Best friend diagnosis - Stage 4 Ovarian Caner - Looking for successful treatments to share with her

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hrlcm50
hrlcm50 Member Posts: 1
in Ovarian Cancer #1
My best friend found out she has Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. They say...3 months to 5 plus years. She has started chemo...cancer has traveled from lymph nodes to lungs and liver.

I have read where there are women living pass 5 years. Who is and what are they doing to get pass the 5 year mark?

Laurie

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  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #2
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    Enhancing survival
    Laurie: There are no absolute guarantees that any of the alternative medical treatments will extend your best friend's survival. That being said, I am taking advantage of the "best of both worlds" (chemotherapy AND acupuncture, diet, exercise, etc.) and hoping that I can get a few more months/years out of my time on the planet.

    The story for ovarian cancer is: 80% of women will go into remission after their first-line chemotherapy. 70% will have cancer recur. It is possible to live with ovarian cancer and continue treatment while feeling generally well for years--so ovarian cancer is now being treated as a chronic disease. Chemo resistance is the problem and no one has figured out how to avoid that yet. So you will see various women who are living with chronic cancer and moving from one chemo to another--there are more treatment choices now than ever.

    If you are interested in non-chemo approaches to fight/prevent cancer, take a look at a book called Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Screiber, MD, PhD. Perhaps find his YouTube video first. Read the book and start reducing your own risk of cancer then see if your friend has any interest in it. Right now, she is overwhelmed and probably not ready for all the changes that Dr. Servan-Schreiber reccommends.

    The anticancer book has research-based information to extend survival/prevent recurrence. Research shows that social support extends survival...ahhh, so you DO make a difference just by being her best friend.
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #3
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    LaundryQueen said:

    Enhancing survival
    Laurie: There are no absolute guarantees that any of the alternative medical treatments will extend your best friend's survival. That being said, I am taking advantage of the "best of both worlds" (chemotherapy AND acupuncture, diet, exercise, etc.) and hoping that I can get a few more months/years out of my time on the planet.

    The story for ovarian cancer is: 80% of women will go into remission after their first-line chemotherapy. 70% will have cancer recur. It is possible to live with ovarian cancer and continue treatment while feeling generally well for years--so ovarian cancer is now being treated as a chronic disease. Chemo resistance is the problem and no one has figured out how to avoid that yet. So you will see various women who are living with chronic cancer and moving from one chemo to another--there are more treatment choices now than ever.

    If you are interested in non-chemo approaches to fight/prevent cancer, take a look at a book called Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Screiber, MD, PhD. Perhaps find his YouTube video first. Read the book and start reducing your own risk of cancer then see if your friend has any interest in it. Right now, she is overwhelmed and probably not ready for all the changes that Dr. Servan-Schreiber reccommends.

    The anticancer book has research-based information to extend survival/prevent recurrence. Research shows that social support extends survival...ahhh, so you DO make a difference just by being her best friend.

    you have come to the right place
    I have been saying this a lot lately, but it is so true. I hope your friend will come here to meet us too. There a some good treatments out there and add years to our lives. Your friend will need rest, a hand to hold, help with cooking and cleaning and an ear to listen to her when needed. Has she had surgery yet and on chemo? How old is she? Not being nosey but this can help with advice and encouragement. Sending hugs and prayers your way and to pass it on...val
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #4
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    Lots of alternatives
    There are many integrative treatments for this disease. Based on my personal experience, I believe that using integrative treatments increases the odds of survival and of good results with chemo. If you'd like more information, beyond the Anti-cancer book already recommended, please send me a personal e-mail through this board and I'll give you some ideas.

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