Remission from Stage 3C
I was DX in March 09 at Stage 3C (I also had Stage 1 uterine cancer). I had a hysterectomy and debulking surgery (removal of spleen, omentum & 9 inches of colon) in April 09 and in September I completed 6 rounds of IV taxol & IP cisplatin. Before surgery, my CA125 was 2706.
I saw my oncologist yesterday and received wonderful news...NO CANCER..I'm in REMISSION!!
My CT scans are clear and CA125 is 6.8
I didn't know how much time it takes to be considered in remission, but this is my doctor's words, so I believe him.
I just wanted to share my experience, especially for women who are just starting their journey. For me the surgery really wasn't that bad. I only had pain for about 3 weeks after. And yes, I did have complications with infection and incission healing requiring a wound vacuum pump for 3 weeks.
Chemo was tough...the IP cisplatin really knocked me down for about 5 days after each treatment. I suffered from many of the usual side effects...nausea, no energy, constipation..but also had some other fun ones...severe ringing in my ears and shingles, both almost forced me to stop treatments, but I was lucky and was able to continue treatment.
I attribute my remission to God and the power of prayer, my skillful gyn/onc and his team of caring nurses, and the support of my family and friends. I did my best to keep a positive attitude and this was really my only contribution to my recovery.
I see my oncologist in January, so I'll be dancing for the next 3 months and pray that I continue to be cancer free.
Thank you to all for your helpful and encouraging posts
Stay strong and keep the faith
God Bless
Stacey
PS..my gyn/onc/surgeon is Dr. James Burke II, he is in Savannah, GA and of course I highly recommend him
Comments
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CONGRATULATIONS, STACEY!
What wonderful news to read today! I'm so happy for you. It's been a long, eventful year for you but I can certainly see how the Lord has carried you through every moment. Thank you for sharing your testimony with us. And don't be a stranger! Visit us from time to time.
Lots of Luv, Hugs and Prayers!
Monika0 -
I'm not leavingmopar said:CONGRATULATIONS, STACEY!
What wonderful news to read today! I'm so happy for you. It's been a long, eventful year for you but I can certainly see how the Lord has carried you through every moment. Thank you for sharing your testimony with us. And don't be a stranger! Visit us from time to time.
Lots of Luv, Hugs and Prayers!
Monika
Thanks Monika
And don't worry, I'll be checking this board often as I feel one of the best ways I can repay everyone who has helped me is to share my experience of hope, faith and remission.
Best to you
Stacey0 -
Praise the Lord!!!!!!
I am so happy for you Stacey. I am getting ready for my 3rd chemo treatment, with stage 3c and I am happy to hear that your side effects were minimal. I will pray that you stay in remission.
Love and Prayers
Sheila0 -
I'm so happy for your greatsweetp1950 said:Praise the Lord!!!!!!
I am so happy for you Stacey. I am getting ready for my 3rd chemo treatment, with stage 3c and I am happy to hear that your side effects were minimal. I will pray that you stay in remission.
Love and Prayers
Sheila
I'm so happy for your great news. It's such a pleasure to hear your great report.0 -
GREAT TO HEAR...
Stacey,
Sounds like you have been a valiant fighter in this battle and won !! The words "remission" and "cancer free" are music to the ears. Keep up the great attitude and know that you have a support system here.
I am so glad I have found a place where women know what I'm going through.
Enjoy the beautiful fall :-)
HUGS & BLESSINGS...
Kellie0 -
Thank you to allBonnieR said:Joining the Choir :-)
Hi Stacey, just had to join the choir in singing praises for your news. Congrats and God Bless Bonnie
Thank you everyone for your kind words of support.
I will certainly keep in touch.
Stay strong in faith and spirit.
Love
Stacey0 -
Newsseably said:Thank you to all
Thank you everyone for your kind words of support.
I will certainly keep in touch.
Stay strong in faith and spirit.
Love
Stacey
Hello, Stacy. What great news you have posted. I had a years vacation and am praying that you will beat me!!! I don't mind losing to other Teal Warriors.
(((Hugs and Prayers))) Saundra0 -
Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed
Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer about the same time you were. It was a little bit later, in May 2009. I have 6 chemo treatments and I am now in remission. I am happy to find someone that is going through this illness the same time that I am. I have a lot of family support which I contribute my positive attitude to getting and feeling better. I hope to continue with my life and hopefully this will be behind me. I will be 57 this month and I am not ready to give up. I have too much to live for. Do you have any side effects and are you feeling back to normal? I feel pretty good most of the time. I do have a little nausea in the mornings sometime. I am in remission and I am so very happy. I am happy for you too. I try not to look at the statistics, but they are in the back of my head sometimes. Good luck in your remission. Stay positive and we will survive.
Lorraine0 -
Congratulations!graham@etex.net said:Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed
Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer about the same time you were. It was a little bit later, in May 2009. I have 6 chemo treatments and I am now in remission. I am happy to find someone that is going through this illness the same time that I am. I have a lot of family support which I contribute my positive attitude to getting and feeling better. I hope to continue with my life and hopefully this will be behind me. I will be 57 this month and I am not ready to give up. I have too much to live for. Do you have any side effects and are you feeling back to normal? I feel pretty good most of the time. I do have a little nausea in the mornings sometime. I am in remission and I am so very happy. I am happy for you too. I try not to look at the statistics, but they are in the back of my head sometimes. Good luck in your remission. Stay positive and we will survive.
Lorraine
What wonderful news!!! I pray 2010 be a year of restoration to you...... Spiritually, Emotionally and Physically. May you be strengthened above and beyond what you thought possible!!!!
Tricia0 -
side effectsgraham@etex.net said:Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed
Hi Stacey,
I was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer about the same time you were. It was a little bit later, in May 2009. I have 6 chemo treatments and I am now in remission. I am happy to find someone that is going through this illness the same time that I am. I have a lot of family support which I contribute my positive attitude to getting and feeling better. I hope to continue with my life and hopefully this will be behind me. I will be 57 this month and I am not ready to give up. I have too much to live for. Do you have any side effects and are you feeling back to normal? I feel pretty good most of the time. I do have a little nausea in the mornings sometime. I am in remission and I am so very happy. I am happy for you too. I try not to look at the statistics, but they are in the back of my head sometimes. Good luck in your remission. Stay positive and we will survive.
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,
Thanks for your wonderful post. I've been very lucky that my side effects were minimal. I had a bout with shingles (not fun) and have significant ringing in my ears. I take Senna S & Miralax daily and so far no bowel obstructions.
For me the worst of it has been the Chemo Brain. I get mixed up with just about everything and forget a lot. I'm learning to deal with it.
I see my oncologist on Jan 15th for my 3 month checkup. I've read the statistics too, not very encouraging. Hopefully he will have good news for me.
I pray that your remission continues.
Love
Stacey0 -
Thanksnewhopechurchli said:Congratulations!
What wonderful news!!! I pray 2010 be a year of restoration to you...... Spiritually, Emotionally and Physically. May you be strengthened above and beyond what you thought possible!!!!
Tricia
Thank you Tricia.
I wish the same for you and for everyone whose life has been attacked by cancer.
Stacey0 -
Hi Stacey
Hi Stacey, it is very heartening to hear that you are doing well. My mother has very recently been diagnosed with stage 3c primary peritoneal cancer. It has come as a big shock to everyone since she had rarely ever fallen ill a day in her life thus far. Her CA125 level before surgery was 1500+, and she is starting chemotherapy this coming Monday. A blood test taken this morning has shown her CA125 to still be around 1100, and it is quite disappointing news. We had hoped it would be lower after her surgery.
Would it be alright to check with you what your CA125 marker was like before starting chemotherapy? I believe it would help her to know that other women have had to go through the same journey before.
Much love and thanks,
Joyce Khoo0 -
CA 125jkhoo said:Hi Stacey
Hi Stacey, it is very heartening to hear that you are doing well. My mother has very recently been diagnosed with stage 3c primary peritoneal cancer. It has come as a big shock to everyone since she had rarely ever fallen ill a day in her life thus far. Her CA125 level before surgery was 1500+, and she is starting chemotherapy this coming Monday. A blood test taken this morning has shown her CA125 to still be around 1100, and it is quite disappointing news. We had hoped it would be lower after her surgery.
Would it be alright to check with you what your CA125 marker was like before starting chemotherapy? I believe it would help her to know that other women have had to go through the same journey before.
Much love and thanks,
Joyce Khoo
Hi Joyce,
Sorry to hear that your mom is sick, I will keep her in my prayers.
I'll be honest, I've hesitated to post my CA 125 numbers. I have been blessed with terrific results and I never wanted anyone to feel badly if they did not get the same numbers, but you asked, so here's the info....
Prior to my surgery, CA 125 was 2706 (ouch!). After surgery but prior to chemo, my CA 125 dropped to 16. After completing 6 rounds of Taxol/Cisplatin, IV & IP, it was 6.8.
I have to attribute these great results to the power of prayer & the skill of my gyn oncologist/surgeon. I'm not sure if I'm allowed ot post doctor names here, but thers's only 2 doctors in Savannah, GA and is the younger of the 2, so you can Google him.
I'm having my next CA 125 done on Monday 1-11-10 and I see the doctor for my 3 month check up on Friday 1-15-10. I'll let you know the results, good or bad.
Stay strong
Love
Stacey0 -
Joyce......jkhoo said:Hi Stacey
Hi Stacey, it is very heartening to hear that you are doing well. My mother has very recently been diagnosed with stage 3c primary peritoneal cancer. It has come as a big shock to everyone since she had rarely ever fallen ill a day in her life thus far. Her CA125 level before surgery was 1500+, and she is starting chemotherapy this coming Monday. A blood test taken this morning has shown her CA125 to still be around 1100, and it is quite disappointing news. We had hoped it would be lower after her surgery.
Would it be alright to check with you what your CA125 marker was like before starting chemotherapy? I believe it would help her to know that other women have had to go through the same journey before.
Much love and thanks,
Joyce Khoo
Don't despair. My CA125 pre-surgery was 4,000. That's not a typo......it was FOUR THOUSAND. Post-surgery it was 2200 and has since dropped with each session of Carb/Taxol. After three infusions it was 53 - still high, but a HUGE drop in a matter of a few weeks. I go tomorrow for blood work and will post again when I have the results (my fourth chemo session was Dec 28th).
Like your mom, I was never sick and had no family history of cancer and no risk factors. The women in my bloodline lived into their 90's. Nevertheless, I was diagnosed 9/17/09 with stage 3c ovarian cancer. I spent 16 days in the hospital and had a ton of complications. But now I am feeling good and fighting back.
I believe that God answers prayers. Does that mean I think we always get the answer we want? No......sometimes we get the kind of answers we give our kids: not right now; maybe later; after you've cleaned your room. And sometimes the answer is "no". Just. Plain. No.
Before Communion we Catholics kneel and say a prayer that ends, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed." I always whisper, "Please say the word that heals my body, Lord, as well as my spirit." I hope it works. I hope the chemo works. I hope I live another 30 years, but if I don't, it won't be because I gave up. I will never, ever give up. Your job is to keep your mom from giving up. It will make a difference.0
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