Nothing about Angela’s ovarian cancer was easy, but she refused to fall into self-pity and fought her way into remission
As a first-grade teacher, Angela figured that her achy lower back was merely the result of her bending over and helping out her students. She visited her primary care physician and asked for a prescription for massage. Instead, her physician ordered an ultrasound and blood work.
Angela’s CA-125, the test that measures cancerous protein, was elevated, so she had a hysterectomy three days later. The hysterectomy revealed that she had stage 2 ovarian cancer. The cancer had spread from her right ovary into her uterine wall and bowels. After undergoing a bowel resection, she began chemotherapy and two experimental clinical trials in Washington state.
Angela was in remission for six months before her backaches returned. So did her cancer. After a second round of chemotherapy and only three months of remission, she was referred to a gynecologic oncologist in Spokane, Washington.
“I was scolded for not coming to a gynecologic cancer specialist sooner,” said Angela. “I had never even heard of a gynecologic oncologist at that point.”
The gynecologic oncologist performed a full abdomen exploratory surgery to remove all visible cancer. Soon after the surgery, Angela’s husband took a job in Denver. Right before the two left to drive across country, her symptoms presented again and she found out that the cancer was back again. For the third time.
The doctors in Spokane said that surgery was no longer an option and that chemotherapy was her only choice, and not a very effective one. They also recommended that Angela seek treatment at a research institution.
Next stop, University of Colorado Gynecologic Oncology
Angela left her classroom in the middle of the school year to move to Denver. “I hated not being able to finish out the school year, but I wasn’t sure there was any other choice,” said Angela. “Time isn’t your friend when you’re treating cancer.”
Dr. Saketh Guntupalli at CU Gynecologic Oncology took on Angela’s case. He performed surgery that removed her bladder, rectum and most of her vagina. Following the surgery, it seemed that her cancer had all been removed.
But the cancer came back again. Despite her setbacks, her attitude continued to be that of a bright and cheery schoolteacher.
I gave myself a 24-hour pity rule. After that, I was done with the negativity and ready to fight. Angela
Dr. Guntupalli performed a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This is the most aggressive surgery to treat ovarian cancer. She would need two stomas for the rest of her life. A stoma is an opening in the skin that acts as a way for waste to exit the body. Those stomas are attached to a colostomy (to collect bowels) and a uroscopy (for her urine).
Following the surgery, Angela received a round of radiation. It’s uncommon to treat ovarian cancer with radiation, but Dr. Guntupalli recommended it. The radiation was working but as a side effect, three fistulas formed on what was left of her vaginal wall. The fistulas, abnormal connections between organs and other structures, were causing her bowels to leak out of her vagina.
“The fistulas were so painful; the worst I have ever felt in my life,” said Angela. “But I wasn’t willing to let it get to me. If I could do something, I was going to.”
The fistulas were fused together and surgically removed. Following that surgery, she couldn’t eat for 10 straight days. After a total of five rounds of chemotherapy, five surgeries and a round of radiation, Angela is healthy and cancer free.
Angela says that she has had to make some lifestyle changes. For example, any food that might cause gas may also cause the colostomy sac to pop. But this doesn’t stop her from enjoying the food and drinks she loves.
“If I have a beer, I’ll take a Beano or anti-gas medicine beforehand,” said Angela.
She now goes in every three months to see Dr. Guntupalli and get her CA-125 tested.
“Dr. Guntupalli saved my life by taking a chance with aggressive treatments, yet he never made me feel scared or unsure about any of it,” said Angela. “We’re on a high five relationship level.”