What have you done to survive ovarian cancer beyond 5 years?

Just wanted to hear from those ladies who have survived ovarian cancer for at least 5 years. Would you please tell us in detail what you did to make it to the 5 year mark. Chemotherapies, diets, alternative medicines, ect. Also include what stage of cancer you had. Please let us know so we can possibly live past the 5 year mark. Your knowledge can help us live longer.

Thank you,

creature

I was diagnosed with stage 3C Ovarian cancer in October 2001.  At that time my oncologist told me I would not survive more than 2 years.  I had six rounds of chemo and went back to work in May 2002.  I had a recurrence in September 2006 and took chemo treatments until March 2007.  I continued to work.  I started chemo treatments again in November 2008, after a CT scan found increased growth in an abdominal tumor and a spot in my right lung.  The lung is clear now but I am still receiving treatments of Doxil once a month.  I continue to work full time and feel good most of the time. It helps to be around friends and family and people who are positive.

I rarely eat red meat. My standard diet consists mostly of Greek yougert, bananas,apples, salads, hard boiled eggs, brown rice, black beans, lentils, spinach, greens, broiled fish, sardines, and on occasion, chicken breast. I cook with olive oil and use lots of garlic, onions and herbs.  My oncologist does not think a healthy diet makes any difference but I think there is something to it.  I told him I am going to be his success story.

On 6/5/2009 sue_ellen wrote:

I was diagnosed with stage 3C Ovarian cancer in October 2001.  At that time my oncologist told me I would not survive more than 2 years.  I had six rounds of chemo and went back to work in May 2002.  I had a recurrence in September 2006 and took chemo treatments until March 2007.  I continued to work.  I started chemo treatments again in November 2008, after a CT scan found increased growth in an abdominal tumor and a spot in my right lung.  The lung is clear now but I am still receiving treatments of Doxil once a month.  I continue to work full time and feel good most of the time. It helps to be around friends and family and people who are positive.

I rarely eat red meat. My standard diet consists mostly of Greek yougert, bananas,apples, salads, hard boiled eggs, brown rice, black beans, lentils, spinach, greens, broiled fish, sardines, and on occasion, chicken breast. I cook with olive oil and use lots of garlic, onions and herbs.  My oncologist does not think a healthy diet makes any difference but I think there is something to it.  I told him I am going to be his success story.

Thank you for the information, It is encouraging to us all. I forgot to mention I am BRCA 1 positive. Anybody out there with ovarian cancer that is also BRCA 1 positive and has survived beyond 5 years? Will you share your story and what stage of ovarian cancer you had?

Thanks for any replies,

On 6/5/2009 sue_ellen wrote:

I was diagnosed with stage 3C Ovarian cancer in October 2001.  At that time my oncologist told me I would not survive more than 2 years.  I had six rounds of chemo and went back to work in May 2002.  I had a recurrence in September 2006 and took chemo treatments until March 2007.  I continued to work.  I started chemo treatments again in November 2008, after a CT scan found increased growth in an abdominal tumor and a spot in my right lung.  The lung is clear now but I am still receiving treatments of Doxil once a month.  I continue to work full time and feel good most of the time. It helps to be around friends and family and people who are positive.

I rarely eat red meat. My standard diet consists mostly of Greek yougert, bananas,apples, salads, hard boiled eggs, brown rice, black beans, lentils, spinach, greens, broiled fish, sardines, and on occasion, chicken breast. I cook with olive oil and use lots of garlic, onions and herbs.  My oncologist does not think a healthy diet makes any difference but I think there is something to it.  I told him I am going to be his success story.

Good for you!! You are a fighter! Did you enlist the help of a dietician or nutritionist? Did you take any supplements or multi. vitamins? Did you do anything special pror to or after your chemo. treatments to help you with side effects? My mom is about to start taxol and carboplatin and I would like to head off any ill effects as much as possible. My mom has stage lllc ovarian cancer and we are looking into Avastin. Thankyou!!

God Bless you!!  Could you please tell me what BRCA  1  positive means?

Thanks!

The drugs your mom is going to take gave me 5 years of remission.  I did not have difficulty with the medication.  Initially, the first day or two after treatment I was weak and tired but did not have any nausea.  I did not do anything special before or after treatment.  However, I did begin to eat healthier and bought a juicer to make fresh pressed carrot juice.  My oncologist does not think it is helpful for ovarian cancer but I refuse to let anyone discourage me. Each day I take a multi-vitamin, vitamin B-6 & B-12, Vitamin D-3 - 3,000 - IU, and a tablespoon of flax seed oil in a small serving of cottage cheese. Research the benefits of flax seed oil.  Look into accupuncture.  Your health insurance may cover the treatment.

I think the National Institute of Health / National Cancer Institute is still conducting a clinical trial with Avastin for women diagnosed with Ovarian cancer.  You might want to look into it. I will go that route if the current treatment does not help.

I really think keeping a positive outlook has helped me through this illness.  

Good luck to you.

On 6/12/2009 Joycesupporter wrote:

 

God Bless you!!  Could you please tell me what BRCA  1  positive means?

Thanks!

BRCA 1 positive means you have a defected gene that places you at high risk for breast cancer. My sister, my son and myself have all tested positive for this mutated gene.

Lynne

On 6/4/2009 Creature wrote:

Just wanted to hear from those ladies who have survived ovarian cancer for at least 5 years. Would you please tell us in detail what you did to make it to the 5 year mark. Chemotherapies, diets, alternative medicines, ect. Also include what stage of cancer you had. Please let us know so we can possibly live past the 5 year mark. Your knowledge can help us live longer.

Thank you,

creature

Hi there -

I was dx'd in April 2004 with stage IV ovca. I also found out at that time that I was BRCA-1 positive ( which is not only for breast cancer but also for ovarian.) I have been on different chemos for 4 of the 5 years now. I am due to start a new chemo this week. The only thing I think that has kept me going is my frame of mind and the wonderful support system I have in family and friends and also my oncologist and his staff. I have not done anything different since I was dx'd except go  on chemo and stop working. I decided to live my life as if I do not have cancer (within the new parameters of my life, of course). I go and do as best I can like I always did. I get up each morning, put on my make-up and jewelry and face th world! I go on vacations, out to dinner, concerts, plays etc. I really am in pretty good shape considering the amount of progression I have had in the past year. I have 5 tumors in my liver, in most of my lymph nodes, pelvis, retro-peritoneal, muscles in my chest, on my diaphram; basically all over my torso (not the lungs, thank God). I only started to feel pain in the last few months and so far it is not too bad. I just keep telling the cancer that my body is MY house and it has to leave. I guess I am just not ready to give in yet. All the doctors I have seen say my attitude is the biggest factor in why I am doing so well. They have all said that I do not look like I have cancer, and that says a lot after five years of chemo!!! Just keep fighting and telling yourself that "it is what it is" and do what you have to do.

Best of luck to you - you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Diane T

On 6/14/2009 Diane t. wrote:

 

On 6/4/2009 Creature wrote:

Just wanted to hear from those ladies who have survived ovarian cancer for at least 5 years. Would you please tell us in detail what you did to make it to the 5 year mark. Chemotherapies, diets, alternative medicines, ect. Also include what stage of cancer you had. Please let us know so we can possibly live past the 5 year mark. Your knowledge can help us live longer.

Thank you,

creature

Hi there -

I was dx'd in April 2004 with stage IV ovca. I also found out at that time that I was BRCA-1 positive ( which is not only for breast cancer but also for ovarian.) I have been on different chemos for 4 of the 5 years now. I am due to start a new chemo this week. The only thing I think that has kept me going is my frame of mind and the wonderful support system I have in family and friends and also my oncologist and his staff. I have not done anything different since I was dx'd except go  on chemo and stop working. I decided to live my life as if I do not have cancer (within the new parameters of my life, of course). I go and do as best I can like I always did. I get up each morning, put on my make-up and jewelry and face th world! I go on vacations, out to dinner, concerts, plays etc. I really am in pretty good shape considering the amount of progression I have had in the past year. I have 5 tumors in my liver, in most of my lymph nodes, pelvis, retro-peritoneal, muscles in my chest, on my diaphram; basically all over my torso (not the lungs, thank God). I only started to feel pain in the last few months and so far it is not too bad. I just keep telling the cancer that my body is MY house and it has to leave. I guess I am just not ready to give in yet. All the doctors I have seen say my attitude is the biggest factor in why I am doing so well. They have all said that I do not look like I have cancer, and that says a lot after five years of chemo!!! Just keep fighting and telling yourself that "it is what it is" and do what you have to do.

Best of luck to you - you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Diane T

Hi  Diane T,

Thanky you for sharing your story. You sound  like a real fighter. Have you heard about the treatment given by Dr. Gonzalez in New York. He is a medicial oncologist that treats cancer with pancreatic enzymes. I have read he has had fair success. Unfortunaltey the insurance companies won't pay for his treatments as they are non pharmacuetical. You may be interested in reading his website. I am considering trying his treatment if this next dose of chemo does not keep the cancer away. Thanks for your prayers. I will pray for you also. Pray that Jehovah God gives you the strength to endure your hardships and make wise decisions in your medical care. Take care,

Lynne

God bless all of you for your fighting spirit.

I too began a diet of no red meat, lots of fruits and veggies and supplements.  My Dr. told me if I think it is working, it is working as my CA125 is 8 and 27.29 is 18.  It's 3 years past DX of peritoneal and 12 past breast cancer.  I feel better with the diet change.  For info on a healthier diet, go to www.i-amperfectlyhealthy.com/acid-alkalinefoodlist.html.  It has helped me.  One thing that I think really improved my health is that I cut out all sodas and red meat. 

Keep fighting all you teal warriers. 

Gayle