My 10-year-old son has recently been to pioneer week where he goes to his new secondary school for a week to experience life there. He was asked to write about someone who inspires them. He just told me that he wrote about me and how well I dealt with my operation and chemotherapy afterwards.
He doesn’t talk much about what we went through but when he does he surprises me how much it really affected him. He was only eight. Be brave, everyone, no matter what stage you are at with this dreadful disease.
In case you missed it...
I was shocked by my pseudomyxoma peritonei diagnosis
Being diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (or PMP) came as a huge shock. It was discovered accidentally as my usual yearly bloods showed abnormalities.
Receiving a diagnosis
My original symptom was an ‘irritated‘ bladder — it is difficult to describe but the closest I can come up with it that it felt like it was vibrating all the time. In March 2010, after several months of bladder discomfort and many trips to my GP, I was referred to the genito-urinary clinic at my local University hospital with suspected bladder prolapse. Eventually, this lead to a diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).
Janesa’s journey with pseudomyxoma peritonei
The most common question I get asked is “How did you know something was wrong?”. So, here’s the story.
My wife Susmita Roy also diagnosed pseudomyxoma peritonei low grade. Earlier doctor told benign after surgery and removal of reproductive organs. Wait and watch, doing ct & marker tests on recurring go for cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC. She undergone this on 16 March 2018, now after ICU going to Room for next few days before discharge, looking for post-surgery treatment, care to get over recovery and complete cure. Jayant Roy Mumbai India, advice awaited.
We have no idea about how extensive the impact felt by families (& friends) is, especially for the young, when a close member has endured this MOAS operation. It must be so traumatic for them too. Being brave ..and resilient is hard. Your son is justifiably proud of you & how wonderful that he does open up to you – this is an important message to all who are going through this terrible experience.