ovarian cancer

Hello,

My Mom is 67 years old and yersterday she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She went straight away through an operation, she had her ovaries removed as well as the gland. We are waiting for the results of the histology which should be ready only in one week. Unfortunately the doctors say that the cancer is closer to stage 2. We are trying to cope with these terrible news in the family but it is so difficult. The worst thing for me is that my parents are in Russia while I am living in Germany and they don´t want me to come till we get the results. I tried to search through the internet and the information which I get is not leaving much place for staying optimistic. I desperately need support and hope in order to help my Mom as well as my Dad to go through this. Please, help

Hi Mgravenhorst

Despite the circumstances I am glad you posted.  We are all here to support each other. You should stay optimistic always if possible. I know that is easier said than done.  It is my understanding that there are over thirty different types of ovarian cancer. The best thing you can do is get knowledged about the type your mother is diagnosed. This will help you and your mother. 

We are all here for you.  Let us know how things go with your mom.

Thanks

TB in GA

Hi I am a stage IV, grade 3 and am 46 years old. Stage 2 is amazing! They found it that quick, and she is getting treatment. They must have been able to get all visible cancer cells out, right? It's too bad you can't be there, but you can support her in many ways. My daughter lives quite far away also, but is a great strength to me. Good luck,and be positive. It is very rare to catch so early.

Hello,

To be honest, I am not very sure about the stage. I have the impression that we are not being told everything at this moment. I know for sure that the cancer it´s not at its start. It takes forever to get the results back and of course the doctors don´t want to say anything till we get the results back. On one hand this is right, but to see them shaking heads it is even more killing than waiting. My mom is recovering after the operation and though it is quite painful, she is holding.

The first two days were terrible - each evening before going to sleep I was hoping this is a bad dream but than the morning the reality was hitting very strong. Now I just realised how important it is to hold myself to help my family - both of my parents, since my dad is all the time next to my mom but the phone calls of the friends are not really helpful since they are all about "Oh my God, how this is possible". Anyways, I am not losing my hope, since I am ready to use any possilbe existing tool to fight the desease of my mom. I must say that this site is very inspiring and very helpful. Thank you very much for your support. I wish you sincerely all the best. I am sure that the most important is to beleive and not to lose any hope.

God bless you

No matter what stage your mother is, it's terrifying to hear the word Cancer. It's all about faith and attitude!  I was diagnosed with stage 3C at the end of 2009 and have gone thru six initial treatments of taxotore/carbo followed by 12 rounds of taxol/carbo and then in 2012 on my 55th birthday found out the big C was back.  I started another six rounds of Gemzar/Carbo in February, but after finishing 1/2 the 4th round I found out there was a shortage of Gemzar and am having to change to Doxil.  I will start the Doxil on May 23rd. 

Remember:  Cancer isn't a death sentence - it's definitely life changing.  Advances are being made all the time!  Don't believe everything you hear and read on the Internet!!!

I have a wonderful Doctor and staff.  My family has been great thru all the ups and downs.  I have a very close church family and work friends.  For me EVERY DAY IS A BLESSING and just one more day that I get to share with those I love.

There is always something good to be had out of the bad - I save on shampoo and I haven't had to shave my legs or underarms since the 2nd week of the original treatments - that's since Jan. 2010 and this is May 2012.

I wish your Mom the best!!!!!!!!  You caregivers need the extra encouragement because it's really hard to watch those you love go thru this.  Mom's are tough because we know that our husbands and kids (no matter what age) don't know what to do without us. 

!!Amen!!

Dear Nands,

Thank you very much for your message!

You are so right when you are saying that Cancer is not a death sentence. We all have an inside strenght that can take us far beyond the limits. This strength is nourished by our beleive, hope and support of the people around us. There is an old Russian parable which speaks about two mice who got inside of a pot with milk. One said - Oh, no, I will never get out from here - and it drowned. The other one said - That´s going to be hard but I will try my best - and it started moving its legs as fast as possible, trying to get out. After so much movement the milk turned into butter and the mouse got out. 

I can never agree with the term of giving a false hope to a person. What is false hope? Does it do anything good? I think that anyone has to be prepared that any kind of treatment won´t work but this doesn´t mean that one has to give up. As you said, C changes life, but as far as there is beleive, hope and support we can achieve anything.

I wish everybody on this forum the strenght to fight. I beleive God gave us a lot of possibilities and we just have to use them.

On May 17, 2012 2:57 PM mgravenhorst wrote:

Dear Nands,

Thank you very much for your message!

You are so right when you are saying that Cancer is not a death sentence. We all have an inside strenght that can take us far beyond the limits. This strength is nourished by our beleive, hope and support of the people around us. There is an old Russian parable which speaks about two mice who got inside of a pot with milk. One said - Oh, no, I will never get out from here - and it drowned. The other one said - That´s going to be hard but I will try my best - and it started moving its legs as fast as possible, trying to get out. After so much movement the milk turned into butter and the mouse got out. 

I can never agree with the term of giving a false hope to a person. What is false hope? Does it do anything good? I think that anyone has to be prepared that any kind of treatment won´t work but this doesn´t mean that one has to give up. As you said, C changes life, but as far as there is beleive, hope and support we can achieve anything.

I wish everybody on this forum the strenght to fight. I beleive God gave us a lot of possibilities and we just have to use them.

I am a co-survivor of my wife's ovarian cancer.  The best thing you can do for you and your family and friends is to become schooled on ovarian cancer.  The American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health have great resources on OC.  DO NOT play the "What if ..."  deal with the now and present.  If there were cancer cells recovered in the surgery, are they being cultured for sensitivity to chemos?  This will give two lists, one of effective chemos and one of non-effective chemos.  Another important area is keeping love, faith, and hope alive in you and others.  I would establish a "positive attitude area" around you and your family.  You and yours do not need to hear gory stories and others cancers experience.  Be an advocate even from far away.  Ensure someone is with your mother at doctor appointment and writes everything said.  Take in written questions for the doctor and again write the answers.  When the C word is said the brain shuts down and this is for everyone.  Been there and done that.  Hope these help.

Thank you very much for your advice

Don't forget to get mom up and around, and feed her food and drink that will help give her energy. Like fruit smoothies from home blender.  I hope she is happy they got  (all? ) of those bad cells out of her.  Realizing that her body  has been rid of those cells should help the healing process for her mind, body, and yours! Listen to that other commenter, and read as much as you can.  There are lots of good  things to do at this time to promote healing.You sound like a great kid!  It's crazy to grasp the whole thing,huh? I certainly wish we would all wake up and find it were a dream,darn it.