It’s been two years

It’s been two years since I had surgery to remove what was found to be a stage 2c borderline ovarian tumour (BOT).  

It’s been two years of trying to be a (patient) patient. I’m still trying to figure it out.  

It’s been two years of medical intervention: a radical (Wertheim) hysterectomy and menopause at 35; 28 surgical staples; nearly two hundred oestrogen patches; multiple blood tests; and numerous ultrasounds.

It’s been two years of wrapping my head around life-long testing, monitoring and fear of recurrence.

It’s been two years of ongoing frustration at blatant global – and local – inequities in health, and of working out how to feed this into my day job.

It’s been two years of continued surprise – and anger – at the expectations of others.  And no, I’m still not mourning any ‘loss of fertility’.

It’s been two years of attempting to talk about vaginal vaults with a straight face.  

It’s been two years of celebrating the unpredictability of life with family and friends, both in the city and by the sea.

It’s been two years of thanking all who continue to walk this journey with me.

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