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Posted by Kelly Power
on April 15, 2011, 15:39:42, in reply to "Motivational Stories"
142.68.11.150
Hi Cheryl,
Here is my motivational story. If you have questions please no not hesitate to contact me at 443-9808 or by email kellypower@ns.sympatico.ca.
Kelly
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Hi, my name is Kelly Power. I am 39 years old and on May 5, 2010 I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.
These were words I never expected to hear on that beautiful spring morning in May. My husband John and I were completely taken by surprise. I had no symptoms of pancreatic cancer:
“loss of appetite; abdominal pain; weight loss; jaundice; mid back pain as position is changed; blood clots in the legs; nausea; diarrhea; itchy skin; general weakness; slow digestion of food; and liver or gallbladder may be swollen”.
My 2010 New Years resolution was to run my first half marathon in the Blue Nose Marathon on May 23. In January I started training five days a week through a program offered by the Running Room. I continued training all winter. Sure I had sore muscles, aches and pain but who wouldn’t if you were running 40-50 km per week.
What first alerted me to go to the doctor was a sharp pain in my left side on January 13, 2010. I thought I might have a cyst on my left ovary. (I was diagnosed with a cyst on my right ovary when I was pregnant with my daughter Emily in 2005 and had it surgically removed in October 2006.) The pain I experienced that day was so severe- sharp and stabbing. The doctor on call at the walk-in clinic thought my pain was located too high to be an ovarian cyst and requisitioned an ultrasound to be completed as soon as possible. Her decision to order an ultrasound may have saved my life as a cyst was discovered on my pancreas. Nothing serious I thought…just remove it and I can get back to running within six weeks.
Over the following months there were more extensive tests ordered by my family doctor: CT Scan, MRI, blood work etc. On May 5, 2010 I met with Dr. Mark Walsh at the QEII to receive my diagnosis and discuss my treatment options. The test results revealed a Solid and Papillary Epithelial Neoplasm of the pancreas, a rare type of pancreatic cancer common in women under 25 years old. We discussed a surgery called the “Whipple Procedure”, an invasive surgery that physicians consider to be the only possible cure for pancreatic cancer. It involves the removal of all or significant portions of several organs including the pancreas, bile duct, stomach and gallbladder.
On May 23 I completed the Half Marathon in the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon in a time of 2:20, two days shy of surgery that would ultimately save my life. My surgery lasted 6 ½ hours. This must have seemed like an eternity for my husband and sister in the waiting room outside the operating room and for those family and friends waiting anxiously to hear any news … hoping and praying for a miracle.
The road to recovery after surgery was slow and painful. My surgeon suggested this operation would be more invasive then having major open-heart surgery. Not only was it painful to move, it was hard on my ego running a half marathon one day and barely being able to walk to the nurses’ station a few days later. An operation of this magnitude also meant getting my digestive system adjusted to eating food again, introducing certain food categories one at a time, eating smaller meals every two hours.
All of this is a small price to pay for being alive today. I thank God every day for the blessings I have in my life – wonderful and supportive family, friends and my continued improving health.
On June 30, 2010 I received my miracle when I heard my biopsy results read by my surgeon. My cancer had not spread to the eight lymph nodes or any of the other organs removed during surgery. This was fantastic news…the best I could ever expect to hear and meant I would not require chemotherapy or radiation. I was effectively cured of this dreadful and deadly disease called pancreatic cancer.
In August I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the dedicated volunteers involved with Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society as they traveled the Maratimes raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. I was inspired and moved as they shared personal stories of survival and of loved ones who had lost their battle with pancreatic cancer.
In their honour and memory, I am helping to create awareness about pancreatic cancer and raise money for Craig's Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society to support research so no one will ever have to hear the dreaded words "you have pancreatic cancer".
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