Surviving Ovarian Cancer

Hi, Jan! So glad to hear of a stage 4 person surviving 7 years. I was diagnosed with stage 3 in 4/2000. I received 9 months of chemo & everything looked great. However, within 3 months, the beast was back!! I have now been on chemo for the past 2-1/2 years. We have been successful at keeping the cancer stable, but have not found a drug to actually get rid of it for me. (we have tried about 8 different meds). I must say that I feel pretty well though, just a bit tired. I have been able to continue working on a parti-time basis. I would say that the best thing that any cancer patient can do is to remain positive and keep up the fight!! Good luck to all, Deb

I just finished 6 rounds of Doxil and it has very little to decrease my C 125. AFter having been on chemo for over 18 months (at one point; prior to my lastest experience with chemo) I decided to seek a second opinion and traveled to the Cleveland Clinic to see a Dr. Maury Markman. His first question was "why have you been on chemo so long????? It changed the nature of my treatment. My next move was to transfer from a general oncologist to one specializing in gynecologic cancer. I have since had challenges but feel a bit better being with someone who is also affiliated with a research and teaching hospital. Perhaps you need a second opinion. What has been the progression of your CA 125 in the past year?
Sally

Hi Deb,

This is Barbara. My sister has stage 4 ovarian cancer. Hers came back in her lymph node and now possibly in her colon. At first we were all devastated and depressed.
I found with the help of prayers, good friends, and this message board and you wonderful people I can cope better and am reminded of keeping positive and helping them to continue to fight. I thank you and all the others for the strength you have, courage and determination. My prayers, love and support are with you. I am glad you are feeling pretty good. I hope you continue to feel this way. Keep up the fight and hope. You are the great. My sister's husband has bone cancer but is in remission he took it the hardest. He is doing great. He still is in remission, which they say is a miracle.

Take care.
Barb

Hey, Doris...it's Oby again. Check with your doctor to see if you can take Topotecan. I've been on it for a year now and the results have been very good. I decided not to try Doxil because I already had neuropathy in my feet and I didn't want to put my tootsies through any more! hahahahaha...

Let me know what you find out, all right?

Love you, my sister, Oby

Hi, Jill...so sorry it took me so long to reply! Tell your mom that I turned 70 yrs. "young" this past January, and I'm still hangin' in thar. If she'd like to correspond with me, my email address is: soaringspirit13@yahoo.com

Please let me know how the Topotecan works for your mom. As you know, I've been taking it for a year now, and just over the past 2 treatments I started experiencing some pretty heavy fatigue about midway during the treatment and for a few days afterwards. So between my doc and me, we've decided to try giving me 3 weeks inbetween the treatments instead of the two. Since my blood results and CA 125 have been so good, we figure it won't hurt to try this.

I really don't want to stop the Topotecan...good results and all...so I've decided that if I do have to deal with this fatigue, that's what I'll do.

You might also want to have your mother check with her doctor about taking Procrit (for red blood cells) which I've been taking weekly for about six months, and Neulasta (for white blood cells), which I've been taking on the last day of treatment for about four months.

Please keep me updated on your mom, all right, because...I care...

Love you, girl! Oby

Hi Oby,
I have stage iv ovarian cancer with lymph node involvement, my gyn/onc thinks I'm doing well as can be expected at this point. I also am on topotecan weekly, would like to know did you experience extreme gastro discomfort and if so what do you do to help relieve it.
Good luck to all of us going thru this terrible disease and GOD BLESS !!!!

Jackie

Hi Jacquiline, did you, or have any others experienced chest pain with lymph node involvement with the ovarian cancer. Or has anyone experienced any sort of chest pain? Thanks Shelly

Dear Minnie,
We all are pulling for you and praying for you, especially as you go for your
appt. on Monday. Remember what the Doc said, it may be back but in the early
stages. That is good news, along with the not so good news that it may have
returned. A second opinion is always so important (and even 3,4, or 5 opinions
as I did). Keep trusting in the Lord, He promised to be our Comforter, our
strength and our hope. We need to take refuge in Him until these calamities
be overpast!! (excerpted from Psalms 57:1 & 2.) Love, Sandy L.L.

My prayers are with you Minnie and to all of you out there. I was diagnosed with stage 4 unknown primary, treated at ovarian. I have just had my 3rd treatment. Other than those nasty side effects for a couple of days. I feel fine. Only time will tell what the outcome will be but, keeping your chin up and enjoying every day you have helps alot. I have just discovered this site and it helps to read everyones messages. God's watching over all of us. Trust in that.
Love to All,
Ivy

Hi Sandy,
Also Hi to all readers n this group. Well the 2nd opinion was the same as the first. But I am glad I went for it, I am more at ease now, even if I still don't know if the cancer has returned or if something else is causing the pain and the elevated ca125. I was very impressed with the UW clinic and the Drs, my case was discussed with a panel of drs and I had 2 diffrent Drs involved with the exam and questions. They do think it probably is back, but in the early stages, but there is always the possibility that they are wrong. Lets hope so. Anyway I will be following with my oncologist on a monthly basis, or less if there are any changes. Will be having monthly ca125 and possibly monthly ct scans done for now till it either progressed or regresses. Hopefully the latter. God bless all of you and my prayers go out to you. I thank you for your concern Love to all, Minnie