Ovarian Cancer

I am new to the site after searching Google for information on neupogen injections. I didn't see a topic on the message board for ovarian cancer and thought I would start one. 

I was diagnosed in 2010 with Ovarian cancer which I have found the least information on when it comes to people speaking out about it. I was diagnosed in stage IIIC, which is statistically common. I went through 8 rounds of chemo and major abdominal surgery. One year after my last chemo treatment, the cancer had returned. I had my 2nd round of chemo two weeks ago. I'm beginning to have more complications than I did the first time I went through chemo treatment, my doctor isn't quit sure why but it seems the issues are isolated. One week after getting chemo, my medical port site became infected and the port had to be removed. During my second treatment, I had a seizure and was rushed to the emergency room. I'm getting neupogen shots each week because my levels seems to not be improving. 

If there is anyone that can relate to what I am going through or has had ovarian cancer, please respond with your experience and suggestions. 

I noticed you had no replies, i can't give much info on Ovarian cancer even though my Mom passed from that quickly in a few days. The neupogen shots i have much experience. I would have to have between 7 to 14 of it after every cycle of Cisplatin and a cocktail of other drugs. 7 days of them didn't bring my white cell count up a few times during that. I guess they are having you start the shots within 24 hours after chemo because that matters. I had problems with my port getting infected at first, mostly because i am a thin person and there was actually little wires thru the skin, stayed irritated just from my clothes. Chemo nurse one day took it upon herself to clip them one day, it was really sore for a week, but after that i have had no problems. You can see the whole power port in my chest, just like a skin covering. I sure will say a prayer for you and you hang in there. I was stage 4 and the cancer spread to my ribs and a lung. Doc said i would be lucky to live one year, that was around 4 years ago and they declared me in remission this August. So keep the faith and say hello anytime.

There are a lot of ovarian cancer survivors on another site

inspire.com /groups/ovarian-cancer-national-alliance/

Women asking questions, telling their stories, sharing things they've read about or seen on tv, pretty much everything you want to know about ovarian cancer is talked about there.

Good luck!

Diagnosed 6/2004 stage 3C.  Have had 4 recurrences and still kickin!

Hi

I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC OVCA in feb. of 1008.   I've been fighting every since and have had chemo constantly for the past 4 years.  I'm on my 4th chemo medicine.   My tumor just won't shrink.  I have a mucinous tumor which is rare and platinum resistant.   I was given Neulasta shots for the white blood cell counts and I must've been allergic to it or something because I would get migraine headaches for 4 to 6 days after the shot so I had to stop.   I asked my doctor if I could skip the neupogen right now just to see if my white cells go up on their own.  They did.   I will probably have to eventually take those injections but for now I'm not.   This has been a fight for my life and I hate it more and more.  Nothing ever works and I'm getting sick of taking chemo.   But if I want to live I have to do it.   If it weren't for my family I would stop it and just leave.  

Your body remembers chemos that you have had.   It's all cumulative so it stays in your body for a very long time.  If you take carboplatin and taxol for a second time you will find that you get more and more side effects.  

You've had a pretty rough time.   My port has been in for 4 years now and it's always being flushed.  I lost 50 lbs. since I was diagnosed and the port really sticks out like a sore thumb.   I'm constantly going for blood transfusions because my hemoglobin won't stay up and I also go for fluid taps in my stomach to get all the gook out of there.  My stomach expands like I'm pregnant and it's very uncomfortable and very hard to wear clothes.  I'm only a size 4 or 6 now and yet I have this big belly.   When I get it drained you can hardly tell it's there.  

It's been a hell ride but this is what I've been dealt and I have to deal with it.  I'm just glad I'm still here.

Hope this helps you a little.  Write me if you want anymore info.   My email address isrottimom22@aol.com  

Stay well and strong  Michele

Hi

I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC OVCA in feb. of 2008.   I've been fighting ever since and have had chemo constantly for the past 4 years.  I'm on my 4th chemo medicine.   My tumor just won't shrink.  I have a mucinous tumor which is rare and platinum resistant.   I was given Neulasta shots for the white blood cell counts and I must've been allergic to it or something because I would get migraine headaches for 4 to 6 days after the shot so I had to stop.   I asked my doctor if I could skip the neupogen right now just to see if my white cells go up on their own.  They did.   I will probably have to eventually take those injections but for now I'm not.   This has been a fight for my life and I hate it more and more.  Nothing ever works and I'm getting sick of taking chemo.   But if I want to live I have to do it.   If it weren't for my family I would stop it and just leave.  

Your body remembers chemos that you have had.   It's all cumulative so it stays in your body for a very long time.  If you take carboplatin and taxol for a second time you will find that you get more and more side effects.  

You've had a pretty rough time.   My port has been in for 4 years now and it's always being flushed.  I lost 50 lbs. since I was diagnosed and the port really sticks out like a sore thumb.   I'm constantly going for blood transfusions because my hemoglobin won't stay up and I also go for fluid taps in my stomach to get all the gook out of there.  My stomach expands like I'm pregnant and it's very uncomfortable and very hard to wear clothes.  I'm only a size 4 or 6 now and yet I have this big belly.   When I get it drained you can hardly tell it's there.  

It's been a hell ride but this is what I've been dealt and I have to deal with it.  I'm just glad I'm still here.

Hope this helps you a little.  Write me if you want anymore info.   My email address isrottimom22@aol.com  

Stay well and strong  Michele

On apr 02, 2012 6:32 mymischelle wrote:

I am new to the site after searching Google for information on neupogen injections. I didn't see a topic on the message board for ovarian cancer and thought I would start one. 

I was diagnosed in 2010 with Ovarian cancer which I have found the least information on when it comes to people speaking out about it. I was diagnosed in stage IIIC, which is statistically common. I went through 8 rounds of chemo and major abdominal surgery. One year after my last chemo treatment, the cancer had returned. I had my 2nd round of chemo two weeks ago. I'm beginning to have more complications than I did the first time I went through chemo treatment, my doctor isn't quit sure why but it seems the issues are isolated. One week after getting chemo, my medical port site became infected and the port had to be removed. During my second treatment, I had a seizure and was rushed to the emergency room. I'm getting neupogen shots each week because my levels seems to not be improving. 

If there is anyone that can relate to what I am going through or has had ovarian cancer, please respond with your experience and suggestions. 

hi! we have our very own separate section last time i looked: gynecological then ovarian cancer! dont think there's been much about epogen tho!

harriet, diagnosed june 2006, 3c, still around against all odds, 2 recurrences

wow. Thanks Harriet for responding. It's very encouraging to me to hear that your diagnosis was in 2006. I wish you much success in your treatments also.

Thank you so much for your response Michele. Coincidentally, my name is Mischelle also. Your post REALLY helped me. I am very proud of you. It sounds like we are going through the same hell. Whenever you get your treatments, think of me as your sister holding your hand along with your family. 

You are so right about the chemo. I had the taxol and carboplatin the first time and this time the doc added another (I can't remember the name of it). And yes, the side effects are worse the second time. The chemo was able to shrink my tumors then surgery to remove the remainder but good grief they came back with a vengence.

I had a neupogen shot a few days ago and the pain was worse than it has ever been. I was given some muscle relaxants but they only helped the second day. I've had the neulasta before which didn't cause as much pain but my insurance won't pay for it.  

I know what you mean about the port when you loose weight. I also lost about 50 pounds and the thing started sticking out. I used to wear a lot of low cut shirts, I hate to do that now. My port was removed last year when I opted to have a bilateral mastectomy because I had breast cancer also. When I got the port put back in everything went down hill. Since the infection from my port, I now have a hole where the port was. 

Thank you for your email, I will message you sometimes.

Thank you so much. You are an inspiration to me.

This is good information for me because I am now getting the neupogen shots every week. I understand about the problems with the port, I had an infection in mine and it had to be removed. That was the most pain I have ever been in, ever. The infection had spread within a few hours. 

I am glad and thankful to hear your progress. Stories like yours make me feel as though I am not alone. People say it to me all the time but to read it from the posts on this site makes me feel there is a true sisterhood out there. 

Stay strong, you have proved the doctors wrong before and I know you will continue to impress them. Much love.

Mischelle