Tonya Sarver

March 2019

My story begins in the fall of 2017. It was an exhausting and stressful time for me. Not only was it the start of a new school year where I was a secretary of an alternative high school, but also I had been off the job the previous six months caring for my daughter and her family in Boston. She was recovering from an emergency C-section and brain cancer surgery. That’s right, my third grandbaby was born on the same day that my daughter was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma.

At first, I noticed myself struggling with sleep and energy. I had spent the previous year seeing specialists for groin and back pain following my hysterectomy. At the age of fifty-five I figured my symptoms were from eating poorly, bad posture, too much stress, drinking sugary coffee, and no core strength.

Over the next month, I noticed my waistline getting larger, but the scale hadn’t changed much. Not having typical symptoms to warrant a doctor’s visit, I ignored it. I told myself that it was the stress at work and my constant thinking about my daughter that was making me feel so poorly.

It was on my second trip to Boston in mid-November that I really noticed a change. I could barely go up and down the stairs, carry my grandchildren or stand very long. I wasn’t sure I was much help to my family. By the end of my visit, I started to feel really full, exhausted and very short of breath. All I wanted to do was wear sweatpants and sit around.

Back in Oregon, during Thanksgiving weekend, I began to have stomach trouble. All the while I didn’t let my family know that I wasn’t my usual energizer bunny self, while I entertained family for the holiday. Soon every chance I got I would sit or lie down either with shortness of breath, hot flashes or terrible stomach pain. My family was worried and knew something was wrong. They started “Googling” my main symptom – a stomach that looked like I was six months pregnant with belly pain. Unsure of the problem, I knew I needed to see a doctor.

I decided to see my primary care doctor because my gynecological issues had been taken care of with my hysterectomy two years prior even though my ovaries were not removed. The minute my doctor saw my belly he said, “That’s not right.” I was sent right away for lab work, x-rays and a CT scan.

The next morning my husband and I learned the results. My doctor was almost certain that I had ovarian masses. According to him they looked like cancer, but to confirm the diagnosis I would need to hear directly from a pathologist, gynecologic oncologist, or another surgeon.

Cancer? How could that be? I had already had a hysterectomy, and my PAPs have always been normal. He said that the cancer had spread to other parts of my body. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Cancer was the furthest from my mind. He scheduled me to have a paracentesis due to my discomfort. That weekend I had 2.5 liters of fluid removed from my lungs and belly. It really helped my shortness of breath.

At the appointment with my gynecologic oncologist, I learned my results, including my CT and paracentesis details. The CA-125 test confirmed my primary doctor’s suspicion. Normal range is 0-35, and my result was 1165. In addition, she saw a mass near my large colon and fluid in my pleural space of my lungs. She confirmed that I had stage four ovarian cancer. The average lifespan for this diagnosis is currently is five years. I was overwhelmed. All I could think of was how can two family members have cancer. It must be genetic, and I must have passed it on to my daughter. I felt like it was my fault. I wanted answers, and I wanted the cancer out of my body immediately.

Days later, I had surgery. Masses were found on both ovaries, a cake-like tumor on my omentum that was attached to my transverse colon, and a carpet-like tumor on the floor of my pelvis. The surgery included removal of my ovaries, omentum, as well as a colon resection that involved the removal of ten inches of my transverse colon. While in surgery, my family was informed that the carpet-like floor of my pelvis should be removed resulting in a permanent colostomy. They said NO knowing what my wishes were and that I would prefer taking my chances with chemo first.

With this type of surgery, a patient isn’t released from the hospital until after having a bowel movement. Well, eleven days later my colon woke up. Thank God I didn’t have to spend Christmas in the hospital.

After six weeks of healing, I continued the path of treatment with weekly dose-dense infusions of Carboplatin & Paclitaxel. This treatment took twenty weeks to complete and included two blood transfusions, minor nausea, and a few Neupogen shots. All in all, it was the toughest life chapter so far.

Today, I am eight months post chemo and considered platinum sensitive. My CA-125 is within normal limits and (NED) – No Evidence of Disease. Most of my energy is back, my daughter is surviving cancer as well and living back near us in the PNW. I am hopeful that I can beat this and continue to enjoy what life has to offer. Much of my time is spent doing what I love; spoiling my grandchildren, gardening, crocheting, fishing, loving my cats and doing genealogy research.

Having Ovarian Cancer has truly shown me what is important in life. I have the support of a loving husband, family and friends as well as my faith and a stress-free healthy lifestyle. I also have my hair, even if it’s a different color and curly. I’m happy to have it back! I’ve met many inspiring people throughout this journey from the infusion room to my local support group and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon & Southwest Washington. Thank you for all your help. You give me hope, a sense of belonging and knowledge. I believe knowledge is power that will help me kick the big “C” word to the curb!