I Cried Until I Laughed

About the Book

In January of 2000, at the age of fifty-two, I underwent a fairly simple surgery to remove fibroids. I came out six hours later without fibroids but with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer stage 3c. They said it was a sarcoma on my right pelvic wall and was a very rare type—aggressive, high grade, with no protocol for treatment. I was told I had from six months to five years with no forecast on a quality of life during that time. Upon being released from the hospital, I set out to map a wellness plan, to keep track of all my medical tests, blood draws, CT scans, x-rays, and surgeries. I felt if I had control of my life, I could control my future. I gave myself the right to have hope. Hope to track, control, and fight this with everything I could. I knew I trusted my doctor with my body, but I needed to give myself hope to control my visions, anxiety, and emotions and how I treated myself. So I devised a fighting plan. I became my own health advocate. I kept up with all my tests results, my blood draws, my surgeon’s reports and kept a paper trail. After my twenty-two-month journey, I was pronounced NED on September 11, 2001. I kept my catheter in for two and half years for a just-in-case moment, and then for my Christmas present to myself, I had it removed in my surgeon’s office. That day was when I knew I had made it. I accepted my positive attitude, my plan, and the fact to feel the self-control and not let something control you doesn’t define who you are. A great friend told me that “cancer is only a word, not a sentence,” and I proved him right!

About the Author

Barbara Jean “BJ” Derton is the founding president and owner of AP&D Services Inc., an agency in Austin, Texas. It is designed to assist companies in recording, transcribing, and documenting medical histories for claims of medical necessity and workers’ compensation. She is a strong voice and advocate with regard to women’s health issues and readily assists the young and elderly who have health difficulties and few resources. She is active in her community, working with Crime Stoppers, serving on school boards, holding every seat in the PTA when her two sons were in school, being a Cub Scout leader, and working with basset dog rescue groups in Central Texas. BJ is also the founding president and owner of Away Wee Go Inc., a company marketing several variations of her own design. She founded the company after observing the lack of attention to the cleanliness of retail and grocery shopping cart handles used everywhere while undergoing her journey into remission. She personally hand-sews the washable, colorful cart handle covers herself and sells them through word-of-mouth. BJ attended the University of Texas in Austin and lives in Round Rock, Texas, with her husband, Frank Melvin, who is a certified public accountant, and of course, her bassets.