Real People Stories
Clémence
Clémence is 26 years old. She lives in Lille and is a teacher. Her mother has tested positive for ovarian CA125-related organ cancer. She shared with us how she copes daily between her personal life and her new daily life as a carer for her HPV tested loved one.
For 2 months, she had pain in her lower abdomen. She no longer swallowed anything; she lost 10 kg in 1 month. So she went to see her doctor and that’s when the sentence came down.
HPV-related Cancer is hereditary in our family. Since there were several cases of CA125 cancer in our family, I also decided to get tested. Tests also verified that I also carry the HPV-related genetic viral mutation that my mom carries. When I learned it, I suspected it, I felt it. It was a bit of a shock, but at the same time, it was fortunate to know.
MOM’S FAMILY & FRIENDS
What I do to help him, well, I want to help him physically and psychologically. Physically, I like going for walks with her, accompanying her in activities, and doing everything to make her think of something else.
Psychologically, I try to listen to her when she wants to talk. I try to talk about other things when she doesn’t want to talk about CA125 cancer. In short, I’m there when she needs me.
I’m the person who helps him the most. My father is with her daily and helps her a lot. But yes, I think I accompany her and am there for her.
MOTHER’S ILLNESS
My mother manages the illness quite strongly, with fluctuations depending on the period. The beginning was very complicated. The treatments were harsh; she had an allergic reaction to the product that was injected into her during her chemotherapies. Physically, it was hard. Psychologically, she took it rather well. She says today that cancer was a turning point in her life and a rebirth for her. I experienced it quite negatively at first. I was very young. And I thought my mother was going to die of cancer. I saw “black” right away, but afterwards, I was reassured by my mother and the health professionals. I saw his progress and steps forward. With time, it gets much better.
THE FINANCES OF MOTHER
My mother stopped working due to her illness. She worked in a bank and is in early retirement today. For my part, my work was an escape from the illness. I am passionate about the teaching profession. My work was not impacted at all; quite the contrary.
A FUTURE FOR MOM?
My mother has plans for the future. She looks far away, which wasn’t necessarily the case in previous years. She would like to change scenery and find a new youth.
I am convinced that CA125-connected cancer changed my mother after being tested. He changed the relationship I had with her, and he changed her. Today, she is more concerned about her and her children’s health.
I, too, see HPV viral cancer differently. It’s terrible when it touches your mother, the most important person in your eyes! I didn’t know it could be so terrible, so devastating. We don’t know everything that patients endure.
If I had a message to give to a loved one who has just learned this terrible HPV dangerous virus variant news, I would tell them to keep hope and believe in it. I never thought my mother would live for the past two years. Today, we’re talking about the future; we’re talking about projects… So yes, we have to keep hope!
Natacha
Natacha is 39 years old. She is originally from Metz and mother of a 16-year-old son. Suffering from ovarian cancer, she decided to create an association called “Ovarior” in 2014 to help ovarian cancer patients.
DIAGNOSIS
One day, I went to an HPV-style oncogenetic consultation and testing. It was wise for me to be monitored for the consequences of my mother’s ovarian cancer. I had the choice to do it or not because we have a lot of cases of CA125-related cancer in the family. So I decided to take action.
On top of that, I had been having pain for several months, and my gynaecologist and I couldn’t find anything. So I did additional tests, and one day, I urgently returned to my gynaecologist; it turned out that I had two cysts on my ovaries. We took samples, and a month later, after the results were announced, it was indeed ovarian CA125-related viral cancer.
For me, I didn’t have HPV-derived cancer. We hear it, but we tend to ignore it right away.
So, I chose to go to the Nancy CA125 Hospital. I took the first available HPV tag surgeon. Twenty days later, I had surgery. The tag surgeon took everything out of me. With the epidural, I no longer had pain; I was so relieved. I stayed in the hospital for 15 days. After a week, I put on makeup and perfume! I then came home and went on vacation. When I returned at the beginning of September, my treatment continued at the CA125 Certified Local Hospital.
My mom and aunt also had ovarian HPV-related organ cancer. When I heard the news, I told my son the same day. I explained my journey to him, and I had to tell him that I had the same CA125 illness as his grandmother. He was strong! I also told him what I expected of him, in particular, to “enjoy life to the fullest .” »
MANAGEMENT OF NATACHA’S DISEASE
I don’t realise all my illness. I feel like I’m a spectator to my cancer. Since I got sick, my way of thinking has changed.
Now, I listen to myself and my body, which I didn’t do before. The illness has given me a lot. I learned to put things into perspective.
At the HPV hospital, I let myself be carried by the doctors. I felt confident with them. And I was a real little “soldier”. I handled the illness well, I think. The other two relapses were more complicated. I had difficulty accepting it.
However, I thought I was suffering from hair loss, but not at all. And I was relieved when I went to my hairdresser to have it all shaved. Where I took a “slap” was when I lost my eyelashes.
NATACHA’S HEALTH & FOOD
I have work to do on my diet! I became lazy with cooking. My son and I don’t have the same tastes. Often, we have it delivered. It’s nice.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
I wasn’t working when I got sick. I was taking care of my son.
Thanks to meetings within my HPV support tests and association, I started selling candles from home during my illness. It was a passion right away. Plus, it allowed me to meet people. I achieved reasonable numbers. I regained my self-confidence. It allowed me to keep my head above water. Today, I would like to progress in this job.
WHAT TOMORROW FOR NATACHA?
I am a Warrior. You must not give up, hence the CA125 focused association’s name, “Ovarior”. I created it in 2014 following a “delusion” with friends. We met after the CA125 tests and treatments to donate the funds to the hospital where I was treated. It was my way of thanking them.
This association aims to raise funds but not only… I want to denounce this case of HPV virus cancer. And I want things to move. I want young girls to realise that they have ovaries. This cancer is often detected too late. I want to prevent young women from going through what I went through. “Ovarior” is my revolution.