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My name is Tina Martignetti and I am a 34 year old Cancer Survivor/Fighter. I have been fighting cancer for over 9 years now. I was first diagnosed with cancer when I was 25 years old. I have always wanted to travel, so when I was 25 I decided I would join the Navy. I figured that in joining the Navy I would be able to work and travel at the same time. Once enrolled, there was a series of tests I had to pass and after I passed all of the tests it was time for my physical. It was at that moment when I was taking my physical that they found a lump in my breast. They told me to go to the doctor and find out what it is and then get back to them.
The next day I called the doctor to see if I could schedule a mammogram, but being that I was only 25, they would not give me one. I explained to them a little bit about my family history and that I had already lost my grandmother to cancer and at present my mother was fighting breast cancer. After all of that they recommended that I come in for a ultra sound, so I did. They called me the next day and asked that I come in for a mammogram, from there the tests moved onto a needle biopsy and then I was in surgery. The results were in, the lump was cancerous and they were not able to get it all during the first surgery. Back into surgery I went so they could remove the rest of the cancer.
Then began the chemo treatments. I started with six months of chemo, then 3 weeks of radiation and after that another six months of chemo. So everything was going good at the time. I was working at Garden City Casino as a food server and everyone there was so nice. When I lost my hair they let me work in the kitchen and as soon as I got my hair back I was back out waitressing. The customers would ask what happened to my hair and I would jokingly tell them I had lost a bet.
When I found out that I had cancer, it didn't really have that much affect on me. I had been watching my mother battle cancer and she was doing just fine. So I knew every everything would be ok, and with the support we both had from our family, I knew plenty of good times were on the way.
For two year I was in remission when all of a sudden I started experiencing some pain in my sternum. The doctors did a biopsy and found out that the cancer had metastasized to my sternum. So then began the whole process again, I was once again back to radiation treatments.
Since then it has metastasized to other spots on my bones including my spine, both hips, and my shoulder. A short time later I found out that it had also metastasized to my liver. As of right now the treatment works as follows, I will stay on a certain chemo as long as it keeps the tumor stable or is effective in shrinking it. As soon as the tumors show signs of growing, the doctor switches the chemo and I then try a new one.
In the past nine years I have been on several different types of chemo and they all have had different side effects. Cancer is a part of my everyday life and I deal with the effects one day at a time. I will not let cancer stop or even slow me down. This year alone I got to travel to Germany for the World Cup, Aspen to meet one of my role models Lance Armstong and Italy to visit my family. For whatever reason I have been diagnosed with this disease, but I will not let it beat me, so I keep on fighting everyday. We have all heard the saying, "You only live once, so live life to the fullest." Well for me that saying has never meant more to me than it does right now!
Fighting this disease, for me, is something I must do. I have an awesome family who has always been the for me no matter what. My father, who has just about been to every appointment with me since I was diagnosed, is always there for me and I have never enjoyed his company more. His biggest focus is getting me better and I appreciate everything thing that he does for me. I am very grateful that he is there with me at my appointments, but sometimes I think he has an alterative motive and that is flirting with the nurses. My sister Lisa, who is my best friend, has been my shoulder to lean on and ear to listen. She is so caring and nurturing, that when I need her she is always there for me, she will pack up my little buddies, my nephew Junior and niece Tiana, and head down to visit whenever I need her.
Now with me being from a very large Italian family, if for some reason my dad can't make it to my appointment there is always someone willing to go with me. While at chemo we make the best of our time by playing rummy, skip-bo, domino's or whatever the game is. I always know that I am never alone and whenever I need someone my family is only a phone call away. If I end up in the hospital due to low blood counts or whatever, they are all there playing games, keeping me company, bothering the nurses, delivering food and just being the great family that they are. Having each and every one of them in my life is what keeps me going. My family are the ones who have taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. They are my rocks, my best friends, the ones I can count one no matter what and I love them for that with all of my heart.
The hardest thing I have had to deal with through this whole experience so far in my life was losing my mother Mary to cancer. She was the sweetest lady you would ever meet. She was always there for you whenever you needed her. It didn't matter what you needed or when you needed it, people knew they could always count on Mary to be there for them. People who knew her loved her smile, her sense of humor, her level headedness and her nurturing ways. Mary was not only my mother, she was my mentor, my best friend. When I was growing up I wanted to experience all that life had to offer me and my mother was not always in agreement with some of my choices but she was always supportive of me. As a parent all you can do is hope you have given your children all that they will need to be successful in life and with Mary she gave me more that I would ever need. It is because of her that I am the person you see here today. She taught me to fight and never give up no matter what. It is because of her and the love of my family that I fight this disease everyday, never giving up.
Currently I am on a new chemo pill. This is a result of the tumor on my liver growing about a 1/2cm. Overall I feel very lucky and blessed that there are so many people out there who are willing to help find a cure. With all of the chemos treatments that I have had that have benefited me and with all of the new treatments that are being discovered everyday, I truly believe one day we will find a cure. I have to believe this, or else all of this that I have experienced, that I have fought thru and for will all be for nothing, and no one lives and fights for nothing.
Click here to donate to Tina. |
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