Ovarian Cancer Stage 4 survivors

elishaw
elishaw Member Posts: 5
edited May 2022 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I would like to hear from anyone who has survived stage 4 for relatively long period withoutexperiencing recurrent attack
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Comments

  • jenniferasturtevant
    jenniferasturtevant Member Posts: 1 Member
    #3
    I have survived Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. I have been cancer free since 1996. Would love to hear from you. Please email me at okiegirlforever@sbcglobal.net
  • JoJo711
    JoJo711 Member Posts: 5 Member
    #4
    jenniferasturtevant said:

    I have survived Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. I have been cancer free since 1996. Would love to hear from you. Please email me at okiegirlforever@sbcglobal.net

    Hi, I was diagnosed with ovc 2 weeks before Christmas. My ovaries were removed and were free of cancer, but there was a mass that apparently had broken away from the ovarian system and landed between my liver and diaphram and there is also fluid in the lining of my lung that is cancerous. Doctor says this is what puts me at stage 4. I am responding well to the chemo, my ca125 has gone from 256 to 59 . I have 5 hours of chemo a on thursday. Everything I read seems to give me a 5 year left to live verdict. If the chemo is working shouldn't this increase my years? At what point am I a survivor?
    thanks for your input!
    JoJo
  • mirtle
    mirtle Member Posts: 32 Member
    #5
    Elishaw, I was diagnosed in 1993 followed by surgery and chemo. I went for 9 years before it recurred. I am currently getting chemo and have had excellent results. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but I consider myself somewhat of a miracle for going that long. Hope this helps you.
  • mirtle
    mirtle Member Posts: 32 Member
    #6
    JoJo711 said:

    Hi, I was diagnosed with ovc 2 weeks before Christmas. My ovaries were removed and were free of cancer, but there was a mass that apparently had broken away from the ovarian system and landed between my liver and diaphram and there is also fluid in the lining of my lung that is cancerous. Doctor says this is what puts me at stage 4. I am responding well to the chemo, my ca125 has gone from 256 to 59 . I have 5 hours of chemo a on thursday. Everything I read seems to give me a 5 year left to live verdict. If the chemo is working shouldn't this increase my years? At what point am I a survivor?
    thanks for your input!
    JoJo

    JoJo, I think with ovarian the magic number is 10 years. I almost made it -- I went 9.
  • JoJo711
    JoJo711 Member Posts: 5 Member
    #7
    mirtle said:

    JoJo, I think with ovarian the magic number is 10 years. I almost made it -- I went 9.

    Mirtle, what does that mean...10 years? At what point are you in remission? My doctor told me she has known stage 4 patient to live only 4-5 years? Thanks for your input!
  • leonorafriend
    leonorafriend Member Posts: 7
    #8
    JoJo711 said:

    Hi, I was diagnosed with ovc 2 weeks before Christmas. My ovaries were removed and were free of cancer, but there was a mass that apparently had broken away from the ovarian system and landed between my liver and diaphram and there is also fluid in the lining of my lung that is cancerous. Doctor says this is what puts me at stage 4. I am responding well to the chemo, my ca125 has gone from 256 to 59 . I have 5 hours of chemo a on thursday. Everything I read seems to give me a 5 year left to live verdict. If the chemo is working shouldn't this increase my years? At what point am I a survivor?
    thanks for your input!
    JoJo

    hi jojo I am an ovarian cancer survivor, too. I feel when you have surgery and/or receive chemo, than YOU are a SURVIVOR!! Be strong and keep up the good work. email me if you like. lfriend@newportrischools.org
  • pullingforlou
    pullingforlou Member Posts: 7
    #9
    mirtle said:

    Elishaw, I was diagnosed in 1993 followed by surgery and chemo. I went for 9 years before it recurred. I am currently getting chemo and have had excellent results. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but I consider myself somewhat of a miracle for going that long. Hope this helps you.

    Question
    When it came back where was it? My mother had a hysterictamy and it came back in her colon and liver. Protocal is chemo which we start Monday
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #10
    I'm stage IV
    Diagnoses 3/2007 and am in first recurrence as of August. I have had 11 months with no chemo.
    I feel good most of the time. You can click on my picture to read of the treatments I have had. I try not to dwell on how many years. After all I could have a fatal car wreck tomorrow. Saundra
  • wannaknow
    wannaknow Member Posts: 12
    #11
    saundra said:

    I'm stage IV
    Diagnoses 3/2007 and am in first recurrence as of August. I have had 11 months with no chemo.
    I feel good most of the time. You can click on my picture to read of the treatments I have had. I try not to dwell on how many years. After all I could have a fatal car wreck tomorrow. Saundra

    anyone with stage 4 still here?
    Hi..im looking at the dates from these posts and im freaking out...i have just been diagnosed with stage 4. PLEASE..ANYONE HERE?????
  • arbor3
    arbor3 Member Posts: 103
    #12
    wannaknow said:

    anyone with stage 4 still here?
    Hi..im looking at the dates from these posts and im freaking out...i have just been diagnosed with stage 4. PLEASE..ANYONE HERE?????

    I'M STILL HERE
    Hi Wannaknow

    I was dx with stage 4 OVCA in Augut 2006. I am on Chemo now, but I do have breaks in between the Chemo. I was told from the beginning that I would never be in complete remission, but I feel good and keeps the cancer down and from spreading. I said in the beginning that I would beat this beast and I am still beating it back.
    Never give up the hope is always there.

    Hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!Dinora
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #13
    wannaknow said:

    anyone with stage 4 still here?
    Hi..im looking at the dates from these posts and im freaking out...i have just been diagnosed with stage 4. PLEASE..ANYONE HERE?????

    Hi wannaknow,
    I know how
    Hi wannaknow,

    I know how how you feel (sorta) I was diagnosed stage IIIC in January. I look at it this way, the five year statistics you read today are for women who were diagnosed five years ago, many advances have been made since then, so the five year stats will be way different every year. Keep the faith honey, and join some of the more recent threads.

    HUGS!

    Leesa
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #14
    wannaknow said:

    anyone with stage 4 still here?
    Hi..im looking at the dates from these posts and im freaking out...i have just been diagnosed with stage 4. PLEASE..ANYONE HERE?????

    stage IV
    Diagnosed Sept. 2008. I look at old posts too and wonder where they are.
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #15
    nancy591 said:

    stage IV
    Diagnosed Sept. 2008. I look at old posts too and wonder where they are.

    Me, too. Realistically, I
    Me, too. Realistically, I have to assume that some of them lost the battle, but I'm thinking that others simply tired of being focused on cancer all the time and dropped off the board to live their lives. I know that happens consistently on other forums, with other issues.

    Unlike some of the other message sites, this one does not have a memoriam page. Maybe that is by design, and maybe it's for the best.

    Carlene
  • angiedryden
    angiedryden Member Posts: 58
    #16
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Me, too. Realistically, I
    Me, too. Realistically, I have to assume that some of them lost the battle, but I'm thinking that others simply tired of being focused on cancer all the time and dropped off the board to live their lives. I know that happens consistently on other forums, with other issues.

    Unlike some of the other message sites, this one does not have a memoriam page. Maybe that is by design, and maybe it's for the best.

    Carlene

    Mom stage IV
    I just discovered this site today. As I am writing my mom is in the hospital. She had surgery 11 days ago to remove cancer from the ovary and abdomen. Pathology came back and it is stage IV. She isn't doing well after the surgery. I was curious about the types of chemo for stage IV ovarian cancer. Has anyone had the type that is put directly in the stomach by a cath. Any information would be very much appreciated.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #17
    angiedryden said:

    Mom stage IV
    I just discovered this site today. As I am writing my mom is in the hospital. She had surgery 11 days ago to remove cancer from the ovary and abdomen. Pathology came back and it is stage IV. She isn't doing well after the surgery. I was curious about the types of chemo for stage IV ovarian cancer. Has anyone had the type that is put directly in the stomach by a cath. Any information would be very much appreciated.

    How old?
    Curious to know how old your Mom is and if her age and pre-surgery health is playing a factor in her post op recovery? I was 41 at time of diagnosis and in good health. I had a 9hr surgery that left me very, very weak. Hopefully your Mom will regain her strength although it may take some time.

    I had an IP port placed for chemo directly into the abdominal cavity. It is, reportedly, superior to traditional IV chemo. She will probably recieve Taxol and Cisplatin throught the IP port. It will be very tough and it wreaks havoc on the digestive system. Did she have a bowel resection? I was left with a temporary illeostomy after my initial surgery. It was revered after 5 rounds of IV treatment. When they did the reversal they did a 'second look' and placed the IP port for additional chemo. I had 3 rounds of IP chemo. It was tough but it is the gold standard. Superior even to the new dose dense taxol regimen. I don't want to overload you with too much information. It is ALOT to digest. Please ask questions. Good luck to your Mom and your family.

    Nancy
  • angiedryden
    angiedryden Member Posts: 58
    #18
    nancy591 said:

    How old?
    Curious to know how old your Mom is and if her age and pre-surgery health is playing a factor in her post op recovery? I was 41 at time of diagnosis and in good health. I had a 9hr surgery that left me very, very weak. Hopefully your Mom will regain her strength although it may take some time.

    I had an IP port placed for chemo directly into the abdominal cavity. It is, reportedly, superior to traditional IV chemo. She will probably recieve Taxol and Cisplatin throught the IP port. It will be very tough and it wreaks havoc on the digestive system. Did she have a bowel resection? I was left with a temporary illeostomy after my initial surgery. It was revered after 5 rounds of IV treatment. When they did the reversal they did a 'second look' and placed the IP port for additional chemo. I had 3 rounds of IP chemo. It was tough but it is the gold standard. Superior even to the new dose dense taxol regimen. I don't want to overload you with too much information. It is ALOT to digest. Please ask questions. Good luck to your Mom and your family.

    Nancy

    Mom stage IV
    My mom is 70. She had colon cancer a little over a yr. ago and was doing fine. This was the second colon cancer. When she had this last surgery for the ovarian cancer which was also in the abdomen, they also had to remove some small intestines. She developed a obstruction a few days ago and has been throwing up alot. Thank you so much for the information. I wanted to get some info before she goes to the oncologist. Another question I have is concerning clinical trials. From what I read, there are some out there right now. Do you know anything about them or did you participate in any?

    Thanks again,

    Angie
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #19
    angiedryden said:

    Mom stage IV
    My mom is 70. She had colon cancer a little over a yr. ago and was doing fine. This was the second colon cancer. When she had this last surgery for the ovarian cancer which was also in the abdomen, they also had to remove some small intestines. She developed a obstruction a few days ago and has been throwing up alot. Thank you so much for the information. I wanted to get some info before she goes to the oncologist. Another question I have is concerning clinical trials. From what I read, there are some out there right now. Do you know anything about them or did you participate in any?

    Thanks again,

    Angie

    Angie....many Oncologists
    Angie....many Oncologists have a research nurse who keeps track of the clinical trials available, and which patients are good candidates for each one. Ask your mom's doctor if he does that. Otherwise, you can use the "Clinical Trials Finder" on this site (in the blue box to your left).

    Carlene
  • angiedryden
    angiedryden Member Posts: 58
    #20
    Hissy_Fitz said:

    Angie....many Oncologists
    Angie....many Oncologists have a research nurse who keeps track of the clinical trials available, and which patients are good candidates for each one. Ask your mom's doctor if he does that. Otherwise, you can use the "Clinical Trials Finder" on this site (in the blue box to your left).

    Carlene

    Mom stage IV
    Thanks so much Carlene. I am just trying to get some info before she sees the oncologist.

    Angie
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #21
    angiedryden said:

    Mom stage IV
    My mom is 70. She had colon cancer a little over a yr. ago and was doing fine. This was the second colon cancer. When she had this last surgery for the ovarian cancer which was also in the abdomen, they also had to remove some small intestines. She developed a obstruction a few days ago and has been throwing up alot. Thank you so much for the information. I wanted to get some info before she goes to the oncologist. Another question I have is concerning clinical trials. From what I read, there are some out there right now. Do you know anything about them or did you participate in any?

    Thanks again,

    Angie

    MSKCC website
    I recv my treatment at memorial sloan kettering cancer care. If you go to MSKCC.org they have a clinical trial link. Of course it only talks about the trials they are doing. Educate yourself about the different phases of clinical trials. I don't think I would do a stage I or even a stage II trial. At least not at this point in my illness. I have not participated in a clinical trial although I did qualify for one whe I was first diagnosed. It is the ongoing trial carbo/taxol and avastin. My oncologist did not recommend it because I had an illeostomy at the time. Avastin has the potential of causing bowel perforation. I was told if my current therapy(for my first recurrence) doesn't work I could either do traditional treatment or there are 3 new trials opening up at sloan kettering. I haven't looked into the trials yet but I already told my oncologist I am not interested in stage I or II trials.
  • angiedryden
    angiedryden Member Posts: 58
    #22
    nancy591 said:

    MSKCC website
    I recv my treatment at memorial sloan kettering cancer care. If you go to MSKCC.org they have a clinical trial link. Of course it only talks about the trials they are doing. Educate yourself about the different phases of clinical trials. I don't think I would do a stage I or even a stage II trial. At least not at this point in my illness. I have not participated in a clinical trial although I did qualify for one whe I was first diagnosed. It is the ongoing trial carbo/taxol and avastin. My oncologist did not recommend it because I had an illeostomy at the time. Avastin has the potential of causing bowel perforation. I was told if my current therapy(for my first recurrence) doesn't work I could either do traditional treatment or there are 3 new trials opening up at sloan kettering. I haven't looked into the trials yet but I already told my oncologist I am not interested in stage I or II trials.

    Thanks Nancy
    Thanks so much for the info. There is just so much to take in. I just want to learn as much as possible so we will know the choices out there.

    Angie

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