On 1/30/2009 catbirdlane wrote:
About a month ago, I had surgery to remove a malignant ovarian mass that was discovered quite by accident. I was truly blessed to have had a doctor who ordered a CT scan during which it was discovered. The pathology report said it was stage 1c. I must start chemotherapy on Monday for treatments every three weeks for six treatments. I am very concerned about these treatments after reading of all the possible side effects. Can anyone who has already gone through this experience enlighten me by telling me exactly what to expect. I would appreciate all the information I can receive. Thank you and God bless you all.
Hi Cat! Stage 1 and they found it - you are one lucky gal!!
It's the 'unknown' that's the worst, but come Monday all will become clearer to you. Try not to fret between now and Monday, they know what they're doing. The 6 treatments every 3 weeks seems to be the norm, that's what I had too. But my surgery was after 3 bouts of chemo as they wanted to beat the bejesus out of the tumour first. I have Stage 3 Primary Peritoneal Cancer (quite like Ovarian.)
Here's how it went for me. They explained everything they were going to do and what I needed to know for when I went home i.e. the anti-nausea drugs and the timing for them. They put me in a recliner, put the line in my hand and started the bags aflowing. You also receive lots of saline thru the same line to flush your system. So you'll be unplugging and going to the bathroom lots! It depends what chemo drugs they're giving you as to how long you'll be there - mine was a 5 hour deal each time. And basically that's it!
I wasn't sick during the treatment but mega tired after which I know was due to the worrying beforehand and the relief that it was no where near as bad as I worried it would be. Like I said, it's the 'unknown'!. And you'll know in a couple of days!!
Yes, as it goes along you will have side effects but each person is different and depending on their personal chemo meds. Each time I went for treatment they asked me a list of questions. If you have any questions, have them ready to ask and make sure you get answers that satisfy you. Please don't be shy about calling your chemo team if you're not feeling right - this is your life and they're there to help you thru this!!
The anti-nausea pills help, make sure you take as you're told and try to drink, drink, drink lots of fluids - 8 glasses of water a day if possible. Or anything 'decaffinated' like tea. Gatorade helped me. I had an awful time getting enough fluids in!! I also didn't want to eat, but you gotta do it. Order in if you don't feel like eating. I drank a lot of Ensure too.
Have they told you your hair will definitely fall out - they told me it would for sure and by golly it did!! No biggie, it's just hair. That happened after my second bout, it started to fall out so I went and got it 'buzzed' - the thought of it laying on my pillow in the morning turned me off! Never had a wig, just big earrings and a big smile!
Fatigue and Weakness - those were my major side effects but Thank God I had my daughter with me thru-out it all. She held me when I cried - boy I was weepy - and when I thought this old body couldn't take anymore, she was my cheerleader. Hopefully you have someone there for you.
Try to stay positive, you're receiving these treatments to save your life and it will probably be the hardest thing you've ever done. It causes a lot of 'mental' stress. Prayer also helped me!
Come here when you can, we've all been thru it and are more than willing to go down this path with you. If you want to write specifically to me just use the private reply, I'll help you as much as I can.
Blessings to you Cat, you can do this!! LindaMae