"Cancer experience"

Last year around mid-year, I had to do a high step up on concrete and I got really sore in my groin. The left groin area it was starting to hurt more and by January my shoulder was really bad. Eventually I ended up with a torn tendon in my right shoulder in January. The shoulder re-tore, and I was getting aggravated pain in the left hip area. I was milking and couldn’t hose out properly. I had X-rays that didn’t show anything, scans showed nothing. I had physio and hinted at getting an MRI, and they said, that I’d be wasting my money, but I had the MRI anyway. The MRI was of the left hip and pelvic, it was sheer luck that the pelvis was included because it picked up the fracture and other things that it should not have picked up:

Some of the results were: traumatic infection vs tumour - osteoarthritis local degenerate cyst at the vestibular margin, small effusions, mild osteoarthrtis left hip, bursitis, odema - small 11mm cyst and - retroverted uterus with post menopausal endometrial thickening past 11mm

It cost me $540.

This prompted further investigation was required in the pelvic region. In March I had blood tests done. I didn’t have an infection and wasn’t suspecting cancer. I had to see a gynaecologist in Geelong at SJOG, Dr Madison, who was recommended to me by my younger daughter. 

Dr Maddy did a Pap test and internal ultrasound and booked me in to go to Kyneton Hospital. When I saw Dr Maddy, maybe the pelvic MRI was categorised differently because I didn’t see a bill. I went into Kyneton Hospital and was put under because I didn’t want to see the operating theatre. I was grateful there was at least one lady my age doing the surgery.

The report was addressed to the female doctor, and the male doctor I saw he said he couldn't print it out. I only have a text and ring phone and the screen is maybe 2inches. So it was no good to be sent through to my phone. He wrote down just the basics which was: large polyp distorting cavity 2 x 2cm - broad based. 

To Kyneton it was hours away, so we were there well after dark and stayed at Kyneton Hospital. The next morning I went to Kyneton Hospital. 

I think they put a light up there to have a look and they found a 2 cm carcinoma- 80% grade 2, 20% grade 3 - haemorrhagic endometrium, an adenoid carcinoma. In Kyneton they did a cysteroscopy and D&C and removed it and I had to pay $300.

While in hospital I let them know I had raynards, and they got me a nice heated blanket. They did send me home with a heat pack I could put on my belly.

The anaesthetist was Dr M and Assistant Dr was Dr Alan. Admitting doctor was Dr Michael. It would be nice if there were more lady surgerons. 

They told me to book an appointment with Dr Maddy for 2 weeks and I thought usually it’s a 6-week check-up. Dr Maddy is obviously is professional in what she does. 

I went to see Maddy in 2 weeks and she asked if I had a support person and confirmed it was cancer. After that Dr Maddy arranged more blood tests and another MRI with dye. After that, she referred me to the Melbourne Cancer Hospital. I had surgery 2 months later, and at this stage it is 1B and I have opted not to have radiation or chemotherapy. Dr Maddy was good. Kyneton Hospital was good too. Having at least one lady my age helped, I know not all operations can be just ladies there but it did make me feel anxious having men around my lady parts. But I understand not all ladies can do operations.

I have to travel an hour and 40 minutes to get to the gynaecologist. In my town there is no doctors, Timboon do and there might be others but you do have to pay for them, they're not bulk billing.