One woman shared her experience of being diagnosed with a rare cancer after experiencing an unusual symptom while dining out with friends.
Some cancers can be identified easily, but others can be confused with much less severe illnesses.
Erica, a single mother and navy veteran, shared her unexpected cancer diagnosis story with The Patient Story, after not immediately recognizing the warning signs.
Reflecting on a particular incident, Erica mentioned: “I went out for dinner with a friend and I was full instantly. I took a couple of bites and then I was kind of forcing it down and that was usual. Because as I said, I’d been working out and working out heavy, so my appetite was through the roof..”
In addition to subtle symptoms such as monthly fatigue, bloating, and occasional sharp pain, Erica underwent a hysterectomy, a procedure that involves removing the uterus.
She described how an inner intuition suggested to her that doctors would discover something ‘wrong,’ and after regaining consciousness, she was informed that the surgery had not been completed.
Doctors revealed to Erica that she had cancer.
“The doctor there told me what they had found and it was quite a bit of cancer in my belly. There was a question as to where the cancer had originated from,” she stated during her conversation with The Patient Story.
“It took about two weeks that I knew I had cancer but I didn’t know exactly what it was.”
Given that the cancer had affected numerous organs, doctors needed to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Erica was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, which arises from cells in the appendix.
Symptoms of this cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include appendicitis, bloating, increased waist size, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, abdominal or pelvic pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Following her diagnosis, Erica has undergone 12 rounds of chemotherapy. Despite receiving the all-clear twice, the cancer returned a third time.
Though Erica has faced significant challenges, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, stating that she has embraced more opportunities.
If these issues have affected you and you wish to speak confidentially with someone, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or use their 24/7 live chat feature.