Have Faith – Amy Antenucci

By Sharon Anderson

10/23/24

Amy and her gynecologic oncologist talked about her options for a hysterectomy. The doctor explained the benefits of uterine morcellation. It was less invasive and had a faster recovery time than an open abdominal surgery. The doctor went on to inform her that there was a husband and wife team, both doctors, who were suing their hospital because the wife had morcellation and it turned she had a rare cancer, leiomyosarcoma. Amy discussed her options with her husband Todd and her two children, Sam and Frankie. The family decided on the morcellation.

On December 15th, 2014, Amy had her hysterectomy, but thankfully without the morcellation. The nurse practitioner talked the doctor out of it in the operating room. The pathology results revealed that instead of a benign fibroid, Amy had leiomyosarcoma. Amy went blank in shock. She went home and delivered the devastating news… “remember that cancer I talked about? I have it.”

Like all people who learn they have cancer, Amy went down a deep dark hole of why me? She was mad about the morcellation and cried nonstop. In desperation, she asked for a sign. She was reassured when she looked up, and the sun started to come out through the clouds. She took it as a message to have faith things would be ok. 

Amy found the LMSDR support group and learned as much as she could. She starting seeing a sarcoma specialist at the University of Michigan. Amy wanted to do everything she could to keep this cancer away. She joined a clinical trial with gemcitabine and taxotere (gem/tax) followed by doxorubicin.

Amy found out that her gynecologic oncologist still used morcellation for hysterectomies. When Amy ran into the gynecologic oncologist four years later, she confronted her.

It’s been ten years since Amy was diagnosed. She had her husband Todd celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. Her son Sam is 23 years old and in college. Her daughter Frankie is getting married. Amy loves to travel, play golf and drive her black mustang.

Amy’s wise advice to new leiomysarcoma patients is simple. Know your case, don’t fear the unknown and live in “today.” And last, have faith.

If you have survived leiomyosarcoma for 7 years or more, please share your story and pass the hope forward at info@LMSDR.org