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You're a survivor

I was diagnosed with stage 4 OVC in December after weeks of testing. My doc had told me at my first appointment that if it was cancer it would probably be stage one, based solely on my age (45) and my health.  Surprise! Of course I started reading everything on line and my husband bought a few books and tried very hard to ignore statistics; you don't know everyone involved and how they were collected (I rarely trust statistics.)  My doc's plan started with thteen chemo treatments, then surgery, then 3 more treatments. I just finished #3 and am ready for surgery on March 17th.  My plan started with a diet overhaul (including cutting refined white sugar completely)(I was in decent shape but a candy and soda freak).  I wanted to fight this thing on all fronts. 

So chemo:  I have slept through each treatment.  hopefully you'll get Benedryl and Zofran in your IV before the chemicals. I had an IV in my wrist for #1 but I  got a port for the rest. Not my favorite thing, I feel like an alien of sorts, and it's a little annoying, but a much easier process for treatment. You get meds to help with nausea if you have it. I mostly have extremely achy joints and bones so I take Tylenol. No tastebuds for three days or so and a general feeling of tiredness.  

 

The biggest thing to me is to keep yourself well. Wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, stay out of crowds especially the first five days. That being said, if you feel (remotely) good take advantage of it. Take a walk, go get a smoothie, sit outside, go to a movie something for yourself. Your hair will go eventually don't worry, bald is so much easier! Get a couple of beanies, sleep cap so you're ready for it.

 

ive been very fortunate so far: not too sick, able to do most things I want (except work. I'm a teacher with 230 Students so germs a abound in my classroom).  Ive broken down a couple of times but mostly I ignore my illness as much as possible. I think of it as more of a challenge I have to get through.  I don't know my outcome, if it will return what happens next. I just try to live for the day surround myself with positive people, laugh a lot and be thankful that I have a chance to beat it because it didn't succeed at beating me. 

 

I wish you success with your challenge and that you find strength to focus on living not on the cancer (too much).

 

chemo

Hello,

If they haven't told you already, your chemo sessions will be at least 5 hours long.  Nobody told me that when I first went.  They will, pre-chemo, give you a bunch of benadryl.  They do this every time.  Don't drink any caffeine before you go.  If you do, you won't be able to sleep through the 5+ hours sitting on your butt surrounded by other cancer patients who may or may not want to talk to you. 

Yes, pack a chemo bag to take with you.  You'll want:  #1 a big bottle of water.  #2  some lunch.  #3  things to keep you occupied.  They had blankets at my chemo center for when I got cold.  Oh, and good warm socks.  You won't want to sit there for 5 hours with your shoes on.  Comfortable clothes! 

As for someone going with you.  That's a personal choice.  Personally, I don't know anybody who wanted to sit with me for 5 hours and watch me sleep.  And after chemo keep drinking water and plenty of it.  They say you want to keep the chemo moving through and not sitting in your bladder.  If not, I think you might get cystitis, which you don't want.  Antiemetics are so gret these days that I never really had any nausea on the chemo.

My hair loss started about 5 days after the first infusion.  It's great not having to shave your legs or underarms!!  Keep asking questions, there are lots of ladies here who are very helpful!!

Lisa 

Every experience is a little different

There are some constants, but there can be many different kinds of reactions to chemo & other treatments too. I was in your spot once--very apprehensive about what chemo would bring. In fact I found I withstood it quite well. I was first on carboplatin & taxol (& FYI, my infusions generally took only a few hours). After a few months of that, I felt unwell--vague symptoms, achy all over, weak & barely able to get out of bed. My dosage/schedule was adjusted & all was immediately better. I've been on chemo of one sort or another since July 2012 & mostly withstood it well, although there have been setbacks. I always think about what one of my docs said: that my cancer is a disease to be managed.

I agree, you are a survivor from the start of treatment. I have a very rare cancer--primary peritoneal cancer, which is less than 1/10 of 1% of all cancers. But its treatment is the same as for ovarian cancer. Should you be interested, I've been blogging about my cancer progress from diagnosis until now at. . .

www.CaringBridge.org/visit/CaroleSeaton

Best wishes!

 

Lisa 00 said:

chemo

Hello,

If they haven't told you already, your chemo sessions will be at least 5 hours long.  Nobody told me that when I first went.  They will, pre-chemo, give you a bunch of benadryl.  They do this every time.  Don't drink any caffeine before you go.  If you do, you won't be able to sleep through the 5+ hours sitting on your butt surrounded by other cancer patients who may or may not want to talk to you. 

Yes, pack a chemo bag to take with you.  You'll want:  #1 a big bottle of water.  #2  some lunch.  #3  things to keep you occupied.  They had blankets at my chemo center for when I got cold.  Oh, and good warm socks.  You won't want to sit there for 5 hours with your shoes on.  Comfortable clothes! 

As for someone going with you.  That's a personal choice.  Personally, I don't know anybody who wanted to sit with me for 5 hours and watch me sleep.  And after chemo keep drinking water and plenty of it.  They say you want to keep the chemo moving through and not sitting in your bladder.  If not, I think you might get cystitis, which you don't want.  Antiemetics are so gret these days that I never really had any nausea on the chemo.

My hair loss started about 5 days after the first infusion.  It's great not having to shave your legs or underarms!!  Keep asking questions, there are lots of ladies here who are very helpful!!

Lisa 

good response

good answer to first time preparation, physcial expectations, discomforts, and remedies--post treatment;  (appreciated the lighter side of treatment) good job.