Surviving Cancer

Hello, My name is Crystal Conway and when I was 14 years old I was diagnosed with HD I had my spleen removed and a lump in my neck removed.I went through all the radiation treatments and the chemotherapy I was so ill, sometimes the walls would hold me up when I went to school.I went from 117lbs to 75lbs.But I was a fighter, even at 14.After all the time going to my dr appointments I was finally in remission.I took my medications and went for my check ups regularly.Then when I was 18, I had to go for another checkup at the children’s hospital.It was there the Dr found a lump under my right arm.The Dr didn’t know what to think, so he took a biopsy and sent my slides to Boston, USA.I waitied 3 weeks for the results and it turned out to be Schwanoma (cancer of the lining of the nerve)..I was 18, going on my 2nd Cancer.I refused treatment all together even though the Dr and nursed trying to convince me I needed the Chemo and the radiation again.I was not going through it this time, I just couldn’t.They gave me 50/50 chance of survival, and that was not enough for me, I wanted 90/10.Against my parents wishes and the Dr’s I went with my heart, and I did not take the treatment but went home to graduate with my friends.Again I was in remission, I was doing okay…going to my checkups, seeing my Dr regularly, having fun in my life.At the age of 26 I became pregnant with my first child and married my husband.My son was born March 2004, and he was beautiful.I went to take my son home from the hospital, and my family Dr came into say goodby, but not without one last checkup of my lymphnodes.Again , he felt a lump and I had to get an ultrasound done before I left.The dr didn’t know what it was all about but scheduled me for Surgery to take out 1 side of my thyroid…Sure enough, I had Thyroid Cancer..3 times and I thought I was out.5 weeks later, I went into the hospital and found out that my whole thyroid had to be taken out because it was full of cancer.Today, it’s been 26 years since my first cancer HD 22 years since my 2nd and 14 years for my third cancer.I am doing great.I get my yearly checkups now and going stong.Cancer made me the person I am today, Stronger…..and more positive..we can beat this.And I am proud to say I am in the process of writing a book for Cancer patients and their families.Look for it on the shelves, because it can help you with the support you need and answers to the questions you have.It’s called “Cancer is not an Illness It’s a Blessing”.