Scared

I am new to this. My mother has not been diagnosed yet with ovarian, but I think that the results are pointing in that direction. 

She has been going to the doctors to find out what the bloating in her stomach is all about. It has been about 4 weeks now. She finally had the fluid removed from her stomach and her GI doctor called her a couple of hours later that day to give her the results of the fluid. There were some white cells that usually indicates an infection. But he did not seem too concerned with that. It was the elevated markers they found in her fluid that indicates cancer.

 My concern is that if it is ovarian and that it had spread, as in most cases with ovarian, 80% cases are in its late stages, what can be done??

 She will be going to her primary doctor this week to talk with him and to discuss more follow-up tests, 

 If it is ovarian and in its late stages, what treatments, besides chemo, are out there? Any alternative ways out there? 

I feel so scared and hopeless. I know from reading some of the stories on here and other web-sites, that even though it is usually the case of late stages, people do survive this deadly disease. 

 Any feedback, hope and support would  be greatly appreciated.

On 9/18/2007 Aileen Girl wrote:

I am new to this. My mother has not been diagnosed yet with ovarian, but I think that the results are pointing in that direction. 

She has been going to the doctors to find out what the bloating in her stomach is all about. It has been about 4 weeks now. She finally had the fluid removed from her stomach and her GI doctor called her a couple of hours later that day to give her the results of the fluid. There were some white cells that usually indicates an infection. But he did not seem too concerned with that. It was the elevated markers they found in her fluid that indicates cancer.

 My concern is that if it is ovarian and that it had spread, as in most cases with ovarian, 80% cases are in its late stages, what can be done??

 She will be going to her primary doctor this week to talk with him and to discuss more follow-up tests, 

 If it is ovarian and in its late stages, what treatments, besides chemo, are out there? Any alternative ways out there? 

I feel so scared and hopeless. I know from reading some of the stories on here and other web-sites, that even though it is usually the case of late stages, people do survive this deadly disease. 

 Any feedback, hope and support would  be greatly appreciated.

 

 

I'm sorry your mom is going thru this.  It's not easy.  But, there is hope.  I was diagnosed with stage 3C almost stage 4 in Jan of this year.  I too had the bloating, and constipation, and stomach issues.   I started with an ultrasound and went to a cat scan, which is where they found all of the tumors, and fluid called ascites,  my cancer had spread to my omentum, and all the female organs.....surgery is usually indicated when that happens...... I've had 6 rounds of chemo, and a total hysterectomy.  first I went to my primary care doc, then my ob\gyn and he referred me to a gynecologic oncologist, (which is the best place to be if it is ovarian ca.)  My cancer has returned, and I'm now on another type of chemo for another 18 weeks.  All of the research I've done does show that people do live through this.  It's a long road......

It's ok to be scared.  I'm still scared, but I have to have faith that the docs know what they are doing, and will do the best thing for me to be rid of this dreaded disease.  And they will do the same for your mom.  Please don't feel hopeless, there is hope for people with this disease...Have they done a CA125 test yet?  That is a blood test that is used as a tumor marker in ovarian ca.  What stage have they diagnosed?

I'm not sure if I was any help, but please know that there are a lot of sites out there, including the American Cancer Society, that will help you ,and send you information, they have been a lot of help to me. Knowing is half the battle.

Good luck, and my prayers are with you.

I am so sorry you are going through this.  My mother was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer in March.  They thought it was ovarian based on the bloatin and the high CA 125 level(around 800).  They operated and did a hysterectomy.  While in surgery they realized they couldn't get it all out.  When they ran tests on the cancer cells, they came back with the PPC diagnosis.  It's an extremely rare form of cancer but similar to ovarian.  She just finished up 6 rounds of chemo.  Her body responded very well and her CA125 is now normal at 3!  It has been tough but her spirits remained strong throughout and she was determined to fight and beat this terrible thing!  Your mom can do this as well.  Her state of mind and willingness to fight will be a key factor so do all you can to support her and keep her fighting spirit alive.  The mind and spirit and the power of prayer can do more than we can imagine!  She is now in montoring mode where she goes to the doctors every other month for CA 125 level testing and other blood tests etc.  We pray she continues to feel well and keep this terrible disease from coming back.  I'll keep you and your mother in my prayers.

Hang in there.  First of all, your mom may yet be diagnosed with something that's easier to treat.  But if they do find ovarian cancer, no one can tell you where your mom fits in to the prognosis statistics.

 My world imploded in June 2007 when my mom was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian carcinosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer.  I cried for days.  She came through the surgery very poorly and had heart and lung issues which made me assume that chemo would just about do her in.  I was (thankfully) wrong.  My mom is getting a super strong chemo program to deal with the sarcoma part of her cancer.  And she is tolerating it exceptionally well.  Nausea which is controlled with pills and exhaustion.  She just finished her third course of chemo on Friday of last week (3 more to go.)  Yesterday she went to an art show.  And today she went on an excursion with friends to do photography.

 My #1 advice for your mom (if she has ovarian cancer) and requires surgery is to go to a gynecologist oncologist.  According to the statistics, they are better able to identify and remove as much cancerous material as possible.  And my advice to you (which I remind myself of every day) is that until someone tells you otherwise, there is no reason that your mom can not be one of the survivors.

Hugs from Christiane in OR 

I can relate well to your feelings of being scared as my wife has had Multiple Myeloma (blood marrow cancer with tumor involvement in her spine and I have had oral cancer.

You ask about alternative treatments. We both have used Essiac Tea and Flaxseed Oil & Cottage Cheese extensivly. I haven't had any cancer diagnosis in 4 years now and my wife's oncologist just took her off of all of her chemo, steriods, Zometa after 6 months because her last lab tests showed no sign of multiple myeloma.

We also both use a good quality multi vitamin, IP6 w/inositol, extra selenium, Vit D, Magnesium, Potassium, Vit C. She also takes a good mineral supplement, uses Curcumin w/heavy Cream, and adheres mostly to the hallelujah diet. She is thinking about including enzymes.

We feel that these alternative treatments are responsible for the most part for our overcoming cancer.

We also use the World Prayer Team.

Research, research, research on the internet, but use some good common sense about what you come across. There are lot's of charlatans out there but also some real good stuff.

Check out the wesite for Bill Henderson, The Beckwith Family, Grouppe Kurrosawa, and others. These are reliable info centers.

Never give up. One must have hope to continue and overcome this diease, as you will have after obtaining lots of good info.

Google search engine also has a feature that allows you to put a topic into that you are interested in, called Google Alerts, and will send you any info on the web daily related to your topic of interest.

Good Luck and God Bless!

On 9/18/2007 Aileen Girl wrote:

I am new to this. My mother has not been diagnosed yet with ovarian, but I think that the results are pointing in that direction. 

She has been going to the doctors to find out what the bloating in her stomach is all about. It has been about 4 weeks now. She finally had the fluid removed from her stomach and her GI doctor called her a couple of hours later that day to give her the results of the fluid. There were some white cells that usually indicates an infection. But he did not seem too concerned with that. It was the elevated markers they found in her fluid that indicates cancer.

 My concern is that if it is ovarian and that it had spread, as in most cases with ovarian, 80% cases are in its late stages, what can be done??

 She will be going to her primary doctor this week to talk with him and to discuss more follow-up tests, 

 If it is ovarian and in its late stages, what treatments, besides chemo, are out there? Any alternative ways out there? 

I feel so scared and hopeless. I know from reading some of the stories on here and other web-sites, that even though it is usually the case of late stages, people do survive this deadly disease. 

 Any feedback, hope and support would  be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Suggest you read 3 books  Recalled by life by Anthony J. Sattilaro, M.D.

My Beautiful Life -How I conquered Cancer Naturally by Mina Dobic. (I talked to her on the phone)  and for an overview of alternatives, Cancer-Free by Bill Henderson

I have been tracking data on Ovarian Cancer for some time because a friend's sister, here at work, was just diagnosed last month. The good news is she is responding to chemo and radiation very well. The new chemo drugs are very good. My wife has had Lung, brain and liver cancer and is now cancer free. This stuff really works!

 There are several recommendations I can give that I hope will help:

1. Don't Panic..cancer can be treated and cured.

2. Discount the mortality statistics you find in articles about cancer.

3. Consider your mother a "bell shaped Curve" of one person.

4. Request Google automatic updates on "Ovarian Cancer'

5. Read and file these updates. Educate yourself on new developments.

6. Check web site "PubMed.com". Load "Ovarian Cancer" in Search box.

7. Check out supplements (CQ-10, Fish Oil, Green Tea, etc).

8. Check out Foods: Green Leafy veg's; Cranberry and Grape Juice.

9. Check out all forms of cure:

    a. Chemo - Cisplatin, Taxotere, Carboplatin, Paclitaxel.

    b. Medicines - Avastin, Tarceva

    c. Radiation treatment - likely first treatment after chemo

    d. Cyber Knife - likely secondary treatment (eliminates tumors)

    e. Vaccines - Under development. A true "Cure" for cancer. 

10. The "trick" for your mother will be to eliminate as much of the

      ovarian cancer as possible with Chemo and radiation. There is

      a good possibility she may see all the tumors either eliminated or

      stabilized using these two treatments. If any tumors are left, 

      the newest gee-wiz device, the cyber knife, can "zap" the

      holdouts and cause them to go away. Once the initial cancer

      attack is squelched, your mom will need periodic checks to

      see if any cancer stem cells "escaped" the first treatment.

      If any new tumors reappear, zap them with the cyber knife or

      redo Chemo and/or Radiation. The object is: keep the tumors

     down. The goal is; await new vaccines being developed. Once

     these are available, cancer will likely become a controllable

     disease.

12. Last "Live for Today". Don't worry about what could happen next week, next year. Keep optimistic. Within the last 2 years significant advances have been made to control this abomination. The next few years could see a cure. Make it an objective to "hang on" till then. Good Luck.

I wanted to say thank you for your thoughts and kind words. I know there is hope and these feelings I have are normal. I guess I am expecting the worse. But with God's faith and spirit, I have to believe she will survive if she is diagnosed with it.  With so much technology, medicinesm, people are living longer and stronger. I never thought this would ever happen to a very close person in my life. I guess we just never know??

 Thank you again and I too will be praying for you and your recovery and that you will beat this!!. Please keep me posted and God Bless!!  

Thank you for responding back and for the thoughts. I too am sorry to hear what your mother has undergone. It sounds like she is a strong believer and will not give up. That is so important.

 I feel the same way if she is diagnosed with it that my world has collided. I am presuming the worse, because of what I have read and when the doctor stated to her that they found markers of cancer in her fluid, that crushed me. I know that I need to be strong and believe and hope that she will beat this if that is what she has or whatever it is.

 I have been doing a lot of research on the internet on ovarian, statistics, remedies, alternative ways, etc.. It is always scarey to see a loved one go through such trama.

I will pray for your mother that she is on her way to recovery. Thank you again for the support and for believing. Please keep me posted on your mother. God Bless!!

Thank you for the list of web sites and the kind words, faith and belief. It helps to communicate with many people on here that has or is going through the same thing. I pray that my mom does not have it, but if it is, I need to be strong and know that she will beat this.

 I am sorry ot hear that your wife had undergone such trama. And I was happy to read is on her way to recovery. She sounds like a remarkable and strong woman.

Did she by any chance try any alternative meds? I was researching a lot on the internet about the alternative ways and it seems that it does remarkable things. A close friend of mine's father was diagnosed wit hstage four prostate cancer almost two years ago. They gave him about 1 1/2 years to live. He opted against the chemo and started doing the alternative meds, strict diet, vitamens, the whole nine yards. The doctors are amazed of how he is doing.

I am hoping that if this is what my mother has that she can be strong and try the alternative route.

I know diet is very important in what we eat when one is ill.

Again, thank you for the list of web sites and readings. I am definitely checking those out. I will pray for your wife's recovery. God Bless!!