I had started a course of getting iron injections but that is currently on hold. I had a first test dose, which made me very ill for a few hours, then a second test dose which did the same with the added effect of almost passing out. After a discussion with the doc and her having gotten advice from a clinical pharmacist, the passing out and extreme exhaustion is not from the iron injections. Now what! So the injections are on hold and we are now seeking options as to what could be causing me the need to sleep for 15 hours and still need to sleep more and more and more....First option is possibility of having celiac disease (gluten allergy). Blood work has been done yesterday so we shall see if this is the cause or if we scratch that off the list and move on to the next possible culprit. I am so fascinated by health and our bodies but yet am so frustrated by it. What keeps me going and being positive through this all is the great support system I have around me. I have the greatest friends and the greatest family who are there to listen to me complain, to come when I call, to bitch at me when I over do it with chores or activities that make me feel normal (i.e scrubbing my carpets clean with a small brush on my hands and knees for 4 hours straight - tee hee, oh and removing all my window screens and spraying them clean and vacuuming my blinds - oh snap, you didn't know about that one). All this to say, I am blessed. I am well surrounded. I am happy. I am loved. It could be worse. It always could. I see so many positives in this situation it's unreal. Weird, ya I know. But if you've known me for a while, you've also always known I've been somewhat weird. Come on now, couldn't well end this being all serious now could I?

Thanks for listening (reading). You guys all rock!!!!