Anita Krivitzky

April 2014

In the spring of 2010, as I was turning 60, I was working full time in a retirement community as a life enrichment coordinator and full time as a pet and house sitter. A month after my 60th birthday, I started experiencing abdominal pain that lasted for several days and then went away. I was tired, but that was not new. I was busy.

I made an appointment with my doctor who saw me about a month later. At the exam my doctor pressed on my back, and I had pain. She thought it was gall bladder. I had an ultrasound, and during the exam the technician noted that my pelvic region was very dark and enlarged. I went back for another ultrasound and the next day my doctor call saying, “There is a problem.”

I had an emergency CT scan which indicated Stage III Ovarian Cancer. My life turned upside down.

The next day I had an appointment with a gynecologic oncologist. I brought my two best friends along. It was important to learn the source of the cancer since I had 2 to 4 in tumors on each ovary, tumors on my colon, liver and diaphragm. I had a colonoscopy as well.

It was confirmed, I had ovarian cancer. At the end of June, I had surgery and was in the hospital for ten days. I spent another two weeks recovering at the retirement community where I worked. I began chemotherapy, given through two ports, shortly thereafter.

Being single, and without family nearby, I needed an army to help me with my appointments and general care. I had several girlfriends staying with me, at first, and then taking me to get my chemo treatments, and to see my gyn onc. They also helped me with food shopping, laundry, my cats, and choosing a wig. They also helped with showering, and encouraged me to eat and to drink water to stay hydrated. Finally, they were there as companions to stay with me after treatment. I contacted my synagogue, and I received some help from some of the ladies there as well.

Within 10 days of my first treatment, my hair started to fall out. I knew that would happen, but the experience was overwhelming. I had my hairdresser shave my hair off with a friend close by. Sometimes, my friends just sat with me. I had Cleaning for a Cause and Meals on Wheels as well.

Being alone at night was difficult. That Christmas Eve, none of my friends were in town, and even my neighbor was away. I had a major panic attack which lasted for several days. I had to keep my blinds open until I went to bed at night. I didn’t want to even eat breakfast (why should I eat when it would come up anyway?) and I just lay around.

Chemotherapy treatment was brutal. I tried every kind of anti-nausea medication, but nothing worked that well. I lost a lot of weight, weighing in at 90 lbs. I went into kidney failure, and after several trips to the hospital where I stayed several days to weeks, I had to stop the treatments. However, my gynecologic oncologist was satisfied with the treatments I did get.

Following the kidney failure, it took a long time to “turn the corner” on my health. It was a big corner, but finally I started to recover, gain strength and regain my life. I stopped working at the retirement center but resumed my pet and house sitting business. I even stood up at my nephew’s wedding in January 2011.

In June 2012, I started to volunteer at another retirement community where I have received the Volunteer of the Year award two years in a row, clocking in almost 500 hours a year. My pet sitting business is flourishing.

In October 2013, at my 4-month checkup, my CA-125 was up 10 points. The following month, it was up another 10 points. I had dental issues, infections and a tooth pulled in November. In December, I had a bad case of bronchitis which took several weeks to resolve.

In February, my CA-125 was 100, and my doctor ordered a scan. The scan showed a spot on my spleen. On March 13, 2014 I had surgery at Providence Hospital with two surgeons. I begin chemotherapy on April 18, for 18 weeks. I will load up on anti-nausea medications. My doc is very optimistic, but it will be a long summer.

Hopefully I will be back to pet sitting, volunteering and keeping busy in the near future.

Editor’s Note: To anyone who knows Anita, summer is her favorite season. In fact, she has been heard to say, “I live for summer!”

Anita was born in Chicago but came to the Pacific Northwest over 20 years ago. She loves living here, but misses Chicago at times. She lives with her two 14-year-old cats, Tinker Bell and Shurlee. Anita’s love of animals prompted her to start her business Tante Anita’s Pet and House Sitting Service, which has been in existence for about 20 years. Said Anita, “I love all my pets!”