Lexington, Kentucky (September 26, 2024) – in UK Healthcare – Turf Land, Trilby Trent’s workspace tells a story. The 58-year-old patient registrar’s desk is decorated with colorful notes and inspirational messages, as well as a sign that reads: “I’m battling peritoneal cancer. What’s your superpower?”
A year ago, Trilby was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given only months to live. Today, She defies expectations. Working at the UK Family and Community Health Clinic in Turfland, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer CenterTrilby continues to do what she loves most: serving patients.
As she continues to live life on her own terms, Trilby is challenging preconceived notions about people living with advanced cancer.
A rare and difficult diagnosis
In August 2023, Trilby began having difficulty breathing while working in the garden. In the Turfland Hospital emergency room, nurse Melinda Rath took a chest X-ray and found fluid around his right lung. Doctors at the Good Samaritan Hospital in the UK drained two litres of fluid. Tests revealed metastatic cancer, and a liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of primary peritoneal cancer.
For Trilby, the following week I only had vague memories of the first x-ray — she always had checkups and tests, didn’t smoke, ate healthy, and exercised — so it just didn’t make sense.
“I went in thinking they were going to say I needed a heart scan or something,” Trilby said, “and they ended up saying, ‘You have cancer.’ That was totally unexpected.”
Primary peritoneal cancer begins in the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdomen and surrounds the organs.
Trilby is being cared for by gynaecological oncologist Dr Rachel Miller at UK Marquee Cancer Centre.
“Primary peritoneal cancer “There’s a strong association with ovarian and fallopian tube cancer in women,” Miller said.
As with ovarian and fallopian tube cancer, the challenges of primary peritoneal cancer are There are usually no symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage, at which point it becomes more difficult to treat because of recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy.
Treatment options, including chemotherapy and more invasive procedures, are tailored to each patient’s individual situation and quality of life priorities.
Live life your way
Understanding the seriousness of her diagnosis, Trilby was determined to make the most of each day, which for her meant making life as comfortable as possible so she could cherish the time she had with her wife.Stephanie, and continue working.
Her treatment plan includes multiple chemotherapy treatments and she is currently undergoing maintenance therapy with biologics. Maintain an excellent quality of life while minimizing side effects from treatment.
“I quickly realised that in my situation, being away from work would affect my mental health and with it the physical strain.“Continuing to work while in treatment was the best thing for me. When I’m working, I’m not a patient anymore. I’m helping other patients. That’s helped my mindset through all of this,” Trilby said.
“Trilby proves that it is possible to survive severe cancer,” Miller said. “Our hope is that people can live with cancer, receive treatment that is tolerable, and treat them in a way that allows them to feel good while maintaining their quality of life.”
Her boss and colleagues fully supported her decision, supported her, and offered her emotional support. The support has helped her maintain her work routine and also brought her closer to Stephanie, who works as a medical laboratory technician at Turfland Clinic’s outreach lab.
Trilby’s presence at the clinic is an inspiration to her colleagues and the patients she sees every day. Despite her own health challenges, We go out of our way to make sure our patients feel comfortable and cared for during their first interaction at our clinic.
Sharing her journey with honesty and humor
Trilby has been open about her cancer treatment journey, with her Facebook posts honestly depicting the realities of living with advanced cancer, including chemotherapy side effects such as fatigue. Neuropathy and hair loss.
she They also aren’t afraid to share other less talked about side effects, helping to normalize conversations about the realities of cancer treatment, even if they are uncomfortable.
“Cancer takes away dignity in so many ways,” Trilby says. “I feel like I’m living my life like this. Speak out loud and trust that everything is a learning opportunity and that every experience in life can be used to teach. You never know what will help someone else or what will help you.”
Trilby also shares some fun moments, including the latest addition to her ever-growing collection of eclectic hats. When she started losing her hair, she opted for a more creative approach rather than traditional wigs or wraps.
“I discovered the wonderful world of cosplay elf clowns,” says Trilby. “I love fashion,” she says with a smile. Her collection currently includes Game of Thrones-inspired pieces, Greek goddess laurels, and her favorite, a vintage charcoal short-brimmed Trilby Stetson with a Wonder Woman headband atop the hat. She often describes herself as “the Trilby of Trilbies.”
“Every day my colleagues ask me, ‘What are you wearing today?'” she laughs. “It’s become a fun social interaction and brings a bit of joy to the clinic.”
Women’s Health Quotes
Through her story, Trilby is determined to inspire more women to be proactive about their health, including being aware of their bodies and the importance of seeing a doctor if “something isn’t right.”
That alone could make the difference in whether certain types of cancer can be detected. The sooner, the easier it is to treat.
Primary peritoneal and ovarian cancers are not usually detected early, even when treatment outcomes are good, because early symptoms, such as abdominal bloating, cramps, and fatigue, are often subtle and mistaken for other disorders.
“Women are more likely to ignore symptoms or put off going to the doctor because they’re too busy,” Trilby says. “We need to make ourselves a priority.”
Listen to your body It’s not the only defense against primary peritoneal cancer: Other options Trilby wants more women to know about include genetic testing and the CA-125 blood test.
Genetic testing It is suitable for women who are at high risk of peritoneal cancer, such as those with a family history of peritoneal cancer. The test can identify whether you are a carrier of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with an increased risk of several cancers, including peritoneal and ovarian cancer.
The CA-125 blood test measures the amount of cancer antigen 125 in the blood. This level may be an indicator of certain female cancers, including primary peritoneal cancer. It is not conclusive. In some cases, it may be useful as an early warning sign.
“These tests are not perfect, but they are tools that we have,” Trilby says.“I want all women to feel empowered to speak up, ask questions, and advocate for themselves — whether that’s talking about genetic testing, requesting a CA-125 test, or simply expressing concern about an abnormal symptom.” — Your voice matters.”
