I have stage 4 cancer. My oncologist has reached out to 20 different drug trials, and all of them have refused to accept me because my tumor is producing a small amount of HCG that is causing positive pregnancy tests, despite my having an IUD and NOT being pregnant (an ultrasound confirmed this). There is chance I could be admitted onto a trial if I got my tubes tied but as I have scar tissue in my abdomen from a colostomy surgery and my lungs are in bad shape post pneumonia/covid, surgery would be particularly risky for me (not to mention that any errant cut could pierce cancerous tissue, causing it to further spread through my body).
For the record, an IUD is a MORE EFFECTIVE method of birth control than tubal ligation. Also, I don't WANT to have a child, I do not intend to have a child.
This apparently does not matter.
I have gone without treatment for over 3 months. I am going to die because I am a "woman of childbearing capacity" the health of a hypothetical fetus takes precedence over my life.
I'm scared and angry, and I just wanted to share with some people who would be angry with me.
ADDENDUM: I realize I’ve been a little imprecise with my language. Is it REALLY misogyny that’s killing me? More accurate to say it’s a Frankensteinian amalgam of misogyny, capitalism, oversight in the drafting of medical language, the interminably slow wheels of bureaucracy, the rarity of this particular circumstance, and good old-fashioned disease. (But the fact remains that if I was a dude this wouldn’t be an ISSUE) (and i understand the whole thalidomide-baby-lawsuit issue, but my dumb-ass thought that I could like, sign a waver assuring people I wouldn’t be getting pregnant and wouldnt sue them if i did and then everything would be hunky-dory)(would that it were so simple)
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