A nurse shares her harrowing experience of being diagnosed with cancer. After years of dismissing symptoms and avoiding doctors, she was eventually rushed to the ER, where a massive tumor was discovered and removed.
With the administration challenging the Court and Congress, independent reporting is the only thing standing between you and the noise. Your membership funds the courage to ask the hard questions. Don't let the truth be sidelined.
“Your tumor is about the size of a watermelon,” my oncologist said. I had met him just five minutes earlier. I was sitting in an ER hallway, waiting to be told when I would have surgery to remove the watermelon-sized tumor.Two days later, I woke up from a surgery in which my oncologist removed an eight-pound tumor and one of my ovaries. It was cancer. I lost nearly three pints of blood during the operation, along with the life I had previously known.In 2020, I woke up one morning with the unshakable feeling that I had cancer. I had no real symptoms beyond fatigue, and who wasn’t exhausted in 2020? Still, the feeling was so persistent that I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician. That was significant, as I used to avoid doctor’s visits. I’m a nurse, and we’re notoriously the worst patients. The bloodwork they performed came back normal. Relieved, I dismissed my fear as paranoia. But, deep down, I still felt that something was wrong. For years, I returned to doctors, convinced that each new symptom would finally explain what I felt. It never did, and eventually, I felt too embarrassed to keep going back to the doctor and stopped.But then my symptoms worsened, and I could no longer ignore them. Extreme fatigue. Severe acid reflux. Pelvic and abdominal pain. Constant bloating. Irregular periods. I felt so unwell that I finally decided to see my doctor again. She took one look at me and sent me straight to the ER.dilation and curettage helped doctors determine it was likely originating in my uterus. I was told it would need to be removed along with “everything else.” “Everything else” meant my fallopian tubes, cervix and remaining ovary.. I was immediately thrown into surgical menopause. The hot flashes, insomnia and depression that started immediately following the surgery were some of the worst symptoms I had experienced.Until that point, I had been able to stay pretty optimistic. Finding the tumor had felt like progress. Treatment felt like action. Cancer, to me, felt like a temporary obstacle. Menopause felt permanent. Accepting this part of my treatment has taken time. It was necessary to save my life, but that knowledge doesn’t erase the grief. The author after postponing her third round of chemotherapy to be able to go to The Eras Tour in Nashville.A few weeks later, though it felt much longer, I received my third and final pathology report. I was officially diagnosed with stage 3A endometrial adenocarcinoma, a type of uterine cancer that begins in the endometrium, or the tissue that lines the uterus. It’s the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. My oncologist recommended chemotherapy and pelvic radiation in addition to my two previous surgeries. After my diagnosis, I learned that endometrial cancer most often affects women over 45, but that anyone with a uterus is at risk – as my diagnosis in my 20s could attest to. Also, the most common symptoms are irregular or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. While I did have irregular periods, I hadn’t connected them with my other symptoms. I wanted to begin treatment feeling informed and prepared, so I looked to social media. As I searched for support, I found many people online sharing their cancer stories. Very few, however, spoke about endometrial cancer.At first, I didn’t expect anyone to watch my videos. Posting was simply a way to process what I was going through. One of my first videos was a “Get Ready With Me” as I prepared for my hysterectomy party. I gathered my friends and we ate pizza, danced, sang and said goodbye to my uterus. That video really resonated with people, and the response to it encouraged me to keep sharing to spread awareness and help break some of the stigma around gynecologic cancers.every round of chemotherapy, my unexpected symptoms, my small victories and practical tips that helped me get through treatment. Over time, an online community formed. One that supported me and each other, and ultimately carried me through some of the hardest months of my life.After five months of chemotherapy, two months of radiation, two bell ringings and countless GRWM videos, I completed treatment. My final scan showed no evidence of disease. I was done. Or so I thought. One of the hardest lessons I learned after cancer treatment is that you are never truly finished. I often joke that while I was done with cancer, cancer wasn’t done with me.Learning how to live after treatment has been one of the most difficult challenges of my life. I don’t have the language to describe it, only that I felt “other.” While my friends were getting married, buying homes, and having babies, my life revolved around clean CT scans and staying cancer-free. I tried to reassemble the pieces of who I was before, but they had been surgically cut and radiated into something that no longer fit. I wasn’t the carefree woman in her 20s anymore, even though all I wanted was to feel like her again. It has taken time to understand who I am in the “after.” I am learning to accept, and even love, this version of myself, shaped by trauma and survival. While part of me still misses who I was before, most of me doesn’t.I believe I went through this for a reason. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage others to advocate for themselves when something doesn’t feel right. I want women to feel empowered to speak up about their symptoms, even when it’s uncomfortable or feels embarrassing. I want them to know that their health matters, and that we all deserve answers. Endometrial cancer is most treatable when caught early, so trust yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, start the conversation with your doctor. Ask the questions. Speaking up today could mean more tomorrows. And, for anyone navigating your own cancer journey, I want you to know this: You are not alone. Casey Halterman is a South Carolina-based nurse, endometrial cancer survivor, and paid spokesperson for GSK’s Don’t Be Embarrassed endometrial cancer awareness campaign. Learn more atDo you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking forMy Doctor Told Me I Would Die — And There Was Nothing He Could Do. What I Said Next Changed Everything.Look under the hood, and take a behind the scenes look at how longform journalism is made. Subscribe to Must Reads.By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our
Cancer Diagnosis Surgery Oncology Medical Story
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Seattle nurse represents Team USA in 2026 Winter ParalympicsErin Martin, a nurse care manager at Seattle Children's, is competing in her second Paralympics for para Nordic skiing.
Read more »
Cancer patient calls for bile duct cancer drug use approvalSurgeon Gareth Honeybone wants wider access to zanidatamab to treat one of the deadliest cancers.
Read more »
Gen Z nurse gets most of her healthcare abroad, 'way cheaper'Business Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »
Former Blackhawks center, radio analyst Troy Murray dies following cancer battleTroy Murray, the former Chicago Blackhawks center and radio analyst hailed as one of the team's 'most respected leaders,' has died, the team said.
Read more »
'Will & Grace' alum dead at 60 after cancer battleNetflix has officially cut ties with Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, after her series “With Love, Meghan” was not renewed for a third season. Daryl Hannah is speaking out against the series “Love Story,” calling its portrayal of her past relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. inaccurate and misogynistic.
Read more »
Corey Parker, ‘Will & Grace’ Actor, Dies at 60He died Thursday in Memphis, Tennessee, following a cancer battle, his family told TMZ.
Read more »