Looking for Stage II Ovarian Cancer Survivors

124

Comments

  • tngirl
    tngirl Member Posts: 28
    amshelley said:

    Just diagnosed stage 2b ovarian cancer
    I was just diagnosed March 2 with stage 2b ovarian cancer. I went to my family dr. with bronchitis and mentioned bad back pain. He sent me in for an ultra sound, which prompted a CA-125 test, a meeting with my gyno. and 5 days later, complete hysterectomy. One ovary had spread to the pelvic wall and bowel. The wash and lymph nodes were clean. I have a consult with my oncologist today. I've been looking for others with this stage of cancer and agree, it's hard to find people out there. I'm trying to prepare myself by being educated about what to expect. Thank you for your post. It's been helpful to read the positives about recovery! I hope all goes well with you.

    Diagnosed Stage 2C in Aug. 2009
    I was dx with Stage 2C in Aug. of 2009. My ovary also spread and attached itself to the pelvic wall, with wash and lymph nodes clean. My last chemo (which I consider my 2nd birthday - so I get two birthday dinners from my husband!) date was Jan. 11, 2010. So I have been NED for over a year. It has taken a while for my body to get back into shape and get my strength back, but it is coming. One thing I did during chemo was I continued to work. I have a terrific boss and I did what I could and went to the office when I felt OK. Working kept my mind off of the effects of chemo - it challenged me, especially with chemo brain. I still suffer some long term effects, like some numbness on the bottom of my feet and tinnitus. And I still get very nervous right before my oncologist visit. But I am glad to be where I am and I thank God everyday for another day! God Bless!
  • JW1958
    JW1958 Member Posts: 1
    STAGE 2C

    Hi,
    I was DX in July 08 with Stage 2C Ovarian Cancer. Had surgery and 6 rounds of chemo.
    I have been fine until last week. Went for my 4 month check up and the Dr. told me all
    my liver numbers are elevated. I now have to go for a CT scan on Friday and additional blood work and see him June 22nd. I'm hoping it's just fatty liver disease which can make your numbers elevated.
  • kathryn1
    kathryn1 Member Posts: 88
    JW1958 said:

    STAGE 2C

    Hi,
    I was DX in July 08 with Stage 2C Ovarian Cancer. Had surgery and 6 rounds of chemo.
    I have been fine until last week. Went for my 4 month check up and the Dr. told me all
    my liver numbers are elevated. I now have to go for a CT scan on Friday and additional blood work and see him June 22nd. I'm hoping it's just fatty liver disease which can make your numbers elevated.

    Hi
    Hi,
    I'm a 2C as well. Hopefully your tests will show no cancer! I think there are several things that can elevate those numbers. I'm glad to hear you have been doing well! Let us know what you find out.
    Kathryn
  • childofthestars
    childofthestars Member Posts: 251 Member
    JW1958 said:

    STAGE 2C

    Hi,
    I was DX in July 08 with Stage 2C Ovarian Cancer. Had surgery and 6 rounds of chemo.
    I have been fine until last week. Went for my 4 month check up and the Dr. told me all
    my liver numbers are elevated. I now have to go for a CT scan on Friday and additional blood work and see him June 22nd. I'm hoping it's just fatty liver disease which can make your numbers elevated.

    Hi
    Please let us know how

    Hi
    Please let us know how you get on at the docs next week, i'm hoping all be fine.
    Michelle x
  • Medinalove5
    Medinalove5 Member Posts: 1
    Stage II Ovarian Cancer-Joint & Bone Pain after finishing Chemo
    Hello Everyone!
    I was diagnosed with Stage IIC Ovarian Cancer after a complete Hysterectomy Surgery Jan 2011. Finished my last chemo Treat (carbo/Taxol) May 25, 2011.

    I am experiences so much joint and bone pain. Is anyone else experiencing this or had experienced this after finishing Chemo Treatment?

    Any advice? I feel like maybe the cancer came back and it is in my bones....I am scared.

    Please help!

    Thank you so much...Mary Ann
  • marann246
    marann246 Member Posts: 1

    Stage II Ovarian Cancer-Joint & Bone Pain after finishing Chemo
    Hello Everyone!
    I was diagnosed with Stage IIC Ovarian Cancer after a complete Hysterectomy Surgery Jan 2011. Finished my last chemo Treat (carbo/Taxol) May 25, 2011.

    I am experiences so much joint and bone pain. Is anyone else experiencing this or had experienced this after finishing Chemo Treatment?

    Any advice? I feel like maybe the cancer came back and it is in my bones....I am scared.

    Please help!

    Thank you so much...Mary Ann

    Ovarian Cancer Stage 2C
    I was diagnosed last March 2010 with this disease. I wanted to be a part of a group that are survivors. I want you to know that I experienced much joint and bone pain after chemo was over. It is something we have to go through. It has been almost a year since my last chemo treatment (Sept. '10) and it is going away slowly but surely.

    Has anyone here experienced back pain. I recently started experiencing lower back pain of which I have never experienced. Going to get a CT-Scan on Monday to see what is going on. Also, my CA-125 levels are going up. It started with five now it is 20. I asked my doctor about it and she said levels fluctuate depending on what is going on in the body. Any type of inflammation can cause your levels to go up. I am praying because I don't want this back in my life.

    Please respond.
  • dreamer007
    dreamer007 Member Posts: 61
    marann246 said:

    Ovarian Cancer Stage 2C
    I was diagnosed last March 2010 with this disease. I wanted to be a part of a group that are survivors. I want you to know that I experienced much joint and bone pain after chemo was over. It is something we have to go through. It has been almost a year since my last chemo treatment (Sept. '10) and it is going away slowly but surely.

    Has anyone here experienced back pain. I recently started experiencing lower back pain of which I have never experienced. Going to get a CT-Scan on Monday to see what is going on. Also, my CA-125 levels are going up. It started with five now it is 20. I asked my doctor about it and she said levels fluctuate depending on what is going on in the body. Any type of inflammation can cause your levels to go up. I am praying because I don't want this back in my life.

    Please respond.

    ovc stage 2c
    i am an ovc stage 2c person, diagnosed feb. 2010, currently "in remission", but
    going for a CT on july 13th to see if i have any masses...ca 125 keeps rising
    last count 119... i was hovering around 50 for a few months, post chemo,
    then it went to 67, 93, and 116

    marann, i have back pain, but i have scoliosis, which has lead to arthritis, so my
    back usually hurts, and i take pain meds every day... this time of year for me is
    bad because i am terribly allergic to molds, and living in texas "aint helping things"
    so, i get a lot of swelling from the allergies, and not sure if some of the swelling is
    more cancer... i will soon find out, once i go for the CT

    was prescribed Arimidex, post chemo, which can cause some bone pain... if i take
    arimidex every day, it causes some serious pain in the digestive area, and i cant
    even sleep, so i have to skip it every couple of days...
    if my CT does not show any masses, i am going to get on Tamoxifan...hope that
    works a little better than the arimidex....i think its all crap, but not much else to do
    than take it

    my onco doc's RN told me that with ovc, its pretty standard to have recurrences,
    then more chemo, and that my doctor likes to try to give a break from chemo, cuz
    it basically sux...
    my sister died in 1998 from ovc, but she was diagnosed stage 4... stupid doctors
    ignored her symptoms, which is not all that unusual... a lot of the symptoms are
    of the digestive kind, and if you are menopausal, there is the abdomenal swelling
    from that...

    i had no idea i had ovc... must have been in denial... even in the ER, i was not thinking
    cancer... when the ER doctor pulled his chair up close, and had a very serious look on
    his face, is when it hit me... i cant recall if i said "i have cancer, dont i?" , but i think that
    is the way it went

    my family has had a lot of experience with cancer, but they do not give me much support
    now... they are the kind of people who do the bare minimum, and then go back to their
    lives... its futile to expect anything extraordinary or even better than the bare minimum,
    so i have decided to distance myself from them again... dont need the heartache and
    anger!

    ok, i need to try to get some sleep

    dreamer
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676

    ovc stage 2c
    i am an ovc stage 2c person, diagnosed feb. 2010, currently "in remission", but
    going for a CT on july 13th to see if i have any masses...ca 125 keeps rising
    last count 119... i was hovering around 50 for a few months, post chemo,
    then it went to 67, 93, and 116

    marann, i have back pain, but i have scoliosis, which has lead to arthritis, so my
    back usually hurts, and i take pain meds every day... this time of year for me is
    bad because i am terribly allergic to molds, and living in texas "aint helping things"
    so, i get a lot of swelling from the allergies, and not sure if some of the swelling is
    more cancer... i will soon find out, once i go for the CT

    was prescribed Arimidex, post chemo, which can cause some bone pain... if i take
    arimidex every day, it causes some serious pain in the digestive area, and i cant
    even sleep, so i have to skip it every couple of days...
    if my CT does not show any masses, i am going to get on Tamoxifan...hope that
    works a little better than the arimidex....i think its all crap, but not much else to do
    than take it

    my onco doc's RN told me that with ovc, its pretty standard to have recurrences,
    then more chemo, and that my doctor likes to try to give a break from chemo, cuz
    it basically sux...
    my sister died in 1998 from ovc, but she was diagnosed stage 4... stupid doctors
    ignored her symptoms, which is not all that unusual... a lot of the symptoms are
    of the digestive kind, and if you are menopausal, there is the abdomenal swelling
    from that...

    i had no idea i had ovc... must have been in denial... even in the ER, i was not thinking
    cancer... when the ER doctor pulled his chair up close, and had a very serious look on
    his face, is when it hit me... i cant recall if i said "i have cancer, dont i?" , but i think that
    is the way it went

    my family has had a lot of experience with cancer, but they do not give me much support
    now... they are the kind of people who do the bare minimum, and then go back to their
    lives... its futile to expect anything extraordinary or even better than the bare minimum,
    so i have decided to distance myself from them again... dont need the heartache and
    anger!

    ok, i need to try to get some sleep

    dreamer

    The OVCA roller coaster
    Dreamer: I'm on the same roller coaster with you. My ca-125 jumped up so I'll be going for imaging scans soon. Unless there is a discrete tumor that warrants surgery, I'm gonna wait as long as I can to stay off chemo. There's no survival benefit in getting on chemo sooner rather than later.

    I was reading in the book "Defeat Cancer" that someone visualized talking to their cancer & said: "If I die, you die, too!" So I'm doing the same thing.

    I'm gonna start on the bindweed & pancreatic enzymes to add to the 50Gm ascorbic acid IVs that I've been on. The ascorbic acid seems to be keeping the ascites away so far (thank God for small favors!).

    LQ
  • CarmeB
    CarmeB Member Posts: 4
    I am a survivor!!!
    I am a recent, 9 months, stage 2 Endometriosis Survivor!!
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676

    The OVCA roller coaster
    Dreamer: I'm on the same roller coaster with you. My ca-125 jumped up so I'll be going for imaging scans soon. Unless there is a discrete tumor that warrants surgery, I'm gonna wait as long as I can to stay off chemo. There's no survival benefit in getting on chemo sooner rather than later.

    I was reading in the book "Defeat Cancer" that someone visualized talking to their cancer & said: "If I die, you die, too!" So I'm doing the same thing.

    I'm gonna start on the bindweed & pancreatic enzymes to add to the 50Gm ascorbic acid IVs that I've been on. The ascorbic acid seems to be keeping the ascites away so far (thank God for small favors!).

    LQ

    MRI scan results
    So the MRI scan looks slightly improved while the CA-125 is 5x the upper limit of normal. Brain MRI was fine. I just gotta wait around and see what happens next I guess. I feel better now than I did when the CA-125 was < 10.

    LQ
  • lindachris
    lindachris Member Posts: 173
    Stage IIC
    My wife is a Stage IIc patient who was DX in 2005 and has had 3 recurrences; 2007, 2010 and again this year. She's in treatment Cisplatin/Taxotere right now. Otherwise she's healthy. Just can't seem to knock this thing out for good. Doctor admits that may not be possible. So, we move along.

    Chris
  • Lisak
    Lisak Member Posts: 59

    Stage 2C
    Paula and the rest of the Ladies,

    I didn't respond to the original post, but I wanted to post to let you know that I was dx Stage 2C August 26, 2005, I passed the 5 year mark with out recurrance, and went and saw my onc in Feburary and I was released to 1 year check ups and the real kicker is, I don't have to see him anymore I can just follow up with my gyne. I feel truly blessed that I was dx early and have done so well! At first I was scared but now it seems it is a distant thought and I live my life to the fullest. If there is one thing that I have learned on this cancer journey that I was to take, is you can't let the "What If's" take over and don't let that nasty word cancer own you! Your mind has a way of playing dirty tricks on you if you let it!

    Serentity Prayer:

    God grant me the Serentity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference...

    If you or anyone else need someone to talk to, I am available and here for all of you.
    Take Care,
    Leslie

    Wow! That is wonderful news Leslie!!
    Leslie,

    Thank you so much for posting and letting us know what you went through.. I had stage 2b and stage 3a Uterian. I had surgery 10/2008 and now I just got advanced to 6 months. it's a nice feeling and I pray someday I can have great news like you with the 1 year. :))

    Thanks for the prayer I love that one.

    Lisa
  • Lisak
    Lisak Member Posts: 59

    Stage IIC
    My wife is a Stage IIc patient who was DX in 2005 and has had 3 recurrences; 2007, 2010 and again this year. She's in treatment Cisplatin/Taxotere right now. Otherwise she's healthy. Just can't seem to knock this thing out for good. Doctor admits that may not be possible. So, we move along.

    Chris

    Hi Chris
    You and your wife are in my prayers...

    Lisa
  • Lisak
    Lisak Member Posts: 59

    Stage II Ovarian Cancer-Joint & Bone Pain after finishing Chemo
    Hello Everyone!
    I was diagnosed with Stage IIC Ovarian Cancer after a complete Hysterectomy Surgery Jan 2011. Finished my last chemo Treat (carbo/Taxol) May 25, 2011.

    I am experiences so much joint and bone pain. Is anyone else experiencing this or had experienced this after finishing Chemo Treatment?

    Any advice? I feel like maybe the cancer came back and it is in my bones....I am scared.

    Please help!

    Thank you so much...Mary Ann

    bone pain
    Hi Mary Ann,

    Yes, it's normal.. I had the worst bone and joint pain, it was so bad I had to take oxycodin and it was a pretty high dose. I felt like this until about 8 month.. it would come and go but I would take the pain meds and it was managable.

    I would say after about almost a full year I felt like me again.. I started having enegry and my body aches and pains were almost completely gone. Today I am med-free. however, on occasions I do still have the bottom of my feet hurt when I get out of bed.. it feels like I'm walking on my bones so I have to wear these well paded shoes i got for when they feel like that.

    Are you taking any pain meds right now?

    Hope you're feeling better soon!
    Lisa
  • Berlyw
    Berlyw Member Posts: 1
    Lisak said:

    Hi Chris
    You and your wife are in my prayers...

    Lisa

    Stage 2c survivor
    I was diagnosed March of 2010 and had the 6 cycles of Taxol,Cisplatin which was finished in Sept of 2010. I feel great now, working full time and enjoying life! I had pretty intense joint pain for awhile, but it has subsided. I keep getting good 3mo checkups and my MD is very uplifting and makes me feel great about the way things have gone.

    Do you ever get to a day that you dont think about it coming back?
  • SarahWiles
    SarahWiles Member Posts: 3
    Linda222 said:

    stage 2 b ovarian cancer survivor
    Dear Nancy

    I was diagnosed with stage 2b ovarian cancer on feb 7, 2008. my ca125 was 246 before surgery. I did 6 rounds of chemo paxtol and cisplatan. I feel great. my grade of cancer was 3. I do carry the brca 1 gene and I am going to have the profilatic breast surgery to prevent the on set of Breast Cancer. I also had the robotic surgery. Did you have the robotic surgery? My grandma had breast cancer at 35 and died. My mother had ovarian cancer at 35 they got it no chemo year 1964 then in 1972 got cancer of the peritoneal and died at 43. My older sister died of breast cancer 10 years ago she was a 2 b and age 45. My other sister was diagnose with ovarian 8 months after me stage 3 for her she is find today.

    Me too
    Nancy I to was diagnosed with stage 2b in Nov 2009 and have the BRCA1 mutation. They caught mine early due to my pregnancy with my daughter. My NED was 6 weeks ago but now have an elevation of CA 125. Getting a scan on monday to see. Don't know much about the mutation.
    Any 411?
  • Nancy48
    Nancy48 Member Posts: 5

    I Wonder
    I wonder if all the ladies that responded to this thread almost 2 years ago, are still doing okay??????? Would love to hear from you. Thank-You, Paula

    Still Doing well
    Paula, I replied to your post in 2009. I had surgery for stage II ovca in April of 2008. I am now 3.5 post surgery and still doing well. I still see my Oncologist every 6 months and my CA125's have been 1 and 2. I hope this finds you well and happy.
    Nancy
  • Nancy48
    Nancy48 Member Posts: 5

    Stage II Ovarian Cancer-Joint & Bone Pain after finishing Chemo
    Hello Everyone!
    I was diagnosed with Stage IIC Ovarian Cancer after a complete Hysterectomy Surgery Jan 2011. Finished my last chemo Treat (carbo/Taxol) May 25, 2011.

    I am experiences so much joint and bone pain. Is anyone else experiencing this or had experienced this after finishing Chemo Treatment?

    Any advice? I feel like maybe the cancer came back and it is in my bones....I am scared.

    Please help!

    Thank you so much...Mary Ann

    Bone pain
    Mary Ann, I had the carbo/taxol treatment in the summer of 08. I had terrible bone pain which followed the chemo as well. I felt exactly the same regarding a recurrence in the bones. The pain finally went away and I have been doing well for 3.5 years. I was also stage IIc. Good Luck.
    Nancy
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    Stage 2b
    Hello Ladies,
    I'm new to the discussion boards but have been lurking for a while and know that you share good information and provide wonderful support to each other. I was diagnosted almost one year ago, September 16, 2010, with Stage 2b ovarian cancer. I had surgery in October and my gyn/oncology surgeon removed my ovaries, uterus, tubes, cervix, omentum and about a foot of colon because my tumor had attached itself there. I had six rounds of chemo (carbo/taxol) between December 2010 and the end of March 2011. Prior to surgery, my CA 125 was at 2800+. After surgery and before the start of chemo, my CA 125 dropped all the way to 7. During chemo, the number was as low as 5. Since my completion of chemo in March, I've had two follow-up visits with my oncologist and my CA 125 was at 7 with my last blood test in August. I had a six-month follow-up check-up with my surgeon at the end of May with a pelvic exam and everything looked good. I've not had any re-occurances (knock on wood!) and am enjoying and appreciating every day.
    Kelly
  • shazgould
    shazgould Member Posts: 3
    amshelley said:

    Just diagnosed stage 2b ovarian cancer
    I was just diagnosed March 2 with stage 2b ovarian cancer. I went to my family dr. with bronchitis and mentioned bad back pain. He sent me in for an ultra sound, which prompted a CA-125 test, a meeting with my gyno. and 5 days later, complete hysterectomy. One ovary had spread to the pelvic wall and bowel. The wash and lymph nodes were clean. I have a consult with my oncologist today. I've been looking for others with this stage of cancer and agree, it's hard to find people out there. I'm trying to prepare myself by being educated about what to expect. Thank you for your post. It's been helpful to read the positives about recovery! I hope all goes well with you.

    I had terrible pains in stomach from about june this year and when checking myself i felt a mass in my abdominal area , went to docs to get it checked who then sent me straight away for ultrasound scan .. got results back and was instantly referred to hospital ... on seeing the gynecologist she recommended a full hysterectomy , biopsy etc , also recommended to have a ct scan just to get a better idea of how big mass was , as they couldn't see where it started and ended in the ultrasound one . went through op on 11 Oct and got results 2nd nov .. i have stage 2c clear cell cancer .. is there anyone else out there had this type apparently its rare . I had first of my chemo sessions on 22nd Nov and have been feeling ok no nausea or tiredness as yet but have got aching bones , ie feet , legs , hips ... when u first hear that u have this the outlook isn't great when u look on the net for information , but just so glad to hear that we have people on here that can reassure that it might not be all bleak .. so thanks for being here .. it has really made me appreciate every day i have and to fight for the rest to come .. x