Hello, my name is Sharon Wallace, and I am a cancer fighter. Growing up in a large family in what used to be a small town, I faced numerous challenges, including surviving rape, a failed suicide attempt, self-hate, and a constant feeling of unworthiness and not belonging. By mercy and grace, I made it past 20, despite feeling like I wouldn’t. By the time I reached 50, I thought I had overcome it all. I had four wonderful kids, a decent career, and just the right amount of friends.
However, in 2019, I visited my GYN due to complications from a menstrual cycle that had stopped long ago but had returned for 3-4 months. 😊 Yes, I waited that long. I hate seeing a doctor. A biopsy revealed uterine (endometrial) cancer. My doctor referred me to a wonderful oncologist who recommended a full hysterectomy. At 50, I was okay with that. I had the exact number of kids I wanted and in the exact order. I was good. We hoped the surgery had removed all the cancer, and I felt like I had received a pardon for my past reckless indiscretions.
But in 2021, I started looking as if I was eight months pregnant. Folks kept telling me it was gas. Yeah, right. Despite trying several over-the-counter products, nothing worked. One night it was just too much to bear, I went to the emergency room, where the ascites was discovered, indicating my cancer had returned.
I continue on this journey and will keep fighting. I hope my story helps others know they are not alone.
“Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future. Faith is the courage to dance to it today.”
“Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the belly, often due to severe liver disease” 1.
1: Ascites: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment. WebMD. Retrieved from webmd.com.