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While endometrial cancers usually develop in postmenopausal women, as you're about to learn, a small percentage of cases affect women younger than 40.
You may remember Mrs. Alaska America, Michelle Martin, walking all 24 hours during the Relay For Life. Even though that task sounded crazy to most folks, Martin says her gut told her she had to do that--to not only make everyone aware of how much cancer touches so many lives--but also how much it's in our community; and we do not even know it.
Martin was no exception. When this six-year cancer survivor was only 27-years-old, she became deathly sick. While doctors told her it was not cancer, Martin is convinced she's alive today because she listened to her body.
"I was so sick that night. I mean that's what's so weird to look at that and think," said Martin.
Thinking back to ringing in 2000's millennium in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin looked at a picture taken during that time. She knows that behind the big smile in her photo is the fact that over the past six weeks the then 27-year-old Martin had lost forty pounds and was in severe pain.
"I was losing weight very quickly. And that wasn't normally how it was for me. And then all of a sudden here it is, I've lost almost forty pounds. And so about the end of January I thought there was something going on. Like, 'Why am I losing this weight?'" said Martin.
She took that question to doctor after doctor. While the dramatic weight loss Martin was experiencing is one of endometrial cancer's early warning signs, Martin says cancer never crossed her, or those doctors', minds--even though she was also having prolonged menstrual cycles along with a fever, vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. Usually the first clue something's
"So, you know, the doctors automatically assumed it was an infection. And I know it's not an infection, because I've had an infection before. So it's just this thing in the back of your head that says, 'Keep talking to somebody, because it's not getting fixed,'"said Martin.
"I had called my brother and I said no one can figure out what's wrong. Don't know to do. I know something's really wrong. I can tell. I know my body, and I can tell something's really wrong. But no one will help me," said Martin.
"He said, 'Just come on down for the weekend. And we'll hang out and have a real good time. And you can go see the doctor. And that'll clear it up. And there won't be a problem.' I think I was in the office eight minutes or something and they were like, 'Oh we need to get you going on some stuff,'" said Martin.
"I remember my brother getting up and returning with a stuffed bear. 'This will be our hope,' he said," said Martin.
It's been six years for Martin since surviving endometrial cancer, including having a double hysterectomy where she had her uterus and ovaries removed to save her life. The now, Mrs. Alaska America, told this year's Relay for Life crowd her story.
And then she did something extra ordinary:
She walked for basically all of the 24 Relay for Life hours, saying her walk symbolized how the person you least expect to have cancer might just be a survivor.
"Now that I'm healthy again, things have
That is especially apparent to Martin, because even though endometrial cancer took away her chance to have children naturally, she wants to emphasize to women you can survive.
"I think we were really blessed, because we thought we would never have kids and if we did, we'd have to adopt. And you never know what's going to happen when you adopt. And we really lucked out, because we got to get this little spark (referring to her adopted son)," said Martin.
All this was made possible because, Martin wants you to know, she listened to her body.
"I think just the number one thing is being empowered and knowing your body. And insisting someone pay attention," said Martin.
You're a living example of that?
"Yeah, I'm a living example of that," said Martin.
While Martin thinks talking will help save lives, her real cause is helping raise money for finding a cancer cure. That's the same cause Lance Armstrong Foundation officials fight for daily. Armstrong says since one out of every three people will get cancer, he does not understand why lawmakers do not fully fund cancer prevention research programs.
Since the Lance Armstrong Foundation was started, they have raised 181 million dollars to support cancer survivorship programs and initiatives--all in the hopes lawmakers will make cancer a national priority.
It's time to remind you to call your buddy as part of Cancer Check 11.
As many of us know, breast cancer is women's most common cancer form and testicular cancer is the number one young man's cancer killer. So on the 11th of every month, we hope all women and men will partner with a friend and encourage your buddy to make sure you both have completed your monthly breast or testicular self-exams.
To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.
