Mendy's Cancer Battle

Mendy's story thus far.... September 2018........After 6 months of struggling with symptoms (constipation and stomach pain), I opted to do a colonoscopy. 9/21/18 - Had colonoscopy; a 2-3 cm mass found in the sigmoid region of my colon.. My Gastroenterologist referred me to the Surgical Oncologist. 9/24/18 - Had appointment with the Surgical Oncologist. He ordered a CT scan and blood work. 9/27/18 - Had follow-up appointment with Surgical Oncologist for results of the CT scan and blood work. The CT scan showed that I also had a large mass on one of my ovaries. He stated I would need to have major surgery to have a colon resection and total hysterectomy and that he would be working along with my Gynecologist to perform the surgery. This was a hard day . A few weeks went by waiting for my surgery to be scheduled. Meanwhile, I was in alot of pain daily. 10/23/18 - Finally the day of my surgery had arrived. We were to be at the hospital surgicare center at 12 noon in Albany, GA.  I woke up that morning around 4:45 a.m., and was in excruciating pain.  I told my husband we had to go the hospital right then. The hospital was 45 minutes away, but we finally made it, and went straight to the ER.  It took a while for them to get my pain under control.  Later that afternoon, I was scheduled for surgery. A lot of our family and friends came to support us. I don't know what we would do without them . The surgery took about 5-6 hours. I was cut from right above my belly button down to my pubic bone. The doctors believed they had gotten all of the cancer, however, the mass on my ovary came back as Stage 4 cancer. They had also removed 24 lymph nodes and 18 came back positive for cancer cells. I would need to do 6 months of chemo. I was in the hospital for a week. I couldn't wait to get home! We were so lucky to have many friends and family, including our church family to help us during this time by bringing meals by to eat. 11/15/18 - I had the port put in my chest to do chemo. 11/21/18 - My first day of chemo. I did part of the chemo in the oncology clinic,  and then I was sent home with a portable chemo pump for 2 days to finish it. My chemo schedule was set for every 2 weeks for the next 6 months. I received many visits from friends and family during my time on chemo. I received several cards; sometimes from people I did not even know.  It was so humbling, and I felt so blessed by their graciousness. 4/23/19 - My last day of chemo (or so I thought). I had a cake baked for the oncology nurses who were so awesome to me during my treatments. My sister also came from out of town to spend the day with me. We celebrated, and thought we were closing that chapter of my life. I was to follow up with my Oncologist in approximately 6 weeks, and have CT scan and blood work done the week before my appointment. 6/14/19 - I had the CT scan with contrast and blood work done. 6/18/19 - I saw my Oncologist for the results. The CT scan was normal but my blood work; particularly the CEA level (cancer antigen) had jumped from 2 to 11 since my last treatment 4/23/19. Due to this, my Oncologist ordered for me to have a PET scan. 6/20/19 - I had the PET scan. Still thinking and hoping that maybe the lab had made an error with my blood results. 6/21/19 - My Oncologist called me with the results of the PET scan. It was not good news. It was so hard for me to process everything he was saying as I was fighting back tears. He said that I have a rare cancer called Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, and that there are only a few surgeons in the country that know how to perform the surgery needed for it. Either I could remain on chemo and risk only living another 2-3 years or he could refer me to a top surgeon in Maryland to be considered for the HIPEC procedure. I don't think I've ever cried so much. Not so much for me, but for my family. My boys. My husband. My Sister. After my husband came home from work, we talked and cried and I pulled up some videos on YouTube about the surgeon, Dr. Armando Sardi and the HIPEC procedure. After watching these videos, I had hope that if I could have this procedure then I would have a chance. 6/24/19 - My Oncologist called me to see if I had made a decision. I told him that I wanted to be referred to the Surgeon in Maryland, and to start back on chemo in the meantime. 6/26/19 - I started back on chemo today. 6/27/19 - I was able to get in touch with Dr Sardi's scheduler to set up my consultation appointment with them in Maryland. I am now scheduled for an appointment on 7/31/19. And Southwest Airlines is going to fly my husband and I up there for free! God is so Good!! **I have created this page for my sister.  My name is Shelley McLeod.  As you can read in her first hand account of what she has been thru thus far...her needs and those of her family are great.  First and foremost, prayers are needed.  She has already been thru so much, but a much bigger battle looms ahead.  The battle will be financially, mentally, and physically draining.            Her current needs:               1.  PRAYERS for her, her family, her doctors and medical staff.               2.  Financial Assistance with travel, hotel stays, medical bills.  Her consultation is in Maryland on July 31, 2019 with Dr. Armando Sardi.  The procedure/surgery, when done, will take anywhere from 6-16 hours with 10-14 days in the hospital, then she will need to stay near hospital once discharged for 1-2 weeks for post-op doctor visits.             3. Meals for her family. The chemo has left her with neuropathy so meal preparation is difficult. Her husband, Jr., can cook, but this battle is weighing heavily on him.             For more information regarding the HIPEC procedure:                                  https://youtu.be/wAUv2eNVgAk                        Everyone's thoughts, prayers, kind gestures, and financial gifts are greatly appreciated.                                                                           Much love,                                                                  Mendy Evans Bodrey and family