2 Years On And Still Feeling Not Quite Right

I had ovarian cancer stage 3 and in March 2006 had surgery followed by 10 months of chemo.  So very glad to get my hair back again (curly this time).  Three weeks ago had the PortA in my chest removed in a half-hour surgery with no complications.  The hospital here in Taiwan have just done a brilliant job all the way through, I cannot thank them enough.  All the surgery and treatment was paid for by insurance.  I understand that if someone comes here for surgery and follow-up chemo from the US you will not only get top quality treatment, but your insurance company will pay for the treatment as it is so much cheaper here.

I do not want to complain, but have developed sciatica, which is making it painful to walk.  When I sit for more than half an hour it is difficult to get my leg moving again.  Is this anything to do with the operation or something completely different?  Also, I seem to be very tired.  I am on no medication at all now.

Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster of a ride, particularly because I'm on my own here.  My husband of 30 years left me for a young girl just before the operation.  I've got lots of friends who have been fantastically supportive, but there's times when one needs to talk and there's no-one you want to bother too much.  That's why I thought this forum might be helpful.  I'd really like to meet up with others who may have experienced the same?

With blessings,

Susan

Don't give up. I too had a very rough go of it after 8 treatments with taxol and carbo. Try everything. I began to pay very close attention to nutrution. Organic chicken, fresh salmon  lots of greens and fruit.  Lots of green tea. I was so tired and it seemed if the leg and joint pain left me feeling old and exhausted. I started cooking in the morning as often as I could and made nutrition for myself and my son  and husband my focus. I'm taking a vitamin drink that has done wonders. If you want the name email me. I was told I was just depressed but I don't beleive it. Go to a health food center and read about natural remedies. I went to physical therapy to help with leg pain. It helped. Don't let people tell you it is psycological. It isn't,

 

On 1/24/2008 PastorSusan wrote:

I had ovarian cancer stage 3 and in March 2006 had surgery followed by 10 months of chemo.  So very glad to get my hair back again (curly this time).  Three weeks ago had the PortA in my chest removed in a half-hour surgery with no complications.  The hospital here in Taiwan have just done a brilliant job all the way through, I cannot thank them enough.  All the surgery and treatment was paid for by insurance.  I understand that if someone comes here for surgery and follow-up chemo from the US you will not only get top quality treatment, but your insurance company will pay for the treatment as it is so much cheaper here.

I do not want to complain, but have developed sciatica, which is making it painful to walk.  When I sit for more than half an hour it is difficult to get my leg moving again.  Is this anything to do with the operation or something completely different?  Also, I seem to be very tired.  I am on no medication at all now.

Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster of a ride, particularly because I'm on my own here.  My husband of 30 years left me for a young girl just before the operation.  I've got lots of friends who have been fantastically supportive, but there's times when one needs to talk and there's no-one you want to bother too much.  That's why I thought this forum might be helpful.  I'd really like to meet up with others who may have experienced the same?

With blessings,

Susan

HI Pastor Susan

I have been dx with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Surgery was 1/4 with my ob/gyn, gyn oncologist, and colorectal team. what was a 4 hr surgery turned into a 8 hr surgery. I will start chemo soon. I feel good, my staples were removed on 1/18, so now I have surgi strips in place. I talk with my sister everyday and 1 gf who is very supportive. Reading your bible is a very big comfort. My pastor and his wife visited me once in the hospital, and I have not heard from them since that visit. Continue to pray and keep your relationship with god number 1. You can email me

--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, email address removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html--

 

 

B 

 

 

On 1/24/2008 ladyleelink wrote:

Don't give up. I too had a very rough go of it after 8 treatments with taxol and carbo. Try everything. I began to pay very close attention to nutrution. Organic chicken, fresh salmon  lots of greens and fruit.  Lots of green tea. I was so tired and it seemed if the leg and joint pain left me feeling old and exhausted. I started cooking in the morning as often as I could and made nutrition for myself and my son  and husband my focus. I'm taking a vitamin drink that has done wonders. If you want the name email me. I was told I was just depressed but I don't beleive it. Go to a health food center and read about natural remedies. I went to physical therapy to help with leg pain. It helped. Don't let people tell you it is psycological. It isn't,

 

Hi Ladyleek

I read your message and will visit the health store soon. Thanks for the information.  My recent dx stage 3 ovarian cancer 1/18 has me in a whirl. I have been reading everything I can about this disease. What is a typical day for you? What is chemo like?

 

B 

Susan:

The chemo drugs for ovarian cancer cause muscle and joint stiffness and numbness and make walking more difficult and painful at least for a while.  I was really stiff after my chemo treatments.  It has improved a lot although I still have some slight numbness in my fingers and toes.  I started mixing some flax oil  with cottage cheese in a bowl and eating some of that every day because I heard that was good as an anti-inflammatory (which helps with arthritis) and also for cancer in general.  My muscle and joint stiffness is a lot better so that may or may not be why but thought I would pass the suggestion on to you in case you want to see if it helps you.

 

Hi Pinkbubbles -

I was dx'd stage IV in 4/04. The chemo does cause leg pain and numbness in feet and hands. My oncology team told me to buy powdered GLUTAMINE (pharmacy can order if they do not have) and to mix with juice, iced etc and drink 3x a day (I mixed in Poland Spring water bottle), starting the day before chemo, then the day of and 2 days after for a total of 4 days. It REALLY helps with the leg pains. I have spoken to other women who did not do this and they said the pain was terrible. I found it to be only a discomfort, enough that I would take an occasional Tylenol. The chemo is do-able. It is cumulative, so you start to feel it worse about the 5th treatment. But by then you are close to finished!!!! I wish you the best of luck. My prayers are with you. Remember a positive attitude is the best medicine!!!! Do whatever makes YOU happy.

Diane T.

HI Laddyleek

I have my second appt on friday, so i will ask my doctor for her recommendatio for leg pain. I haven't started chemo yet. I just want to start and get it over with. I feel pretty good now. My staples were removed so the healing has not been so bad. no pain or stiffness. 2 more weeks and I will be able to do more. Have a wonderful night.

 

B

 

 

On 1/24/2008 PastorSusan wrote:

I had ovarian cancer stage 3 and in March 2006 had surgery followed by 10 months of chemo.  So very glad to get my hair back again (curly this time).  Three weeks ago had the PortA in my chest removed in a half-hour surgery with no complications.  The hospital here in Taiwan have just done a brilliant job all the way through, I cannot thank them enough.  All the surgery and treatment was paid for by insurance.  I understand that if someone comes here for surgery and follow-up chemo from the US you will not only get top quality treatment, but your insurance company will pay for the treatment as it is so much cheaper here.

I do not want to complain, but have developed sciatica, which is making it painful to walk.  When I sit for more than half an hour it is difficult to get my leg moving again.  Is this anything to do with the operation or something completely different?  Also, I seem to be very tired.  I am on no medication at all now.

Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster of a ride, particularly because I'm on my own here.  My husband of 30 years left me for a young girl just before the operation.  I've got lots of friends who have been fantastically supportive, but there's times when one needs to talk and there's no-one you want to bother too much.  That's why I thought this forum might be helpful.  I'd really like to meet up with others who may have experienced the same?

With blessings,

Susan

 

Hi Pastor Susan

Do you live in Taiwan or just there to have surgery and chemo? I read where the medical service is really good. I start chemo next week, probably tuesday. I start with a iv chemo and then on to the chemo through the abdomen. I will have surgery to put in a device to get the chemo inside of me. The names and procedures are all new, but I will take lots of notes tommorow,  at my dr appt to get acquainted with my treatment.

 

God Bless You

B 

Hello Pastor Susan

How are you? I haven't chatted with you in a while. I finished chemotherapy 2 weeks ago today. My cat scan is scheduled for 6/30, follow-up with oncologist 7/7. I did have appt with oncologist this week, she feels confident that my cat scan will be good, because when putting in my port she did examen me and get some biopsy's from scar tissue. The scar tissue were negative.  I hope to hear from you soon.