Mother’s Courage
By Judy Tjaden
On Dec. 8, 2004, my normal life was to be no more.
After several months of medication and doctor’s appointments for my gynecological problems, I was finally going to have a hysterectomy. That was the moment my world came crashing down on me.
After I awoke from surgery, my daughter, Heather, broke the devastating news to me. While doing my surgery, Dr. Pankratz had discovered that I had ovarian cancer.
I left the hospital a few days later, venturing into a new life — the life of cancer.
I soon met with Dr. Copur. He set up my chemotherapy, and I was scheduled to begin in January. Every 28 days I went to the Cancer Treatment Center for three straight days for treatment. This was to last six months. During those six months, I had to adjust to new obstacles, things I had often taken for granted. The major thing that I had trouble with was losing my hair. I know that it was just hair, but that was all that was left that made me a woman.
Besides that, I experienced fatigue and numbness in my legs and feet. However, I continued to fight through it, keeping my job at Skagway and working four hours a day. A year passed and life finally started to become normal again.
I went in for a routine cat scan, and once again, my world came crashing down on me for the second time.
In December 2005, the CAT scan revealed that the tumors had indeed returned. On New Year’s Eve, I had my second surgery in Omaha with Dr. Morris. At this point, the doctors decided against chemotherapy. I guess you could say we just wanted to see what happened after the surgery.
In April 2006, I was again faced with unfortunate news. Another CAT scan revealed more tumors. This time the tumors were now on the surface of my liver. I traveled to Omaha again for a third surgery.
After six weeks of recovery, I made the decision to retire from my job, the job I had known for 26 years. Fatigue and numbness would not allow me to stand on my legs for long periods of time.
I soon began another round of chemotherapy. Once again, I struggled with the fact of losing my hair.
Was this going to continue?
In May, another CAT scan showed that the three tumors had returned. However, this time I waited until August 2007 to have surgery so that I could enjoy the birth of my new granddaughter.
My fourth surgery was also in Omaha, and once again, I pulled through and recovered. After this surgery, CAT scans have become a normal routine in my life.
In December 2007, a routine cat scan revealed three tumors. I guess you could say three is my lucky number. My family and I decided to wait a while for my next surgery. After two trips to Omaha, talking with my doctor and a hernia specialist, I decided to have an extensive surgery to remove the tumors and to fix the hernia I had developed from all the surgeries.
So, on Feb. 4, 2008, I had my fifth surgery in Omaha. I am still recovering, partly because I did not know that a person’s body could endure that much, let alone have that many staples.
That brings me to now. I will just have to wait and see what the future holds for me. Doctors have explained to me that the only known cure for this type of ovarian cancer (granulosa cell tumors) is surgery. Oral medication and chemotherapy are not an option; they have not worked.
I sometimes ask myself “Why me?”
Some days I feel good and am able to forget that I have cancer. Through all five surgeries, my family and friends have been my motivating factor to keep on fighting. I will continue to fight this cancer because I have a lot of life left in me. I have a wonderful husband, three healthy children and seven grandchildren. That is a lot to keep on living.
UPDATE MARCH 1, 2009:
Judy survived ovarian cancer and numerous surgeries and now devotes her time to family, especially her grandchildren.
Judy said her last two CAT scans showed no tumors. “I’m tumor-free. It’s great because, in your mind, you never get rid of it. I have a lot to live for.”
She said her husband, Dennis, has been at the vanguard of lots of support, which, after she wrote her story, was obvious. “We got tons of cards. People called. It made me feel wonderful.”
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