NED Saved My Life

by SparkMedia
June 27, 2015  | 

A few months ago, I was enjoying my second year of early retirement traveling North America as a full-time RVer and travel blogger (http://winnieviews.blogspot.com).

After my mom died of breast cancer in 2013, I had quit my job, rented my house, and sold all my possessions to start living the life of my dreams while young and healthy enough to still enjoy it.

In early April, 2015 while in New Mexico, I happened to watch the NED movie on PBS one night. An old classmate of mine had died of cervical cancer a few months earlier, and the film’s subject matter immediately held my attention.

The film provoked my curiosity afterwards to search online for early warning signs of Gyn cancers. Suddenly, that annoyingly regular little bit of spotting and discharge I’d been experiencing the past few months took on much greater significance– it was a common symptom for multiple Gyn cancers! I called to make an appointment the very next day with a local OB/Gyn.

Within 2 weeks of watching the movie, I was diagnosed with Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer, and began a rapid cross-country RV trek back to my hometown of Chicago for treatment by a skillful and fabulous Gyn Oncologist at a full-service hospital and cancer center.

I was incredibly blessed that my cancer was caught early (stage 1A) and fully surgically removed. I’ve now been “N.E.D” for 3 1/2 weeks and look forward to a positive long-term prognosis.

If not for the NED film, I am certain I would have never realized the symptoms and seeked treatment as quickly as I did. NED literally saved my life!

Words simply cannot express my gratitude, but I will wear my NED wristband proudly and do all I can to spread the word and raise awareness in hopes that many more women will equally benefit from early diagnoses and state-of-the-art treatment options.

Thank you for saving (& changing) my life!