here for the 1st time

Hello everyone,

This is not the kind of thing I usually do.  I am a very private person.    But I have lost all hope and maybe I can find some comfort here.  One of the hardest things for me to deal with is the glimmer of hope just to have it dashed away with a cat scan that shows tumur growth.   The doctor estimates I have 8 months to live if the disease progresses as it has.  

Here's my story:

I was dx with ovarian cancer in July of 2007.  I was 44 at the time.  I am married with no children.  (Just to clarify, my choice not have children was not due to anything medical.)  Except for the cancer, I have no other medical issues.

I had a full hysterectomy and appendectomy in July 2007.  The tumur that was removed was large (13 x 7 x 3 cm). He took 14 tissue samples of surrounding pelvic areas and the only 1 found to be cancerous was the tumur.  All other samples were negative. .  However, due to the size of the tumur the doctor recommended chemo (carboplatin and taxotere) I started chemo Sept 2007 and finished Dec 2007.  But my  April scan showd a growth.  Biopsy in May confirmed cancer again.  Started topotecan in June 2008.  Was on that for 4 months with little to no side effects.  Felt good. Aug scan showd tumur stabalized.  Oct scan showd growth so I started on Avastin and cytoxin.  Again with little to no side effects.  Felt good.  I have been on that for 4 months but this weeks cat scan showd tumur growth.  Next week the plan is to start Doxil.  So even though the chemo so far was not kicking my ass, its not kicking cancer's ass either.

I am at the point where if each type of chemo is only buying me an average of 3 months then why am I bothering with chemo at all?  

I have not tried alternative treatments but have been researching it.  Would love to hear of anyone that had positive results with that.  

 

 

On 2/27/2009 passionforpuple wrote:

Hello everyone,

This is not the kind of thing I usually do.  I am a very private person.    But I have lost all hope and maybe I can find some comfort here.  One of the hardest things for me to deal with is the glimmer of hope just to have it dashed away with a cat scan that shows tumur growth.   The doctor estimates I have 8 months to live if the disease progresses as it has.  

Here's my story:

I was dx with ovarian cancer in July of 2007.  I was 44 at the time.  I am married with no children.  (Just to clarify, my choice not have children was not due to anything medical.)  Except for the cancer, I have no other medical issues.

I had a full hysterectomy and appendectomy in July 2007.  The tumur that was removed was large (13 x 7 x 3 cm). He took 14 tissue samples of surrounding pelvic areas and the only 1 found to be cancerous was the tumur.  All other samples were negative. .  However, due to the size of the tumur the doctor recommended chemo (carboplatin and taxotere) I started chemo Sept 2007 and finished Dec 2007.  But my  April scan showd a growth.  Biopsy in May confirmed cancer again.  Started topotecan in June 2008.  Was on that for 4 months with little to no side effects.  Felt good. Aug scan showd tumur stabalized.  Oct scan showd growth so I started on Avastin and cytoxin.  Again with little to no side effects.  Felt good.  I have been on that for 4 months but this weeks cat scan showd tumur growth.  Next week the plan is to start Doxil.  So even though the chemo so far was not kicking my ass, its not kicking cancer's ass either.

I am at the point where if each type of chemo is only buying me an average of 3 months then why am I bothering with chemo at all?  

I have not tried alternative treatments but have been researching it.  Would love to hear of anyone that had positive results with that.  

 

Hi Passion for Purple,

      Soory to hear what your going through but I have the same ovarian cancer stage 3c. I was 48 at that time, no kids my choice, and also was DX in July 07 and surgery July 11 07, started Chemo Sept 07. I was first put on cisplatin and taxol. I had reaction to cisplatin and got put to carbonplatin and taxol. I ended in Jan 08. Had extra dosage due to I only had a half after kidneys failure due to cisplatin. Reaction.

I went into remission June to August and my counts went back up slowly.

Had Ct scan and it showed a tumor 4 mm in gut. I started on Doxil in Dec. 08 and going to have 4th treatment next friday. Having Ct scan on Monday to check up on growth due to CA 125 counts are jumping all over. It normal with Doxil takes three to four treatment before it really starts working if it is.

 Questions for you: Is this the same tumor that they are watching all this time? Or are you getting new ones each time? What stage were you?

My name is Nancy and if you scroll down under Ovarian cancer here and go to the Chemotherapy subject and read through the 2 hundred some post's there you may get some tips and feel better about this beast. Join in too, we are all in this together and support and encourage and vent there. We also give each tips and share our side affects and what to expect. Its a great bunch of people and I must say to come join us.

So go to chemotherapy and repley to a message and write your story there and tell us about you: your name and where you are from. We welcome you and will get you through this with us. I will be waiting for your repley there.

Blessings. Nancy

 

Were you stage I ?  No matter what stage you were diagnosed at, I'm sure your recurrence and lack of responsiveness to chemo is devastating. I really feel for you. But please don't lose hope ! There  are many, many things you can try to help get things under control. I was diagnosed as stage IIIC, with lymph node involvment in October 2007. After my intitial period of sadness and disbelief, I figured I'd better do everything I can to kick cancer's nasty ass to the curb ! . I did go through 8 rounds of chemotherapy ( carbo/taxol), but at the same time I started to research and follow everything I could that may help. I follow an anti-cancer diet ( 8 to 10 servings of fruits and veggies everyday, very little meat, no white flour, no sugar, no processed food ). I drink Essic Tea everyday and I also eat cottage cheese with Udo's Oil ( Budwig ) everyday. I drink at least 4 cups of green tea with ginger everyday. I take a multi, Vit. C, Vit, E, Calcium/Vit D, CoQ-10, Maitake Mushroom Supplement, and Immpower. I try to exercise everyday. I practice visualization, and I pray and meditate everyday. I make sure to do fun things everyday and stay away from negativity and sadness. I watch funny movies, and laugh long and hard. I try to think mostly positive thoughts about my future, and I live my life like there will be a future. So far this all has worked for me. I am still clear of cancer and my CA-125 is 6. I have spoken to and e-mailed numerous of long term survivors to find out what they have done. Search the internet and you will find women who fought the battle and who have won ! There are women who have been much worse off than you and turned things around. The way I figure, we can either passively sit back and accept whatever fate comes our way, or we can fight like hell to control this horrible disease and hopefully stick around for awhile. We can all fight this together with each other's support. I wish you the best of luck and pray that you will go into remission. 

Hi,welcome and so sorry we have to meet this way . You have some really good advise from fiestysurvivor, I too am a stage 3c and am almost on the same cocktail as fiestysurvivor. Never give into this beast. Sending you positive thoughts your way.

Hugs and Prayers, Terry

Hi, the first thing i would like to say is please dont give up Im a 21 yr melanoma fighter i have had half of my right side cut out from tumors the dr told me my chances were very poor because the first tumor was so large i was 21 and had a 3yr old son to live for and watch grow up i never once let myself give up i beat the odds in august of 07 my mother was dx with vulvular cancer had surgery chemo and radiation was told after everything was done she was cured once again in 8/08 she had anther tumor we touch her to dana farber in boston where she did chemo radiation and was told this was to shrink her tumor so she could have another surgery to remove the tumor after treatment was done she went for a ck up and to schedule her surgery and the dr told her the tumor was totally gone. I practice holistic medicine i did reiki which is energy healing meditation and hypnosis on my mother through this whole treatment dr feels it had alot to do with her out come so please again dont give up there are many things out there see if you can find a reiki practitioner in your area it is an amazing energy that has changed my life take care and DONT GIVE INTO THE CANCER FIGHT IT ALL THE WAY YOU ARE WORTH IT

Hey Passion for Purple,

Never give up.  There are many chemos out there.  Sometimes it's just finding the right one.  You don't say what your CA125 is.  I have been on Carbo/Gemzar for 9 months (originally had Cisplatin/Taxol then 1 yr. remission) and my CA125 is 10.  I get a PET scan in 3 weeks to see if the marker is really telling the truth.  Gemzar does have its side affects, but whatever works.  I'm also trying to change to an alykaline diet as I know that works for many.  Through this I have learned that you have to take charge of your health - question doctors, keep records, know what every scan means, and watch your blood counts......and Pray!

 You are young so your body should be in pretty good shape to fight this.  Good luck. 

DonnaGayle