For anyone who is interested and missed my earlier post, the story is based on my experience of my wife's disease. (Angie). It is intended to offer readers a husband's perspective of this odius cancer and when completed I want to include the experiences of others. The final 'published' work aims to help others come to terms with diagnosis by realising that what they feel emotionally is not isolated to them alone. Hopefully the finished book will raise some much needed funds for Ovacome too. I would welcome all comments and observations. The first chapter can be read here:
Just been reading this Andy and once again I think you are capturing the increasing anxiety so well. It is interesting to read this journey from the parter's point of view and I think it must have been painful to have to wait outside whilst Angie was with the doctor.
It has also reminded me once again that people's experiences with their GP practice varies so much. I was one of the lucky ones in this respect. I was told by the receptionist that it would be a ten day wait but as soon as I told her my abdomen was swollen she said I shouldn't have to wait and arranged for the duty doctor to phone me back. This happened within ten minutes and the doctor arranged for me to pop down straight away for an examination. The doctor I saw didn't think it was ovarian cancer but wanted to do the CA125 test to rule it out. She also said that she'd be happy to send me for a scan even if the test was normal. Which of course it wasn't but I'm very grateful that she didn't try to fob me off.
Thanks so much for reading on. You have no idea how important that is to keep the motivation going. I do receive reviews from my writer friends but to know the narrative is being read by someone who knows where I am coming from is encouraging. It is a difficult thing to write as I am so emotionally involved, but then again it is also a kind of therapy and makes me feel I am doing something positive.
The issue of early diagnosis is obviously an issue in beating OC. Angie may have been diagnosed so much earlier had she realised she was showing 'known' symptoms. I think her situation is a typical example of lack of awareness both with herself and the GP service... and we think she was lucky too! The next chapters will show how the front line service is a case of, it depends which GP you see as to how quickly you are referred to a specialist.
Thanks for commenting. I would welcome your comments on my chapters. I keep them to within 1500 words per chapter to make them easy bite size reads and I hope you find them of interest.
Thanks for stopping by.
Best wishes
Andy x
Hi Andy,
I think it makes very interesting reading, and even though I know the results (more or less) it makes me want to read further... so well done for keeping up the tension.. I look forward to the next chapter.
I am so pleased you found it interesting. Your comment was interesting. Yes we know the diagnosis looking back...I only wish, I knew with certainty that my last line would be, "and they lived happily ever after." Unfortunately, that is not the case and it is the uncertainty that makes the journey such an emotional rollercoaster.
Thanks again for dropping by, your reading makes the writing easier.
Believe me I understand, most of us have been there (and are still) but don't give up, none of us knows what's around the corner, (a cure maybe?) I had a very poor prognosis after a recurrence with little chance of remission, given palliative chemo to attempt to shrink the tumour and at the end of treatment the tumour has gone, result I've been in remission (for the second time) fifteen months now, so even when you are told the worst it can turn around.
Oh we won't give up. Finding this forum has been a huge benefit to us both. If we just relied on statistics it would be very depressing, but we take heart from some of the inspirational posts on here. That's really the purpose of the story. I want to show the emotional rollercoaster and the change from worrying and bleak outlook to positive attitude.
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