Germ cell, my story so far.

Hi, my name’s Ellie and I’m 19 years old. I was in the middle of my first year at university and was having water infections and unexplained fatigue, days where I literally stopped being able to do anything from exhaustion. After about 3 times of being precribed antibiotics for the infections, I decided to push for more explanation to why I was getting ill all the time. A GP found a lump in my abdomen and suspected it to be a dermoid cyst, but on the 23/03/11 an MRI revealed that I had a 14x11x10cm germ cell tumour on my left ovary. A CT scan and biopsy showed that I also had a smaller tumour on my right ovary (approx 4cm) and that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. Germ cell is a rare cancer affecting mostly younger women, only 1% of ovarian cancers are the same as mine.
I suspended my studies (hope to start my first year of uni again next year) and moved out of student halls where I had lived whilst at uni, to come and live at home with my parents while I undergo chemotherapy. I’m 2 courses into a projected 4 x BEP 5 day regieme. It’s definitely tough, I’m getting all the usual side effects including tinnitus, nausea, aches in my lymph nodes, neuropathy in my legs, hairloss, mouth ulcers and “chemo-brain”. I’m also experiencing the menopause complete with hot flushes because my ovaries have been “put to sleep” with the hope that I will recover fertility after treatment. There haven’t been any serious hiccups in the treatment so far. There’s currently a little concern about my lung function and possible damage by bleomycin (I got a cough 3 weeks ago and it still hasn’t shifted), and I had a low white count on a check up in my first round so I had a 5 day course of blood boosters, which gave me quite a lot of pain in my legs and lower back. In the second round when I was in hospital recieving chemo, they spotted I get a very low heart rate at night (about 40bpm) and this is also being checked out.
Even though this whole experience has completely upturned my life I remain positive. One thing I did before I went for my first round of chemo is raise some money for Cancer Research UK and awareness for germ cell and ovarian cancers by cutting my hair into a mohawk! http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljn91zSu9R1qg643uo1_500.jpg I came to this website to try and meet other people in my situation and have people to talk to who can really relate to all this. I’m always up for a chat!

I also have a personal/cancer journey blog at http://www.cohenstr.tumblr.com

War

Everything changes during a moment

Someone’s life begins while another ends

A smile turns into a frown

A room full of people turns into nothing

Everything you ever wanted to do,

Vanishes

Nothing else matters

Nothing else is important

You no longer belong to yourself

Everything you use to love,

no longer holds interest for you

Peace is no longer found in faces or places

War is lurking around th corner

The only thing that matters

The only thing that is important

Surviving.

Team In Training (TNT), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) groundbreaking charity

Hello All, Gregg here, I am looking to raise money from the outside world to help in the fight of YOUR FIGHT.  Your the one struggling with this nasty disease, and I don’t think you should be. I think you should be free to go anywhere you want, do what you want AND EAT all that you can stuff down your throat and enjoy every bite of it. Instead of being forced to live like you currently are.  My heart goes out to you all.  You are a hero in your own right. If only more people in the world knew what you are truly battling every day. Makes me look like a peon. I’m an American Solider, I’ve gone to Iraq. But never lifted a weapon against a soul and never hope to.  But i will do what I can to fight the fight for YOUR LIFE.

May God bless you in your valient Fight.
Gregg

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnr10/ghierholze

Team In Training (TNT), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) groundbreaking charity sports training program, has reached a remarkable milestone of raising $1 billion to support blood cancer research and patient services.

For more than 21 years, TNT has grown to become an unparalleled charity endurance training program. More than 420,000 participants, from first timers to seasoned athletes, have trained with TNT and achieved their best at marathons, half marathons, triathlons, 100-mile century bike rides and hiking adventures.

Train with the best to meet your challenge!

TNT is the world’s first, best and largest charity sports training program – and the only one to offer a full complement of exciting, sports training options.

Looking to join in the fight for those who can’t at this time do what we are trying to do.

Writing/Designing a book on cancer

Hello everyone!

I am a Ewing’s Sarcoma survivor (4 years) and a graphic design student at Michigan State University. I was diagnosed at 18 years old and underwent treatment for a year thereafter.  I am creating a book about cancer titled, “What I Learned From Chemo”, and was hoping to gather more tips, advice or witty anecdotes. I want the book to be upbeat, positive and most of all young. I thought this would be the perfect place to find unique insights into living with cancer as a young person. So if you have any helpful info or tips I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks and good luck with your battle.

Peace, Love and Cancer. Sarah <3

just got home :)

I was recently released from Hotel:Strong after undergoing a Bone Marrow Transplant!

Supporting your teen

Hi, I’m a parent of a teen that was diagnosed with ALL

4 years ago.  We will hit that magical 5 years in remission

 mark next July, 2010.  While that date is always in my

mind, there have been many stages we’ve gone through

in between — luckily no readmittance to the hospital!

to all teens living with cancer

As a survivor of cancer and a member of the TLC group, welcome to our webpage. Teens living with cancer really has helped me through some tough times and its a great organization.