Well I’m finally posting after several years of ‘stalking’ this wonderful site!  My name is Melissa & I’m now 47 years old. I was diagnosed with metastatic cervical cancer in 2015. I’ll just summarize my story so as to give everyone insight into not just my physical health, but mental as well. 

My treatment consisted of chemo & both internal & external radiation. The radiation helped kill my cancer, but caused severe necrosis (tissue death) to the surrounding area. In 2017 I had to have what is called a total pelvic exenteration (surgical removal of all female organs, bladder, rectum, anus, & vagina). I am sewn shut from the front to the back. So now I have both an ileostomy & a urostomy. This has been devastating to me as a woman & has caused me much emotional pain. I am embarrassed of my ‘situation’ & stay mostly to myself now. But I am working on moving past these issues and I'm supposed to say “at least I’m still alive” on frequent occasions. 

So- enough with the HEAVY! I’m posting this to introduce myself & say hello to all & to preface my upcoming post about skin issues that I’ve been dealing with for several years now.