My Second Encounter With The Big "C"

Recently, during a visit to my doctor for a skin allergy, Kenny asked the doctor to do a pap smear for me. I had never done this test before as a single as I couldn't bear the thought of someone examining me in that part of my anatomy.

During the test, I saw the look of shock on my doctor's face and I knew something was not right. I was bleeding and she told me that there was something in there. As I got off the examining table, she asked me to call Kenny to her office as she wanted to explain the situation to both of us. As we set nervously in front of her, she said that there was a polyp in there and that I should get it removed asap. During that time, I walked out to take a call. The appointment was then made to see her husband at Tawakal Hospital on the following Friday. As we drove home, Kenny told me that during the time when I stepped out to take the call, my doctor told him to be prepared that the growth may be cancerous. I already suspected that as I saw the "horrified" look on her face and how she said she was so sorry to have to tell me that there was this "alien" object inside me.

So off to Dr. Fong's clinic at Tawakal on Friday and the appointment was made to have it removed on the following Tuesday. Early Tuesday morning, I was up by 5 am. I spent some time praying before preparing to leave for the hospital. We left our home in the pouring rain. As we were about to arrive at the hospital, a Kanchil sped by from behind and hit us at the back. Before we could do anything the car had sped off. I determined in my heart not to let the incident affect me. So at 7.30 am we signed in. They took my blood sample, my blood pressure etc. Off to the operation theatre and it was all done in 20 minutes.

When the general aneasthetic wore out, the doctor came in to check on me. He insisted both of us take a good look at the polyp. It was a gross pale looking tissue the size of an adult thumb. I was discharged on Wednesday morning and went home to mom to recuperate.

On Friday afternoon, my family doctor called me up and was so glad that she could not wait to tell me the biopsy results - the growth was benign!! Praise the Lord for His saving grace and mercy again. He did it once for me way back in 2001 when there was a growth on my tongue.

On Saturday afternoon, I went back to my family doctor for the detailed biopsy report. They said the growth was inflammed, bleedy and had very perforated walls. So it was not a normal polyp that is usually small and smooth. My doctor said that she and her husband felt very uneasy when they saw it and thought it was a malignant growth. Thank God for His hand upon our lives.

Ladies, please do go for a regular pap smear test as this could save your life! My doctor said that regardless of whether a person is married or not, it is essential to have this done in order to have early detection of any abnormality in the cervix. I thank God that my hubby insisted I did the test.