This post is sponsored by University Health.
Hi. My name is Kylee Thomas, and I’m a cervical cancer survivor. It feels so good to say that.
First, a miscarriage, and then cancer
Cervical cancer is what led me to have a miscarriage. Losing the baby really amplified the cancer, and I became really sick. I saw a gynecologist at Samuel Rodgers, and she discovered the five-centimeter mass in my cervix. That’s when I started my journey. I met with Dr. Blair Smith, who is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist. Dr. Smith specializes in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies and is an attending at University Health.
Dr. Smith is “like a mom”
The love that she instantly gave to me – She hugged me whenever she first entered the room. She said we are going to get through this and I’m going to help you. I just melted in her arms, and I just knew that I was in good hands. Yeah, kind of like a mom.
I knew that I was in good hands and that whatever she said was the right thing. And she led me down a great path. I just trusted every word that she said.
She told me exactly what was going to happen, how I was going to feel, her plans, and she just didn’t miss a beat.
The cervical cancer treatment
I had two different types of radiation. I had internal radiation and external radiation.
It was really rough. It was really painful. But the pain was temporary. The fight was forever, and I got through it.
At first, Dr. Smith was hopeful that she could save my ovaries and my natural hormones, so I wouldn’t have to go through menopause. But the cancer had spread through my lymph nodes. The surgery was a 50/50 chance and ended up failing, so we had to radiate the mass.
Breaking the news to her daughter
I’ll never forget the day that I sat on the couch, and I grabbed her little bitty hands, and I told her that mommy has cancer. She looked at me and just hugged me.
Then, she grabbed my face and told me, it’s going to be OK, mom. And then I knew it was going to be OK. At five-years-old, she did that. What kind of five-year-old would do that? I didn’t even know she knew what cancer was.
Family support
My grandma was going through cancer at the same time. There would be times where we’d meet up at the appointments and go through radiation together.
My grandma was against tattoos. She was 80, I was 28, and we got matching tattoos. My grandma was a huge support!
My mom was there, too. I couldn’t have done it without those three – my daughter, my grandma and my mom.
Progress with treatment to hearing, “You are cancer free”
Whenever the mass dissolved, Dr. Smith said it was amazing as she had never seen a cervix heal as fast as mine. She was excited that my tumor was shrinking and enthusiastic and hopeful about my prognosis.
I knew that it was going to be OK just from hearing that from Dr. Smith. It was a feeling that is unimaginable. It’s something that you can’t really explain and stopped me in my tracks. The world had stopped spinning, and I thanked God. I have to be here. I have to be a mother to my daughter.
Live each day to the fullest
I’m completely done with my treatments now. I see Dr. Smith periodically for checkups. I’m healthy.
Unfortunately, I’m going through menopause. I am 30 years old, stuck in a menopausal 50-year-old woman’s body with hot flashes.
I’m not able to have kids anymore. But that’s OK. I have my one perfect, beautiful daughter, and that’s all I need. She’s able to get all of my love.
I live each day to the fullest, and I live through my daughter because you just never know what tomorrow is going to bring. It’s given me a whole different outlook.
Advice to anyone going through this
Give yourself grace. This is temporary. The pain is temporary. The sickness is temporary. You are a lot stronger than what you know you are. You got to give yourself so much credit.
Live each day to each day. Rely on your support system – your doctors, your family, your significant other; animals are a great support system too. And just stay strong. No matter how deep and dark you get, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you will reach it.
Just stay strong. Stay strong.
University Health provides cancer care for all, regardless of ability to pay. Start your care journey with us today by calling 816-307-1515 or https://www.universityhealthkc.org/gynonc/.
