Caring for Carcinoid Foundation

I survive by remembering the gratitude that I have felt for my life so far and trying to grow with courage and patience for the things I can not change.

How I Fight for a Cure

I believe that I am blessed to be among the very few who found their carcinoid by an incidental finding after removal of a non-malignant teratoma from my ovary. I was taken totally by surprise when the doctor told me there was a little problem with the pathology and that I had a "well-differentiated carcinoid" 1cm in size.

After a lot of research on my part I felt very blessed and I understood so many different symptoms that I had over the last several years. I had Carcinoid Syndrome. In patients with ovarian carcinoid, the blood supply returning from the tumor to the heart by-passes the liver which would remove most of the hormones that are involved with the syndrome. So in my case, I could have the syndrome without metastasis.

My biggest problem is that some of the symptoms have returned and I have to not dwell on the possibility that the tumor has returned. So far, all I have is an increase in a few blood markers.

I survive by trying to gain courage from all of you and by dealing with one symptom at a time, one day at a time, and one problem at a time.

My Caring Words of Encouragement

I am a nurse in another field but some of the most caring and capable medical professionals I have ever met are working in this field and the research and interest is astounding.

Take courage in how far they have come and that these wonderful professionals will keep on trying until they have the answer. For this fact alone, as well as many others, I give thanks to my creator.