Mum has always been a bit sickly. I remember when I was sixteen, she had total hysterectomy because of an over aggressive grow of myoma in her reproductive system. The doctors opened her up twice prior to that surgery, just to remove the tumors. It came to a point where they have to remove the organs that the tumors grew on. If they did not, there was a high possibility that she will get cancer. Since I got my period, she would always nag me about keeping proper track of my cycle and taking careful notes of my cramps. I never got cramps though or if I did, I never thought of them as painful enough to call them cramps. I have a ridiculously high tolerance for pain.
Another thing that has been a plague to mum is her thyroid gland. Since she was a young lady, it has always been giving her trouble. There was a point when she had hyperthyroidism. It worked to her advantage for some time since it kept her slim, even after she had children. The tiny lump was barely noticeable. She said she would only feel it when she would swallow. It took more than twenty years before the lump grew to a size that gave her an annoying feeling when eating. Her yearly test results would come out fine until that one year when she was told to see a specialist. They advised her to have the lump removed for further tests. She had surgery immediately and after the biopsy, they determined it was carcinoma. They had to open up again within the week to scrape off what is left of the gland.
It has been a good four years since that awful week and she has been cancer free. She is taking thyroid and calcium supplements since she already lost the natural production in her body. Another full body scan this year and she can call herself a cancer survivor.