Greetings all! My mother is entering the last leg of her long journey with ovarian cancer. She has battled the beast for 20 years, beginning in her mid-40's. I'm not sure what the initial stage was, but she had a large tumor on each ovary and some other tumors in her abdomen at diagnosis. I'm guessing that's some form of stage III. She had surgery to remove that mess, followed by 6 months of chemotherapy (platinum-based; can't remember which specific agent) and was then in remission for almost 10 years. The cancer eventually came back, but each time it was treated with surgery, more chemotherapy, and occasionally radiation. This went on every couple of years until this last battle, where it seems to have become much more aggressive. They've tried a few different types of chemotherapy but the tumors now keep growing. She has decided enough is enough, and is now in home hospice care. Of course, our family is having a hard time accepting this and dealing with it, but I just wanted to let you girls know that even when a "cure" is not an option, there is definitely still hope for many good years after that initial diagnosis. My mom continued to work full-time (only taking minimal time off after her various surgeries) up until a couple of years ago. She's lived to meet 7 grandchildren, the oldest of which just graduated from high school. She's also lived long enough to see my brother through 3 marriages and divorces. ;)
I know it must be hard to come this stage, but I can tell from your post that you must be a loving family who have lived a full life with all the up and downs life gives to us all but how blessed your are you could share them all as a family, With blessed thoughts may peace and love be with you at all times, When I lost my Father years ago I sat with him for 18 days straight at his bedside in the hospital letting him know how much he meant to me and proud he was my father. I thought how will I react to his passing, I kissed him and smiled and let him go with no tears. I knew he fought hard and lived a good life and I wanted to remember with a smile and wonderful thoughts the tears all have been shed, now it was time to be happy for him. And to this day I still talk to him and still smile.