Stage 4b

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  • Curuk
    Curuk Member Posts: 9

    Sister has same
    Hi -just seen this post and would like to chat and hear your story. My sister has the same as you. Although she is waiting on her PET scan to see where it had spread to exactly.She has been diagnosed as stage 4b and starts chemo this Thursday. She will get 2-3 3 weekly sessions then reassessed after an mri and if needed more chemo, if not 30 sessions of radio (some internal).How have you been finding your battle? I know she will be very sick..:(. Hoping that you have received good news since your last post. x

    Keeping strong update Curuk
    Well, the cisplatin was eventually discontinued due to nerve damage in my ears. The lung and liver mets shrank, but did not go away, so I was put on topotecan which was useless, and the mets grew. My onco gyn sent me to the research folks where I failed the oral kinase inhibitor trial due to an inflamed pancreas...My doc tested me for HER 2, found I was very positive and I am now on a trial with Hercptin, Docetaxel and Carboplatin. Haven't been on long enough for an eval/CT, but the Doc feels this treatment has the best possibilities. Let me know how your Sis is doing and what her treatment plan is. I am still kicking and symptom free,blessings to you both.
  • ccfighter
    ccfighter Member Posts: 476
    Curuk said:

    Keeping strong update Curuk
    Well, the cisplatin was eventually discontinued due to nerve damage in my ears. The lung and liver mets shrank, but did not go away, so I was put on topotecan which was useless, and the mets grew. My onco gyn sent me to the research folks where I failed the oral kinase inhibitor trial due to an inflamed pancreas...My doc tested me for HER 2, found I was very positive and I am now on a trial with Hercptin, Docetaxel and Carboplatin. Haven't been on long enough for an eval/CT, but the Doc feels this treatment has the best possibilities. Let me know how your Sis is doing and what her treatment plan is. I am still kicking and symptom free,blessings to you both.

    Thanks for the update
    Thanks for the update curule. I often wonder how people are doing through their treatments. I'm sorry the cisplatin toxicity got to be too much for you. I hope the new treatment plan puts you with NED for a very long time. Best wishes.
  • akersr27
    akersr27 Member Posts: 3
    Jmccarg said:

    Stage 4b cervical cancer survivor
    Last year I was diagnosed with 4b cervical cancer. I had. Huge mass on the cervix a small one up in my next, another small one midd abdomen. I also had a huge mass on my ovary the size of a large cantelope, small watermelon. I refer to everything in past tense because I have just finished chemo, radiation and surgery and am in remission!

    It is possible! I was a mess when I was diagnosed. But I fought it, attitude is everything. The patient, the family and friends all need to cuss out the cancer.

    JMCCARG
    What type of chemo did you receive? Congrats on being in remission!
  • Honordon
    Honordon Member Posts: 49 Member
    akersr27 said:

    JMCCARG
    What type of chemo did you receive? Congrats on being in remission!

    I am Stage 4 b am kicking butt
    well I had my last scan CT after the last round of carbo/taxol for the ovarian cancer and my CT scan is ..BEAUTIFUL ... a few dots but my Doc says prolly scar tissue . He is very pleased and I swear this doc is not pleased easily. So if I can stay like this for 2 years he said I might be classed as remission. Am pretty happy as I was told I would never be in remission.

    So since scan was June 20th am now stable and cancer uncontrolled I will take that ....I AM A SURVIVOR of stage 4B cancer ... I realy like the sound of that

    I had and I say had ' pappilary serious carsonoma "

    hugs (((((( )))))))))) Donna xox

    P.S. i had cervical cancer then they found a mass on my ovaries a small tumor on kidneys and my lymph nodes were tumors they ranged from 10 cm to 2 cm
  • ccfighter
    ccfighter Member Posts: 476
    Honordon said:

    I am Stage 4 b am kicking butt
    well I had my last scan CT after the last round of carbo/taxol for the ovarian cancer and my CT scan is ..BEAUTIFUL ... a few dots but my Doc says prolly scar tissue . He is very pleased and I swear this doc is not pleased easily. So if I can stay like this for 2 years he said I might be classed as remission. Am pretty happy as I was told I would never be in remission.

    So since scan was June 20th am now stable and cancer uncontrolled I will take that ....I AM A SURVIVOR of stage 4B cancer ... I realy like the sound of that

    I had and I say had ' pappilary serious carsonoma "

    hugs (((((( )))))))))) Donna xox

    P.S. i had cervical cancer then they found a mass on my ovaries a small tumor on kidneys and my lymph nodes were tumors they ranged from 10 cm to 2 cm

    Honordon,
    This is such

    Honordon,

    This is such wonderful news. I am so happy for you! Keep kicking cancers butt.
  • Nikki143
    Nikki143 Member Posts: 1
    Jmccarg said:

    Stage 4b cervical cancer survivor
    Last year I was diagnosed with 4b cervical cancer. I had. Huge mass on the cervix a small one up in my next, another small one midd abdomen. I also had a huge mass on my ovary the size of a large cantelope, small watermelon. I refer to everything in past tense because I have just finished chemo, radiation and surgery and am in remission!

    It is possible! I was a mess when I was diagnosed. But I fought it, attitude is everything. The patient, the family and friends all need to cuss out the cancer.

    I'm 24 years old and have
    I'm 24 years old and have stage 4 cervical cancer. I'm at a lost for hope of beating this, anyone know of the best place to get treat in New York area. Looking for any sense of direction please.
  • ccfighter
    ccfighter Member Posts: 476
    Nikki143 said:

    I'm 24 years old and have
    I'm 24 years old and have stage 4 cervical cancer. I'm at a lost for hope of beating this, anyone know of the best place to get treat in New York area. Looking for any sense of direction please.

    Nikki,
    I'm so sorry you are

    Nikki,
    I'm so sorry you are going through this. You are so young! Please don't lose hope. I heard Sloan Kettering in NY is very good. Best wishes for you. Please let me know if you have any questions or just want to vent. Take care.
  • SvenskaFlikka
    SvenskaFlikka Member Posts: 1
    Nikki143 said:

    I'm 24 years old and have
    I'm 24 years old and have stage 4 cervical cancer. I'm at a lost for hope of beating this, anyone know of the best place to get treat in New York area. Looking for any sense of direction please.

    Paliative therapy
    I too have Stage 4 cervical cancer...it is in my lungs...glowing away. There is NO cure. The doctors are trying to beat it back to give me more time. My original cervical cancer was treated in 2009 with radiation and brachytherapy (too unpleasant to think about). Then six months later they discovered it had metastasized into my lungs.

    The doctors at Sloan gave me 6-10 months a year at the most "with or without treatment"...so why have treatment I said. BUT, I switched to Dana Farber who were optimistic about gaining me more time...So I had about 5 1/2 rounds of chemotherapy: cisplatin and gemcitabine as they are the least debilitating and I was interested in quality of life. It will be two years this October since that grim news. The tumors were stationary for 16 months, without treatment, so how lucky am I. Unfortunately, they have started to regrow, so I have now restarted the gemcitabine and cisplatin with hopes of stopping their growth. If that doesn't work, I can try a different combination of drugs, but I will lose my hair...and maybe get mouth sores and all that jolly stuff...and I have to decide if it is worth it.

    I DO NOT like Sloan Kettering. Try Dr Barry Boyd at Greenwich Hospital. He seems brilliant and very accessible...most of the doctors at Sloan and Dana Farber treat you like a specimen. Whatever...good luck. I wish you the best in treatments...who knows what is around the corner? I am sixty-five, so it is very sad to read of your young age...truly not fair.

    If you want to travel to Boston...hard to do, but still doable...my doctor there is Alexi Wright and she is quite brilliant, but has no miracle cures at the moment...
  • Paliative therapy
    I too have Stage 4 cervical cancer...it is in my lungs...glowing away. There is NO cure. The doctors are trying to beat it back to give me more time. My original cervical cancer was treated in 2009 with radiation and brachytherapy (too unpleasant to think about). Then six months later they discovered it had metastasized into my lungs.

    The doctors at Sloan gave me 6-10 months a year at the most "with or without treatment"...so why have treatment I said. BUT, I switched to Dana Farber who were optimistic about gaining me more time...So I had about 5 1/2 rounds of chemotherapy: cisplatin and gemcitabine as they are the least debilitating and I was interested in quality of life. It will be two years this October since that grim news. The tumors were stationary for 16 months, without treatment, so how lucky am I. Unfortunately, they have started to regrow, so I have now restarted the gemcitabine and cisplatin with hopes of stopping their growth. If that doesn't work, I can try a different combination of drugs, but I will lose my hair...and maybe get mouth sores and all that jolly stuff...and I have to decide if it is worth it.

    I DO NOT like Sloan Kettering. Try Dr Barry Boyd at Greenwich Hospital. He seems brilliant and very accessible...most of the doctors at Sloan and Dana Farber treat you like a specimen. Whatever...good luck. I wish you the best in treatments...who knows what is around the corner? I am sixty-five, so it is very sad to read of your young age...truly not fair.

    If you want to travel to Boston...hard to do, but still doable...my doctor there is Alexi Wright and she is quite brilliant, but has no miracle cures at the moment...

    Svenska
    I'm so sorry to read about your condition. My wife was at Memorial Sloan and we hated it for the same reason you mentioned. They treated her lime a used car and never with any sympathy.

    I hope things are going as well as they can be with your treatment.
  • Bittersweetly
    Bittersweetly Member Posts: 14

    Paliative therapy
    I too have Stage 4 cervical cancer...it is in my lungs...glowing away. There is NO cure. The doctors are trying to beat it back to give me more time. My original cervical cancer was treated in 2009 with radiation and brachytherapy (too unpleasant to think about). Then six months later they discovered it had metastasized into my lungs.

    The doctors at Sloan gave me 6-10 months a year at the most "with or without treatment"...so why have treatment I said. BUT, I switched to Dana Farber who were optimistic about gaining me more time...So I had about 5 1/2 rounds of chemotherapy: cisplatin and gemcitabine as they are the least debilitating and I was interested in quality of life. It will be two years this October since that grim news. The tumors were stationary for 16 months, without treatment, so how lucky am I. Unfortunately, they have started to regrow, so I have now restarted the gemcitabine and cisplatin with hopes of stopping their growth. If that doesn't work, I can try a different combination of drugs, but I will lose my hair...and maybe get mouth sores and all that jolly stuff...and I have to decide if it is worth it.

    I DO NOT like Sloan Kettering. Try Dr Barry Boyd at Greenwich Hospital. He seems brilliant and very accessible...most of the doctors at Sloan and Dana Farber treat you like a specimen. Whatever...good luck. I wish you the best in treatments...who knows what is around the corner? I am sixty-five, so it is very sad to read of your young age...truly not fair.

    If you want to travel to Boston...hard to do, but still doable...my doctor there is Alexi Wright and she is quite brilliant, but has no miracle cures at the moment...

    Hi Svenska
    I was diagnosed with stage 4b vaginal cancer with local mets in December 2011, which was treated virtually identically to cervical cancer. (the original tumor was an adenocarcinoma about an inch away from my cervix.) Like you, after initial treatment, my staging changed to stage 4, with around 6-8 nodules in my lungs. For the lung nodules I got 5 months of Carbotaxol, which did nothing.
    I am 49 years old, in San Francisco.
    I will find out in two weeks, after an x-ray, what my oncologist suggests.
    I have also thought a great deal about what treatment I'm willing to endure, especially after a five useless months of chemo. I am kind of hoping for no growth! Any luck with the cisplatin and gemcitabine? x
  • beadinout@yahoo.com
    beadinout@yahoo.com Member Posts: 1
    Being Alone

    Greetings:

     

    She is not alone.  I am here.  The only one I know of internationally.  I have been through it all too.  Long story.  For me, the lonlieness is hard to bear.  I nearly died so many times.  I keep reanimating myself. 

     

    The drama around these life and death situations is amazing.  For me, it is not drama.  It is trauma.  There is a big difference. 

     

    Suzanne

  • kayla2113
    kayla2113 Member Posts: 1
    beckyracn said:

    Your sister is entering the
    Your sister is entering the stage of treatment of 'what if's' and waiting. This is always the hardest part. Keeping my fingers crossed for her. Having a strong support system is of the utmost importance throughout this. Hopefully she will respond well to the chemo and rads.

    Thank you

    I just wanted to post something and say this: Thank you! My aunt, age 33, mother of 3 is currently battling stage IVB Cervical Cancer. The cancer is no longer in her cervics, but has metastisized into her lung. My mother just told me what was her 4th different kind of chemo is not working and now they want to begin her on chemo pills. She is currently being treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I don't know all of the details, yet. But, thank you, all of you. these survior stories are amazing and has me in tears. I don't want continue to look in her 6, 7, and 13 year old children's eyes as they ask "why?" It isnt fair to her or my cousins. I just want everything to be okay. 

  • ccfighter
    ccfighter Member Posts: 476
    kayla2113 said:

    Thank you

    I just wanted to post something and say this: Thank you! My aunt, age 33, mother of 3 is currently battling stage IVB Cervical Cancer. The cancer is no longer in her cervics, but has metastisized into her lung. My mother just told me what was her 4th different kind of chemo is not working and now they want to begin her on chemo pills. She is currently being treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I don't know all of the details, yet. But, thank you, all of you. these survior stories are amazing and has me in tears. I don't want continue to look in her 6, 7, and 13 year old children's eyes as they ask "why?" It isnt fair to her or my cousins. I just want everything to be okay. 

    I am sorry for your aunt t's

    I am sorry for your aunt t's diagnosis.  I am glad you found us here, and know that the fight is worth it, remission IS possible, and there are many different treatment options left When one fails.  I hope your aunt keeps up the good fight, and will be praying for her and her children to make it through the war and live a long healthy life on the other side.  Hugs.

  • cindygodfrey2
    cindygodfrey2 Member Posts: 70
    bttrfls79 said:

    Stage 4b cervical cancer survivor in the making!
    Curuk, I am 4b cervical cancer lymph mets. Scary beyond all belief! I am 31 years old, and was diagnosed with fibroids a year and a half ago, which was a big mistake! I am only writing to you because you said you are in Texas, and I am located just south of Dallas. Where are you getting treatments at? How are you dealing with everything? How old are you?

    Just so everyone knows, I was diagnosed June 16,2010, and immediately started on chemo and radiation at the same time. I did five weeks of radiation with a booster of radiation for an addition 5 days, which was followed by 4 sessions of internal radiation (not fun). I had a PET scan yesterday, and a preliminary CT showed everything was looking good, so much that the person who read the scan said it looked like i had had surgery, which I have not yet! I find out tomorrow the results of the PET...but no matter what I am here for the long haul! I have three kids, ages 6, 4, and 3 that need their mommy!!!! Good luck to everyone! If you want to vent or talk about your thoughts I am here everyone!!!

    stage 3b daughter

    My daughter is getting treatment with Chemo at Parkland and Radiation at UT Southwestern.  Where are you receiving your care from? 

  • kellybeans1980
    kellybeans1980 Member Posts: 5
    bttrfls79 are you still around?

    Hello ladies, my SIL was diagnosed with IVB cervical cancer in 08/16 she has undergone a first round of chemo(with treatment weekly), a round of brachytherapy, and now she is in the middle of her second round of chemo every 3 weeks(although this next treatment will be 5 weeks after the last due to complications and low blood count this week. She is being treated at Medical City Dallas and I am very concerned with the care she has gotten so far. While the doctors have told her the % of survivors, the whole immencity of the cancer has just been too much for my MIL and SIL to take in and details have been lost in the mix. Supposedly my MIL spoke to my SIL's doctor with out my SIL around and he told her that we were just buying time. I don't like that term being thrown around without the actual patient knowing. My MIL is continuing to push her daughter to do chemo, but her kidneys are on the verge of failing and she is in constant pain now. she was in the hospital for 2 weeks strait due to uncontrolable pain. Hospice has not been called, she is on oxy every 2-3 hours, marijuana oil at all times and sometimes my SIL doesn't even know what day it is. That's how drugged up she is in order to control the pain. She is 29 years old and she is not completely informed. Like I said, she knows the "traditional medicine survival percentage", but I don't know if she fully grasps what she is up against. She went for a proton therapy consult this week. Maybe that will give us more hope?

    With her first diagnosis, she had a 6cm tumor on her cervix and another smaller one inthe uterus. There was an unconfirmed mass in her lungs, cancer detected in her lymph nodes and cancer found in her liver.

    With her last CT Scan on 1/24, the results found the mass in her lungs was now too small to treat with radiation(so that's really good), but cancer is now in her bladder, unconfirmed in bile ducts(but she was not able to urinate without stints being put in. it's either cancer or scar tissue according to the doctor), and cancer in all her lynph nodes at this time.

    How do I remain positive for my husband and for my SIL? is it appropriate for her oncologist to say those kinds of things to someone other than the patient? For those that posted on this thread years ago, I am really hoping that you are still around fighting the good fight. I hope that all of you wonderful women are still here and can tell me, "It's ok. your SIL will make it." If any of you are in the DFW area and are in remission, I would love to introduce you to my SIL for some encouragement.

    I do NOT want my SIL to die. my husband said it sounds like I want her to give up and just die. I want her to keep fighting and I want her to be around for my husband and for my kids. But more than my desire to want her around, I don't want to see her in pain. Seeing her become a shell of the vibrant, thriving woman that I have known is hard. I guess it's not as hard as loosing your sister. So I see where he is struggling. I just... I don't know where or how to help her and to keep believing that if anyone can beat this, it's her.

     

     

  • Tracy1008
    Tracy1008 Member Posts: 1
    Thank you

    just wanted to say thank you for this thread. my mother was recently diagnosed with 4b cervical in June 2017 and tonight i had a bad night thinking of all the what ifs and what the statistics say. I googled survivors and this thread popped up and assured me that people really do conque those statistic. thank you for helping me gain my hopes back for the night :)