Remission with stage4 ovarian cancer?

I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovca in Aug of 2006. I finished treatment (surgery and chemo-6 cycles of carboplatin and taxol) in Jan of 2007 and was in remission for a year. I have talked to others who've had stage 4 and it has never returned. One woman had gone 10 years, another 19. Of course, I wish mine hadn't returned. I feel fabulous and have no aches or pains. I started doxil today and we'll see how that goes. I was quite down and surprised when I got the results that the c had returned, but I feel very optimistic now. I wish you the best. Holly

Hi Holly, thanks for responding.Although I hate that there are so many of us on this site, I'm grateful to have a source of constant support and concern by so many wonderful women.It is truely one of the reasons I have the strength to continue to fight this horrible monster.I hope you do well with Doxil, I just finished 5 treatments,(CA125 started rising right before 6th).I didn't have many side effects, other than fatigue, and the most itchy, horrible rash that you could imagine.I was not "typical" in how mine appeared. As you probably know, the most common is the Hand and Foot Syndrome, which is the blistering on the bottom of feet and palms of hands. Make sure that who ever administers the chemo, gives you ice packs for when you are actually getting treatment. It will greatly reduce the severity, if you are affected at all.Let's hope not. Even though the rash has left me looking like I have Leprosy(sp), I would deal with it again, if I had to choose between that and vomitting and FEELING BAD for several days. I can do pain over that any day. I'm a big baby when it comes to the heaving.You'll do fine, I just remembered that you had a treatment yesterday, so I hope you're feeling ok.Take cool showers and don't wear tight clothing for awhile.Udder Balm is good to keep moisture in the skin too.Anyway, I won't keep you any longer, take care and post if you need or want to talk.

 

Love, Krista

Deb,

You are an inspiration. I like the way you handle and deal with your health problems. Angels are wonderful but I did not imagine them taking away the cancer the way you did.

I  had early stage ovarian cancer back in 1995, been in remission for 7 years, then recurrence in 2002, 2005, and 2007. I had chemo and radiation and at present having Doxil once every month. My oncologist wanted me to have eight treatments so the enlarged lymph nodes will shrink to the size he is comfortable with. I'm lucky to have minor side effects of nausea, not the hand and foot syndrome. My naturopathic gave me vit. B6+B6 complex to help prevent and it is working. My naturopathic doctor also advised me to go organic because the pesticides and hormones in food trigger cancer. So I am doing that now. I'm keeping a positive and cheery attitude as much as possible. My husband can sometimes annoy me but I don't let it bother much. It's not worth it. There's so much out there to enjoy and life is wonderful especially now that we're retired. My stress level has gone down. I have two grandchildren on the way that I'm looking forward to meeting plus I have a cute 2-year old grandson who we'd like to visit sometime in June when all my treatments are done.

Continue to live beautifully and God bless you always with His loving care.

Floroinda

Hi Deb,

What a wonderful inspiration you are, I love your letter - you go girl!

I agree with all you say, but it is hard to be positive sometimes.

 I have stage 3c Ovarian Cancer. I had a full  hysterectomy and am starting chemo next Wed. I am rather fearful of the chemo, have heard so many horror stories, any advice ??? My ca125 was 2,790 before surgery and it is down to 490 now so I am  hoping the chemo takes care of the rest. It is defiantely a journey and one I am still trying to comprehend, it all started so quickly. A routine check with my gynacologis found the mass and it snowballed from there. I keep thinking it is a bad dream but unfortuantley it is now. My husband is wonderful, caring , patient and every so positive, I know he will be with me every step of the way.

Thank you for your letter and I look forward to hearing from you,

Bernie

On 2/14/2008 Deb S wrote:

Hi Cindy!

I was reading your current conversation and you are an inspiration!  I have Ovarian Cancer IIIC - reccurrence - after a 3 year  mission.  My onocologist now tells me it will just keep coming back.  I mentioned to her that I'm NOW  trying many alternative methods to  get rid of what is left (I'm not "chemo break" right now as she puts it) but she rather scoffed at that.  But I have done so much research and truly feel that many combinations perhaps along with western medicine can help us alianate this disease!!  I'm juicing,  taking juice plus,  eating ginger, and ginger vitamins (ginger is now being known to make ovarian cancer cells commit suicide),  exercising, meditating and I feel most importantly thinking positive!   The power of positive thinking and reducing stress (as I'm researching) is a huge part of healing and staying well.  My husband is a wonderful man and has stuck beside me through both times of enduring this illness,  and I love him deeply,  but he does have a habit of constantly griping  (he says kiddingly) and belittling me and says I can't take a joke when I get upset,  but he loves me enough to try and change that,  although it's slow,  I'm letting him know it bothers me,  instead of stuffing it inside. If he weren't willing to change then I would probably leave him. You have to confront and/or change what stresses you!   My last CA125 was a 10 ! And I strongly feel a lot of the reason I am getting better is because I'm learning out to eat/think/and live differently !  I'm trying to do what makes me happy instead of ALWAYS what will make other people happy.  I'm telling you all out there to READ!  Research! Learn how to manage your life.   Imagine those tumors and cancer cells being destroyed ! Since I am religious, I imagine ANGELS gobbling up that cancer - my angels come from my immune system.  You have to TRULY believe that your cancer will be healed and it will be!  You have to WANT to be well,  really want it.  Believe it or not,  many people do not want to be well,  especially if it means changing their lives.   Imagine your body as being perfect !  Forgive those people who have hurt you,  and never hate.  Tell yourself,  that if people have hurt you,  you have become a better person because of it and have learned from it,  instead of harboring the pain.  Let go of bad memories and replace them with good thoughts. 

Please be well and live well and happy!  Your life depends on it!

Love,

 Deb 

 

 

Please don't be discouraged.  Your positive attitude is the No. 1 predictor of a successful outcome.  Look at me, I've survived Stage 4 Hodgkin's Disease 4 times now.  :)

 Donald A. Wilhelm

This Time's a Charm; Lessons of a Four-Time Cancer Survivor

Hello Bernie!

I felt like I was looking at a mirror reflection of my own first experience!  God Bless you I know what you are going through.  I too was pretty terrified of chemo at first.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  But not easy either.  There are CD's out there - harp music & flute music - that are specifically made for relaxation during chemo.  They say that the more relaxed you are the less harsh the after affects are.  It seemed to work for me.   Also,  I've read many books that have helped me.  I'm hearing that most cancers are caused by stress !  Well more how we manage stress, and these books have helped me learn to manage my own stress better. I can recommend a few that have REALLY helped me.  You can get them on Amazon used - very cheap !  Bernie Seigel - "How to Heal Yourself  and Louise Hay - "You Can Heal Your Life"  .  Just getting into a better frame of mind can really help you get better.  I, with all my heart, believe this.

I'm also drinking Essiac Tea - I get mine from a private dealer - which is much cheaper and better than the the health food stores (it is pretty expensive in the stores)  but this too is also known to help heal cancer ! 

Also green tea - I don't necessarily like green tea,  so I buy the extract and put it in my water.  That is supposedly like drinking 15 cups a day for one dropper full,  and I can barely taste it.

I also take cancer fighting vitamins -  natural ones - Fish Oil,  Flax Oil Vitamins and Juice Plus and more.  Plus these help you feel better. But you might want to ask your doctor !  I wouldn't want to recommend anything that might interfere with your treatment.

And I do the meditation and imagine my body well.  If you think about it, you get all stressed out and get a headache - that right there proves that stress affects your body - so why can't it affect in the opposite way? I feel  low stress and peace of mind can also heal your body and make it well.

I consider the above like my medication - or like chemo.  I haven't had to take chemo since December and my counts have stayed down (CA125)  then I got very busy and slacked up  - well nearly quit because I thought I was ok,  and my count started to rise again.  It's only 29 though and I'm now back on my regiment,  and realize I will probably need to do this for life to stay well.

I know it's hard to stay positive and if you can't all the time,  that is completely natural !  So don't feel guilty - ever - if you sometimes say "why is this happening to me?"  But try not to dwell on it !  Talking to other people who are experiencing the same thing helps !  I met several life long friends during chemo !  But you have to dwell on the positive things that cancer as brought you rather than the bad things!

If you let it it,  cancer can be a life changing thing for the good.  It does help you appreciate life much more ! And see the world in a different way. You also find out how much people care about you !

Ok,  I'll get off my soap box now !  I'm very passionate about this,  so I shout it whenever I can !

I will be praying for you Bernie.  Let me know how you do !  You can always email me at 

--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--

You can do this !!!  Keep saying that " I CAN DO THIS "  !

Email me if you just need an ear !

Love,

Deb

HI Deb,

Have not been on here for a while. Started my first chemo treatment last Wed. It was not as alarming as I thought it would be. I have had a few yucky days since but today am feeling better. The fatigue is terrible, I have had no energy at all for the 4 days after treatment but like I said today it does not seem so bad. Any hints on dealing with the side effects ??

Ber58

I have stage 3C not stage 4 but I will tell you what my doc told me. YOU ARE YOUR OWN STATISTIC AND DONT FORGET THAT.  I have read lots of stories of survival in stage 4 and you have to decid that you are going to be one of them. I know it is hard to be positive some days but they are the days that you lean on your support system, your friends and family and any suport group you can find out there. Another girl wrote in her blog," there is no expiration date stamped on the bottom of my feet" - also true. You get up and fight Krista, you are worth it and you can DO this, we are all here to help!

Bernie

Ber58

On 2/1/2008 KristaJ wrote:

Is there anyone out there in complete remission with stage 4 ovarian cancer? Please respond. I am very discouraged.