Support

My name is Vicki, I was diagnosed with ovarian ca in Jan 07, stage 4, I've had sugery (debulking & hysterectomy) and 6 rounds of chemo.  I've just started my second round of chemo, the first was Taxol, and Carboplatin, this time is Gemzar, and Cisplatin.  I was in remission for about 5 weeks...

I'm looking for some support, and hope.  Someone who is or has gone thru the same treatments with good results.  I'm scared, and need to know that this stuff can be beat from people who have actuallly gone thru it...  My friend keeps telling me that it can be beat, and I want to believe her, but hearing from people who have actually been there might be what I need to reinforce what she is telling me...... 

I'm trying to keep my faith, but sometimes it's just too hard.... because ultimately, what will be , will be...  how do you keep a positive attitude?

Thank you to anyone who can contribute 

I accidently opened your post, I was posting about my pet and I read your post, I closed it and went to get into bed, I had to come back and tell you how I feel for you so much and if I could help you I would, I have no idea how you must feel, but your post really moved me, if you ever need anyone to speak to well..................I am on the other side of the world but ..........well I am here.

Hi Vicki, Hang in there. I am a daughter of a woman they told had a 5% chance without chemo and a 10% chance with chemo.......17 years later and she's still a "tough cookie"   Don't get me wrong it was a battle, but she was willing to try what ever was there and 17 years ago....well they have came along way with treatment. I was dn in dec of 06 and did the same chemo as her and you (tox and cplate) and so far its worked for me but not on mom,so they went with another chemo (I will ask her when she is awake) and that one worked. Please, don't give up hope. God can do anything!!!

My prayers are with you and Faith will get you through this.

 

On 9/15/2007 Itsallgood wrote:

Hi Vicki, Hang in there. I am a daughter of a woman they told had a 5% chance without chemo and a 10% chance with chemo.......17 years later and she's still a "tough cookie"   Don't get me wrong it was a battle, but she was willing to try what ever was there and 17 years ago....well they have came along way with treatment. I was dn in dec of 06 and did the same chemo as her and you (tox and cplate) and so far its worked for me but not on mom,so they went with another chemo (I will ask her when she is awake) and that one worked. Please, don't give up hope. God can do anything!!!

My prayers are with you and Faith will get you through this.

Thank you for your prayers, I do believe in the power of prayer.  I'm glad that the chemo worked for you. I wish you continued remission...  and you and your mom have my prayers also. One person with this is enough, let alone the both of you. Hearing the positive side of this is very helpful, and gives me more hope.

thank you

 

On 9/15/2007 Itsallgood wrote:

Hi Vicki, Hang in there. I am a daughter of a woman they told had a 5% chance without chemo and a 10% chance with chemo.......17 years later and she's still a "tough cookie"   Don't get me wrong it was a battle, but she was willing to try what ever was there and 17 years ago....well they have came along way with treatment. I was dn in dec of 06 and did the same chemo as her and you (tox and cplate) and so far its worked for me but not on mom,so they went with another chemo (I will ask her when she is awake) and that one worked. Please, don't give up hope. God can do anything!!!

My prayers are with you and Faith will get you through this.

hi! was wondering what the treatment was 17 yrs. ago!? what stage was she?& u? we are all survivors of ovca, some wishing theyhad some maintenance therapy, some actively doing maintenance therapy, & we'd love to hear your story! the main thing is to stay positive, live each day to the full, & hope they actually come up with a cure for all of us. harriet

hi!

Hi Vicki -

I was dx'd with stage IIIC in April  04. Turns out it actually was stage IV. I have been thru Carbo & Taxol, Tamoxifen for 9 months. Gemzar alone (I developed an allergy to Carbo) for 10 months and right into Hycamtin which I am on right now. I was told 3years max and even though I am on Chemo now, I am feeling good and going and doing.

My philosophy is to live each day to  its fullest and surround myself with the people I love and who love me and to  do all the things I love.  I try to live my life as if I do not have Ovarian. (Within my new boundries of course). I read in a book that you should try to accept the "new normal" that is your life after a cancer diagnosis. I try to follow that advice.

Just keep going along and be strong. Get up  in the morning and put on your make-up, big earrings and High Heels!!!!! Then go and face the day.

I wish you all the best; you will be added to my list of women with this horrible disease that I pray for.

Diane T.

Hi Ladies, just got off the phone with my mom, she went in for hyst and they found cancer all over but started in the ovaries, they took all they could dare and let her heal then started her on carboplat and cisplaten, for 6 months then opened her back up and looked and put a port in her chest and one in  under her breast.  She would go in at the hospital over night and it was like 8 to 10 hours.  She was sup to take 4 of those but all she could do was 2.  It almost took her(the chemo) Shes a fighter and I am gonna grow up and be just like her!!!!!! I think hers was 3 and mine was  She was 51 then, shes 68 now and healthy as a horse, I am 41 and feel blessed they found mine. They gave me carbo/ cisplaten and toxal.

I just did my 3 month and c a 125 was 13.  Mom said they never gave her maintance nor me. (sorry for the spelling I need a cheater ;-0

 Anyway, she is doing great  and me too. I just did that genetic test and found out that I am BRCA 1 Which now I will have my daughter tested. She's 18 and I ain't taking no chances. 

Have any of you had this test and has anyone with ovarian cancer had breast cancer also or the opposite?  I am alittle, okay alot nerv after getting these results back (but don't tell my mom,)

We are all a Tough group here, I am proud to have you all as my extended family. Prayer to us all,  I am keeping the Faith

 

On 9/16/2007 Itsallgood wrote:

Hi Ladies, just got off the phone with my mom, she went in for hyst and they found cancer all over but started in the ovaries, they took all they could dare and let her heal then started her on carboplat and cisplaten, for 6 months then opened her back up and looked and put a port in her chest and one in  under her breast.  She would go in at the hospital over night and it was like 8 to 10 hours.  She was sup to take 4 of those but all she could do was 2.  It almost took her(the chemo) Shes a fighter and I am gonna grow up and be just like her!!!!!! I think hers was 3 and mine was  She was 51 then, shes 68 now and healthy as a horse, I am 41 and feel blessed they found mine. They gave me carbo/ cisplaten and toxal.

I just did my 3 month and c a 125 was 13.  Mom said they never gave her maintance nor me. (sorry for the spelling I need a cheater ;-0

 Anyway, she is doing great  and me too. I just did that genetic test and found out that I am BRCA 1 Which now I will have my daughter tested. She's 18 and I ain't taking no chances. 

Have any of you had this test and has anyone with ovarian cancer had breast cancer also or the opposite?  I am alittle, okay alot nerv after getting these results back (but don't tell my mom,)

We are all a Tough group here, I am proud to have you all as my extended family. Prayer to us all,  I am keeping the Faith

 

hi again! that was very informative! i dont understand why she had 2 ports: was 1 for interperitoneal chemo? & was that the one she couldnt finish? i also tested positive for brca1, so far no breast problems except microcalcifications which are stable; did they say if u should have mammos's more often? or mri's? did u have a pet scan? what was your stage? & your mom's? i was 3c. So many questions, so few answers, so little cure! but besides that, i AM very positive! just curious! making my own statistics! harriet

Good morning!  Lets see, mom was stage 3 and the ports were where the chemo ran. She STILL has the one under her breast that went straight to the abdom. She said that they were hiting her with a big dose. I never asked my stage and I don't remember them saying.(don't ask if you don't want to know)  I remember she was so damn sick she ended up in the hospital every treatment for the first six then they did surg and looked around and put those ports in and was supposed to take 4 of the really High dose but the second one almost killed her and my dad said if they couldn't promise it was doing any good then he wasn't gonna lose her to chemo he'd take his chances with cancer.

I had a lump removed 6 years ago but it wasn't cancer. I have mams every year and now with this test results they want one every 6 months and a mri also. With no health insurance this may be a prob but St. Lukes said that they would work with me. My mom has never had one, and that scares me but this will be a mother daughter thing ( I'll do it if you will)

 

Hi, Vicki. My mother was diagnosed IIIC in November of 2005. Her remission following two surgeryies and treatment with carboplatin/taxol also lasted about five weeks. She he had a second surgery and has been on Doxil/Carboplatin since. Her disease has remained stable, and with the exception of a couple days of fatigue after chemo, she is able to do an aerobics class nearly everyday, as well as take her grandchildren to school almost each day. There's definitely hope with this disease and even if it can't be beaten for good, it can be treated and patients can still maintain a pretty high quality of life.