Paulette Page

October 2019

Late January 2010 at age 64, while sharing with my spouse (Rod), daughter, son and partners in a journey to Paris and Prague, a serious dislike for Czech beer and food was disconcerting. An achy back attributed to the long flight from the West Coast to Paris joined in the silent grumbles. I always loved Czech beer, and to have it presented by a tuba player was uncommon. So, scrambled eggs in Prague were the answer to my digestive issues as well as small sips of the beer. Train rides in the snow, quaint inns of the more rural areas, castle tours and then a stunning apartment in Prague with views of the city were overcoming my discomfort. My recollection of the trip is terrific!

Immediately upon our return to Bend, I had an appointment with a naturopath I had been employed with; she referred me to a chiropractor whom I saw immediately. She ordered an MRI , and early that evening I had the alarming results. Within a couple of days, an appointment with a local oncologist and my family, travel to Portland for an appointment with a gynecological oncologist, and a scheduled surgery brought home the news… Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. In retrospect the backache and the digestive issues had plagued me for a few months.

I returned to Bend, surgery completed, port connected, and debulking accomplished. After a short recovery, I was ready for chemo. I proceeded with the chemo treatments. At about the second treatment the Bend oncologist who had ordered genetic testing had the results: BRCA II! How could that be? I was not Jewish, and longevity was part of my family story— my grandmothers lived to 97 and 98. My mother proceeded with testing immediately, and she was negative. My father passed away of heart disease at 47, and my daughter tested positive for BRCA II. My daughter has had a full hysterectomy and a complete mastectomy. I received eight chemo treatments and prepared for a full mastectomy after my short recovery of chemo treatments. Acupuncture, REIKI, hiking, and skiing have been part of my healing process.

While in mastectomy recovery and implant procedures, I received oxycontin and oxycodone. After several weeks, the plastic surgeon requested my ceasing one of these, which I successfully accomplished in ten days or so— but not the other. I cannot recall at this writing which one I continued to use. The plastic surgeon referred me to a GP who had success in treatment and I began the use of suboxone before another surgery. Within a couple of months I was no longer using suboxone and had moved beyond this early addiction. Needless to say I am forever grateful to the GP who helped me conquer this dependency.

This is not the end of my tale. Rod often accompanied me when I had appointments with the GP. While speaking with the doctor at one of my appointments, they began to converse about skiing. She had grown up and learned to ski in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We had a ski house in the same area of Vermont. It is a very small area where I grew up moving at seventeen to another state. Further conversation revealed that the doctor and I are related. I often visited her grandparents spending time with the doctor’s mother. Thus, the revelation, we are third cousins on my paternal side. My inherited BRCA genetics were on my paternal side but not as I had guessed. A few years went by, and the doctor had genetic testing done as her family did have a history of cancer; mine did not. After receiving her results she called to enlighten me. Our grandmothers were sisters in a family of eleven: ten girls and one boy. Both grandmothers had large families of eight to ten children. Others in the doctor’s family have been tested with BRCA positive results. I have an aunt and a cousin and her daughter and granddaughter testing positive for BRCA. My paternal cousin has recovered from cancer; my aunt has not had cancer. My brother passed years ago and his daughter is BRCA positive. My mother had two children and both BRCA positive. Our known heritage is French with six or more generations from Quebec and originally from France. I mention this as posters I have seen in doctors’ offices indicate a propensity of BRCA mutations occur in those of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. I understand that Dutch, Icelandic, Norwegian and French Canadians may also be likely to carry BRCA mutations.

I recurred in November 2017. I was treated with six more chemo treatments and am now on a PARP inhibitor. I have many other cousins and two aunts in Vermont, none of whom have been tested even though I have urged and implored them to move on with the testing. Perhaps they will be free of this disease. They are from large families and have children of their own. Only time will tell.

Bend, OR Area Ovarian Cancer Support Group: TEAL SISTERS

We are a group of ovarian cancer survivors in the Bend, OR area. Our mission is to live, provide support with stability, gentleness, and care for each other. Our numbers are currently nine with hopes of enticing others to join us. We offer monthly gatherings with time for conversation and often include seasonal excursions. We try to meet the 3^rd Thursday of each month. Contact is maintained through email, text, or phone.

For more information please contact:
Nickie Poage, 612-385-8992, mmiwalt@gmail.com
Paulette Page, 541-350-1586, pmjrpage@gmail.com
(For up-to-date information about this and other support groups please see our Support Groups page.)