"Saving Lives Through Patient Support and Advocacy."

"Donna - the Aussie nurse"


My story begins some 7 years ago. My career as a nurse leads me into many diverse situations both medically and personally on a daily basis, however my own voyage into the discovery of my cancer was extremely quick.

I am 48 years of age and had a successful curative resection for cancer of the rectum at age 41. My symptoms were not many prior to diagnosis, however I was leading a hectic ad hoc life with emotional ups and downs and a lot of stress which is par for the course for me. Some 2 months prior to one episode of rectal bleeding, I had some abdominal "bloating" and had a vaginal ultrasound performed for ?cysts on the ovaries, which proved negative. The pain was extremely intense for 20-30 minutes at a time every 3-4 weeks so hence the gynaecological investigations. Of course this investigation proved negative, so life went on.

I remember the night as if it were yesterday. On a trip to the bathroom, I had the first and only episode of rectal bleeding. Immediately I thought of my father. Dad had this disease at the onset of 60 years of age. My background as a medical secretary some years prior - I thought straight away of a top surgeon I worked for in the early 1970's, who is now a Professor of Colorectal surgery in Australia. I phoned him the next morning and told him of my concerns - it's uncanny I had not spoken to him for some 18 years and I phoned straight away. Prof P opened up his rooms on the Saturday morning especially, for my visit and arranged for a colonoscopy within the next 4 days. This was done and he just sat on the bed after the examination and told me I have quite a large tumour (cancer) and surgery was necessary as soon as possible.

I remained calm enough at this diagnosis, but my partner went to pieces. I guess my medically trained way of thinking prevented me from panicking too much at the time. I told my family - which consists of one mum, (Dad passed away with this illness at age 61yrs) two older brothers and one older sister and admitted myself to a private hospital in Malvern, Victoria. I have 3 daughters, then aged 17, 15 and 13 years of age whom I worried most about. It all happened so quickly from diagnosis to the date of operation. I remember the morning of the operation when Prof P (surgeon) came in and said he would not know if I was to have a colostomy bag or not, until after the surgery - well of course, I think that upset me more than the outcome, being a youngish female. The next thing was down to theatre, saying "hi" to the theatre staff and out like a light.

Intensive care for the post-op phase (24 hours) and into the ward. I awoke to my partner jubilantly telling me everything went very well - he was able to remove all the tumour. No radio or chemotherapy was necessary.

I had a very uneventful post-op recovery remaining in hospital for 11 days from the anterior resection. The care was superb from the nursing staff and medical staff, especially my brilliant surgeon. Naturally I was sore for the next 3-4 weeks - but returned to my work on a part-time basis 3 weeks post-surgery. The post-op regime has consisted of routine colonoscopies - 6 months, yearly, 18 months and after the 5 year time span - colonoscopy every 2 years is all I need to do. I have regular pap smears and will commence regular mammograms from this year on - as preventative checks.

As a sibling whose parent (father) had this type of cancer, my daughters have a higher risk of developing this disease. I have ensured my daughters have been well drilled in their responsibilities in the importance of regular checks for them at the age of 30 onwards. The eldest girl is only 25, so in 5 years time - medicine will have progressed that much further, as in the area of genetic engineering and research into this illness. Medical research has made amazing strides in identifying genetic predisposition to this illness. I am so grateful to the wonderful skill of my surgeon, and care and support I received to have a second chance. My optimistic nature I guess has helped, as personally I have survived so much so far in my life, that this diagnosis did not seem to be too traumatic for me to handle. In my work, I try to have a re-assuring chat to any of my patients who have the same illness - whatever stage they are in and give them a hug and a big smile 'cause that can work wonders - just keep positive and strong.


So, goodbye and God bless from Oz -

Donna - the Aussie nurse.




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