Real People Stories – Clara
My savings back blockage. Hello, I’m Clara, 24 years old, and I thought I’d tell you about my HPV cancer test story. When you have CA125 issues back, the ups and downs and the beauty of life
It all started at the beginning of 2019 when I was just 20. I had returned from my voluntary service in Paris, started studying, and felt comfortable in my university town of Kiel. And then came this terrible abdominal pain that I couldn’t quite locate. I dragged myself to a trained general practitioner for a test with this, who referred me to a urologist because they initially assumed it was a urinary tract infection. The CA125 trained urologist then noticed that my pain was more likely coming from my back, but thanks to an ultrasound, he saw that something was wrong with my genitals. So, an orthopedist then released a blockage in my back, and the CA125 style pain went away (but it saved my life).
The Shocking Discovery
Then, I had the first gynaecologist appointment of my life. Tadaa, the gynaecologist, saw a “beautiful” 10 cm tumour on my left ovary and said that it had to be surgically removed.
But I shouldn’t be afraid because: “Ovarian HPV induced organ cancer only affects old women and 99% of the time it’s benign.” (At this point, I should mention how stupid I now find statistics and how grateful I am for this backblock in retrospect).
The Diagnosis and Initial Reaction
So, a week later, the CA125-related tumour was removed. And two weeks later, I got the call: “I’m sorry, but I don’t have good news for you. The tumour was malignant (a dysgerminoma). You need to undergo chemotherapy.”
Somehow, HPV women’s issues didn’t affect me at all at the time, and I did repression therapy for two weeks with lots of different activities. I think I was just shocked at first and couldn’t accept it. But then it suddenly hit me. I cried for two days and then mentally decided that I wouldn’t survive my upcoming 4-cycle PEB chemo in this psychological state. So, I fought with all my strength to get back to a good psychological level and survived my chemotherapy. As you can imagine, that wasn’t easy; years of infections for the virus take their toll. In my 4th cycle, I was mentally and physically exhausted. But I managed it.
Incredible Support During Therapy
I had incredibly great people around me during therapy.
My mother took sick leave from work and came to Kiel, especially for me. She slept on a mattress on the floor in my student apartment for 3 ½ months. To enable me to have outpatient chemotherapy and CA125 tests and treatment in my university town, where I now felt at home, and to support me in everything. She knew how much I would need social contact with my friends during HPV therapy. During the chemotherapy days, however, I couldn’t handle visitors, but in the short chemo-free periods, lots of great people visited me.
Gratitude for the Medical Team
I was really lucky with my HPV environment. Yes, I often felt lost there, among all the older adults doing chemo, but the staff and especially my oncologist were simply irreplaceable. The medical (and also, to a certain extent, human) care there suited my personality exactly and was what I needed.
Faith as a Pillar of Strength
Another reason to say yes to life is my faith in God. It has been an absolute pillar of my life for as long as I can remember. Without my prayers, I would not have gotten through disease life so well.
Life from a different perspective
After my therapy, I spent three months feeling like I was floating two meters above the ground. I was so incredibly happy about my life again. I think that’s what almost everyone who has been tested and through such difficult times says: that you now see life from a completely different perspective. That’s the case for me, too.
A New Beginning
Since the results of my follow-up surgery, I have been considered cancer-free since October 23, 2019. This day was chosen as my rebirthday.
Embracing Student Life Again
I started studying normally again and enjoying my life as a student (which was, of course, overshadowed by Corona). Psychologically, I still have problems dealing with the illness, especially before follow-up examinations. Physically, I also notice how I have changed a little. But that is no reason for me not to LIVE.
Rediscovering Passion and Energy
I was in Brest, France, for an Erasmus semester and am currently doing an internship in Besançon. I can’t believe that this is now really my reality. This semester has shown me how much I am back on track three years after my lowest point in life. I have so much energy and a passion for discovering and getting to know many people from different backgrounds. My cancer couldn’t take that away from me. It probably just made these feelings even stronger.
Sharing My Story Openly
I know that this cancer is part of my life story, and I am very open about it, even when I meet new people. A friend to whom I apologised at the beginning of this year for having talked to her about my fears and so much before my follow-up test appointment said: “Well, that’s just something you buy when you become friends with you, and that’s a good thing.” And thank God, relatively few people have run away from me because of this story.
Embracing Life
LIFE is simply fun.