Ovarian Cancer returns after 14 years

deebo
deebo Member Posts: 13
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello, I am 65 years old and my ovarian cancer has come back after 14 years! I had no idea it would come back after being gone so long. My family and I are in shock. I start treatments next week,Carboplatin and Taxol will be the drugs. The doctor said surgery was not necessary, which I am grateful for, but it is still hard to believe I have to go through the chemo again. And probably again and maybe again. It is overwhelming to me. I have a wonderful support system, family and friends and church family, for that I am blessed. The doc said it looked like grass seeds were spread in my abdomen and were sprouting. I am concerned that it has spread to other areas of my body, but he says that the chemo will take care of those if there are any. I also have heart disease and am borderline diabetic, he really didn't tell me how this would affect those. I have lost weight over the last year, so hopefully that will helpl. Just had to vent a little.
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Comments

  • garden gal
    garden gal Member Posts: 212 Member
    #2
    14 years
    That is remarkably, what stage was your cancer? I think your going to alright and back in remission. welcome to the board, lots of wonderful ladies here. will say a pray for you. Kathy
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #3
    Hello
    I am so sorry that the beast raised its ugly head. I am 64 years old and the stupid stuff returned to my body in 2008 after 17 years. I thought I had it beat but ALAS here I am fighting the stuff. I took the 6 treatments of the Carbo/Taxol in 2008 and then I went into remission for one year. Once it came back I have been fighting it ever since. However, I currently had my CA125 taken and it was a 2. Believe me, it is strange because I have never had one this low. I will be getting a pet/scan on Feb 16 and that will tell the tale.

    I believe the carbo/taxol will work for you. It is the hard stuff but it works gooood. As far as the diabetes and your heart, there are other ladies on this board that deal with those problems but seem to make it through. I have a lung disease and so far so good. Actually my lungs give me more problems than the cancer.

    Good luck and please keep us posted. So sorry you had to come to this board but believe me all the ladies on here will help you in any way.

    (((((hugs))))

    Linda
  • deebo
    deebo Member Posts: 13
    #4
    garden gal said:

    14 years
    That is remarkably, what stage was your cancer? I think your going to alright and back in remission. welcome to the board, lots of wonderful ladies here. will say a pray for you. Kathy

    I was staged at 1C for the
    I was staged at 1C for the first cancer after a second look surgery.
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #5
    deebo said:

    I was staged at 1C for the
    I was staged at 1C for the first cancer after a second look surgery.

    deebo: how was your cancer
    deebo: how was your cancer discovered the first time around?
  • deebo
    deebo Member Posts: 13
    #6
    LaundryQueen said:

    deebo: how was your cancer
    deebo: how was your cancer discovered the first time around?

    I had a hysterectmy for
    I had a hysterectmy for other reasons and they found some spots on my ovaries. I did 6 rounds of chemo. Beautiful picture!
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #7
    clamryn said:

    Hello
    I am so sorry that the beast raised its ugly head. I am 64 years old and the stupid stuff returned to my body in 2008 after 17 years. I thought I had it beat but ALAS here I am fighting the stuff. I took the 6 treatments of the Carbo/Taxol in 2008 and then I went into remission for one year. Once it came back I have been fighting it ever since. However, I currently had my CA125 taken and it was a 2. Believe me, it is strange because I have never had one this low. I will be getting a pet/scan on Feb 16 and that will tell the tale.

    I believe the carbo/taxol will work for you. It is the hard stuff but it works gooood. As far as the diabetes and your heart, there are other ladies on this board that deal with those problems but seem to make it through. I have a lung disease and so far so good. Actually my lungs give me more problems than the cancer.

    Good luck and please keep us posted. So sorry you had to come to this board but believe me all the ladies on here will help you in any way.

    (((((hugs))))

    Linda

    You can beat it
    Honey don't give up, you can beat this thing. I hate cancer, I wish they would find a cure.
    I am praying for you
    Hugs Lynda
  • deebo
    deebo Member Posts: 13
    #8
    clamryn said:

    Hello
    I am so sorry that the beast raised its ugly head. I am 64 years old and the stupid stuff returned to my body in 2008 after 17 years. I thought I had it beat but ALAS here I am fighting the stuff. I took the 6 treatments of the Carbo/Taxol in 2008 and then I went into remission for one year. Once it came back I have been fighting it ever since. However, I currently had my CA125 taken and it was a 2. Believe me, it is strange because I have never had one this low. I will be getting a pet/scan on Feb 16 and that will tell the tale.

    I believe the carbo/taxol will work for you. It is the hard stuff but it works gooood. As far as the diabetes and your heart, there are other ladies on this board that deal with those problems but seem to make it through. I have a lung disease and so far so good. Actually my lungs give me more problems than the cancer.

    Good luck and please keep us posted. So sorry you had to come to this board but believe me all the ladies on here will help you in any way.

    (((((hugs))))

    Linda

    I'm sorry to hear you are
    I'm sorry to hear you are fighting this battle again too! When I was diagnosed the first time my CA125 was always very low, the doc was amazed it was so low. The CA125 this time was sky-high he said. I guess because it is more spread out than last time.

    I am glad I found this board, I think it will help alot.
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #9
    deebo said:

    I'm sorry to hear you are
    I'm sorry to hear you are fighting this battle again too! When I was diagnosed the first time my CA125 was always very low, the doc was amazed it was so low. The CA125 this time was sky-high he said. I guess because it is more spread out than last time.

    I am glad I found this board, I think it will help alot.

    It sounds like you have
    It sounds like you have secondary peritoneal cancer--those survivors have their own discussion board. Peritoneal cancer is treated the same way as ovarian cancer. Some people get a second surgery but it sounds like your doctor feels like all you will need is the chemo. Since you have been in remission for so long, you have a really good chance of getting back into remission. Best wishes to you. You can do this. Tell your family to calm down.
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #10
    carolenk said:

    It sounds like you have
    It sounds like you have secondary peritoneal cancer--those survivors have their own discussion board. Peritoneal cancer is treated the same way as ovarian cancer. Some people get a second surgery but it sounds like your doctor feels like all you will need is the chemo. Since you have been in remission for so long, you have a really good chance of getting back into remission. Best wishes to you. You can do this. Tell your family to calm down.

    I am sorry
    for what you are going through. Wow after 14 years you'd think a person could forget all about the disease. Good luck on your treatment and I hope you are in another long remission before long.

    Karen
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #11
    wow....
    am sorry to hear you have to go through chemo again after such a long remission. There are several new drugs now for nausea..Emend. Also steroids for reaction. Your chemo combo will get you back in remission. I also am diabetic..
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #12
    clamryn said:

    Hello
    I am so sorry that the beast raised its ugly head. I am 64 years old and the stupid stuff returned to my body in 2008 after 17 years. I thought I had it beat but ALAS here I am fighting the stuff. I took the 6 treatments of the Carbo/Taxol in 2008 and then I went into remission for one year. Once it came back I have been fighting it ever since. However, I currently had my CA125 taken and it was a 2. Believe me, it is strange because I have never had one this low. I will be getting a pet/scan on Feb 16 and that will tell the tale.

    I believe the carbo/taxol will work for you. It is the hard stuff but it works gooood. As far as the diabetes and your heart, there are other ladies on this board that deal with those problems but seem to make it through. I have a lung disease and so far so good. Actually my lungs give me more problems than the cancer.

    Good luck and please keep us posted. So sorry you had to come to this board but believe me all the ladies on here will help you in any way.

    (((((hugs))))

    Linda

    Hello Linda
    Linda you do not at all look like you are 64 years old. In fact I thought you were much younger than I am. Linda if I might ask what stage was your cancer the first time around? I can hardly believe this darn cancer could return after 17 years. Seems to me it should be against the law to put women through this more than once in their lifetime. I really do appreciate all the support you give to all of us on the board. Thanks Sharon
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #13
    poopergirl14052 said:

    wow....
    am sorry to hear you have to go through chemo again after such a long remission. There are several new drugs now for nausea..Emend. Also steroids for reaction. Your chemo combo will get you back in remission. I also am diabetic..

    Hi Deebo
    You've come to the right place to get support and to vent. You can get through chemo! You did it once; you can do it again. Please keep us posted on your progress.

    Take care,
    Kelly
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    #14
    lovesanimals said:

    Hi Deebo
    You've come to the right place to get support and to vent. You can get through chemo! You did it once; you can do it again. Please keep us posted on your progress.

    Take care,
    Kelly

    Wow
    It is so unfair to come back after so long. But that is one hell of a remission !I hope you find it easier the second time around, I think the drugs are better. Good Luck !
    Colleen
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    #15
    Susan53 said:

    Hello Linda
    Linda you do not at all look like you are 64 years old. In fact I thought you were much younger than I am. Linda if I might ask what stage was your cancer the first time around? I can hardly believe this darn cancer could return after 17 years. Seems to me it should be against the law to put women through this more than once in their lifetime. I really do appreciate all the support you give to all of us on the board. Thanks Sharon

    Stage 1C
    Sharon, Thank you so much for the compliment. I was diag at stage 1C. It was not in any lymph nodes but was in the fluid. My ovaries were both removed and the doctor said it was all contained and he just lifted them out. I really believe that stress kicked the cancer back into gear. At the time my company closed down and I had purchased a new home and hadn't sold the old one. So I was trying to carry two house payments. I agree, no one should have to continue to repeat and repeat. It seems strange to me that they don't change the staging. Because I am going through now what all of the stage 3 and 4 women are going through. I was so glad when I found this board too. Everyone is such a blessing to me. I just hate it when I see a new person come on board and they are so young. And they have young children to raise. It just doesn't seem fair.

    ((((hugs))))
    Linda
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #16
    Welcome
    I'm so sorry that you have to join this group after all this time, but welcome. We'll be here to help you through your taxol/carbo treatments. I'll bet that a lot has changed with the chemo therapies in the last 14 years, so if you have questions or concerns, please just ask away. (((HUGS))) Maria
  • deebo
    deebo Member Posts: 13
    #17
    deebo said:

    I'm sorry to hear you are
    I'm sorry to hear you are fighting this battle again too! When I was diagnosed the first time my CA125 was always very low, the doc was amazed it was so low. The CA125 this time was sky-high he said. I guess because it is more spread out than last time.

    I am glad I found this board, I think it will help alot.

    Port in and ready for chemo!
    I have had a funky week! I went to have my power port put in on Monday and start my chemo on Tuesday. When I went on Tuesday the RN kept flushing the port but never got a blood return and then it started to hurt above the incision where the port was. So they sent me to the hospital for an x-ray and the tube had come out of the vein. I am so thankful we found this out before they started the chemo, because the doctor was about to go ahead and start it. The first port was on the right side and now they have removed that one and the new one is on the left side, where it was 14 years ago. My chest is pretty sore on both sides especially where they had to cut above the port site to guide the tube. I go this morning to get my first chemo treatment, not looking forward to that, but think it will be ok.

    I find out that my CA125 count was 538 when they took it a couple of weeks ago. Much higher than 14 years ago, then the doc said it was never very high. It was 8 the last time it was taken in 2010.

    Thank you all for the kind words and support you have given me.
  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #18
    Deebo
    Sorry for this reoccurence, but it sounds like they caught it early which is AWESOME...

    Sending hugs and prayers, I am sure you are feeling so discouraged and defeated....BUT, we are here to cheer you on through your treatments...

    Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing..

    Laurie
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #19
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Deebo
    Sorry for this reoccurence, but it sounds like they caught it early which is AWESOME...

    Sending hugs and prayers, I am sure you are feeling so discouraged and defeated....BUT, we are here to cheer you on through your treatments...

    Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing..

    Laurie

    Welcome to the club no one
    Welcome to the club no one wants to join, Deebo.

    There is a woman in my old support group here locally who was Stage Ic, had a hysterectomy and chemo, then pronounced "as close to cured as you can get." It came back 12 years later. Her doctor said it was still ovarian cancer, even though she no longer had ovaries.

    Carlene
    PS....I had two ports, too. My first one eroded thru the skin and I was in the middle of 12 monthmaintenancenence chemo, so I opted to have another one placed, on the opposite side. Now I have matching scars!
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #20
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Deebo
    Sorry for this reoccurence, but it sounds like they caught it early which is AWESOME...

    Sending hugs and prayers, I am sure you are feeling so discouraged and defeated....BUT, we are here to cheer you on through your treatments...

    Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing..

    Laurie

    Weird double post...
    Sorry, guys
  • deebo
    deebo Member Posts: 13
    #21
    TiggersDoBounce said:

    Deebo
    Sorry for this reoccurence, but it sounds like they caught it early which is AWESOME...

    Sending hugs and prayers, I am sure you are feeling so discouraged and defeated....BUT, we are here to cheer you on through your treatments...

    Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing..

    Laurie

    First treatment today
    My first treament today went well, in as far as I didn't have a reaction like I did 14 years ago! I am happy about that. The new port worked as it should. So now I wait to see what the next few days will bring. 14 years ago I had a lot of joint pain but really no nausea. I have super support with my family, friends and church family! They are all wonderful and uplift me! I am thankful to have found this discussion board too!

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