Back to chemo tomorrow

Mwee
Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
in Ovarian Cancer #1
after my 5 week break. I've been chemoing for 2 1/2 years! so the time off was so very wonderful. Good news is that my counts stayed stable and I found out how strong I could get in such a small amount of time. I'm not sure what others would choose to do with time off ( for good behavior? ), but I got to spend lots of quality time with my granddaughters. We went fishing, had picnics, ate popcorn at the movies and had many sleepovers. I had a ball and I think they did too. I'll probably whine tomorrow, but for now I'm just grateful for the silly fun..... being there, priceless!
(((HUGS to all))) Maria

Comments

  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #2
    I'm so happy
    you had a wonderful break. I hope you don't feel too badly from the chemo. Good news that your counts remained stable. I wish you the best.


    Karen
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #3
    kikz said:

    I'm so happy
    you had a wonderful break. I hope you don't feel too badly from the chemo. Good news that your counts remained stable. I wish you the best.


    Karen

    Dear Maria
    Only a person who has been chemoing as long as you understands how precious and lovely a "normal" day is. I too am happy that you had a wonderful break, and I'm praying that all goes well as you resume chemo again.

    Take care,
    Kelly
  • Sara2011
    Sara2011 Member Posts: 78 Member
    #4
    You are amazing!
    I appreciate your uplifting spirit for someone who has gone through so much. You are always encouraging to so many women on this site. I'm glad you got to spend some quality time with your grandkids, I bet they loved it! I'm praying your chemo sessions will go well and that you will see positive results.
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #5
    Oh Maria!
    I am so glad you had a wonderful break, you sooooo deserved that! Your family must be so blessed.

    I am heading into a much needed break too. I have had a few breaks, but basically been chemoing since 2009 when I recurred. Amazing how the body bounces back with even short breaks.

    Your attitude inspires me!

    k❤
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #6
    GOD BLESS YOU, MARIA
    What a warrior you are! Your well-deserved break sounds like it was so much fun. We had a children and grandchildren over for the 4th. I told them 'this is Grandma and Grandpa's delight - to have our family all together, enjoying eachother and the wondeful day we had'. Just to laugh and share together is good medicine!

    Sending lots of prayers and hugs that your strength will continue through this next round and it will attack this disease once-and-for-all!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #7
    GOD BLESS YOU, MARIA
    What a warrior you are! Your well-deserved break sounds like it was so much fun. We had a children and grandchildren over for the 4th. I told them 'this is Grandma and Grandpa's delight - to have our family all together, enjoying eachother and the wondeful day we had'. Just to laugh and share together is good medicine!

    Sending lots of prayers and hugs that your strength will continue through this next round and it will attack this disease once-and-for-all!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • garden gal
    garden gal Member Posts: 212 Member
    #8
    mopar said:

    GOD BLESS YOU, MARIA
    What a warrior you are! Your well-deserved break sounds like it was so much fun. We had a children and grandchildren over for the 4th. I told them 'this is Grandma and Grandpa's delight - to have our family all together, enjoying eachother and the wondeful day we had'. Just to laugh and share together is good medicine!

    Sending lots of prayers and hugs that your strength will continue through this next round and it will attack this disease once-and-for-all!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika

    Hi Maria
    How great to have spent some time with the grandkids. Looking forward to spending some time soon with mine. Seems like since school let out one or the other has been sick, don't want to take a chance being around them and then me getting sick and also my sons recent death. Hoping chemo continues to go good for you. You are my inspiration and enjoy reading all your comments and well wishes to everyone. I sometimes think how much fun it would be to meet eveyone in person. Like a lot of the sisters say sending lots of prayers and hugs. Kathy
  • lulu1010
    lulu1010 Member Posts: 367
    #9
    garden gal said:

    Hi Maria
    How great to have spent some time with the grandkids. Looking forward to spending some time soon with mine. Seems like since school let out one or the other has been sick, don't want to take a chance being around them and then me getting sick and also my sons recent death. Hoping chemo continues to go good for you. You are my inspiration and enjoy reading all your comments and well wishes to everyone. I sometimes think how much fun it would be to meet eveyone in person. Like a lot of the sisters say sending lots of prayers and hugs. Kathy

    Good for you Maria
    So glad you finally got a break and had some good fun and made good memories. Sorry you didnt get a little longer break but maybe you will get one again. Remind me what chemo you are on now. I get so tired and I just am on Doxil. I dont know how you do it! You are truly an inspiration and the calm in the middle of the storm for all of us.
    Good luck with this chemo!Linda
  • ktamp
    ktamp Member Posts: 81
    #10
    Yay for chemo breaks! Every
    Yay for chemo breaks! Every time my chemo got delayed or cancelled due to low blood counts, I felt like I was given a get out of jail free card.
  • LoveButterflies
    LoveButterflies Member Posts: 74
    #11
    Question for Maria....
    First of all, I'm so glad you were able to get a break and you enjoyed it so much.

    You said you had been in chemo for the last 2 1/2 years. If you don't mind my asking, has this been mainly maintenance chemo to help keep you in remission?

    I am stage IIIC dx 7/11 and have been on some form of chemo since 8/11. Right now I'm on Avastin every 3 weeks. I'm in a clinical trial and my treatments will go through the end of October 2012. When I met with my oncologist 2 weeks ago, he noted how stable I've been, my ca-125 has been averaging 18 - 22. He then stated that we can talk later about continuing on the Avastin indefinitely or stop until the cancer comes back. I didn't answer at the time, but I've been thinking about it since then.

    I've had so many side-effects from the Avastin and I'm still not able to work because of them. The thought of continuing in treatment indefinitely seems overwhelming to me, but the fact that it is helping me stay in remission is encouraging also. I realize that at some point the Avastin will stop working and it will come back, but who knows how long that will be?

    Lots to think about. Any thoughts or advice from you (or any of the other ladies on the board) would be really helpful.

    Stay strong and I pray your treatmen went well today.

    ((((Hugs))))

    Carmen
  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #12
    great ways to spend your
    great ways to spend your time!!!
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #13
    kimberly sue 63 said:

    great ways to spend your
    great ways to spend your time!!!

    Wish you didn't
    Have to go back AT ALL..Glad you had a nice long break,hope it goes well..Val
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #14
    LoveButterflies said:

    Question for Maria....
    First of all, I'm so glad you were able to get a break and you enjoyed it so much.

    You said you had been in chemo for the last 2 1/2 years. If you don't mind my asking, has this been mainly maintenance chemo to help keep you in remission?

    I am stage IIIC dx 7/11 and have been on some form of chemo since 8/11. Right now I'm on Avastin every 3 weeks. I'm in a clinical trial and my treatments will go through the end of October 2012. When I met with my oncologist 2 weeks ago, he noted how stable I've been, my ca-125 has been averaging 18 - 22. He then stated that we can talk later about continuing on the Avastin indefinitely or stop until the cancer comes back. I didn't answer at the time, but I've been thinking about it since then.

    I've had so many side-effects from the Avastin and I'm still not able to work because of them. The thought of continuing in treatment indefinitely seems overwhelming to me, but the fact that it is helping me stay in remission is encouraging also. I realize that at some point the Avastin will stop working and it will come back, but who knows how long that will be?

    Lots to think about. Any thoughts or advice from you (or any of the other ladies on the board) would be really helpful.

    Stay strong and I pray your treatmen went well today.

    ((((Hugs))))

    Carmen

    Hi Carmen
    I don't mind at all. I was diagnosed 3C in May 2006. I had the usual surgery plus I had a section of my colon removed. I did the carbo/taxol chemo and then had 3 years of glorious remission. The beast returned in the form of an enlarged lymph node in my pelvis and my CA-125's started creeping up. My chemo is keeping me stable, but I have no illusions that if I stopped that the beast would win. I've been on several different chemos, but the one that's been successful is a combo of Gemar and Cisplatin. I won't pretend that it isn't a hard go and we all have to choose how we wish to fight. I remember so vividly my first rounds of chemo and how I never thought I could get through them. I would have never thought that I could do this long haul chemo, but it' s become my " new normal" , if that makes sense. I have no doubt that you will make the best decision for your treatment!
    ((((HUGS))))). Maria
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #15
    kayandok said:

    Oh Maria!
    I am so glad you had a wonderful break, you sooooo deserved that! Your family must be so blessed.

    I am heading into a much needed break too. I have had a few breaks, but basically been chemoing since 2009 when I recurred. Amazing how the body bounces back with even short breaks.

    Your attitude inspires me!

    k❤

    Have a wonderfully fun break
    They give us the mental and physical strength to keep on trucking. YOU inspire me!
    (((HUGS))))). Maria
  • lulu1010
    lulu1010 Member Posts: 367
    #16
    poopergirl14052 said:

    Wish you didn't
    Have to go back AT ALL..Glad you had a nice long break,hope it goes well..Val

    Love Butterflies
    I am in the same boat as you and understand what you are thinking. I am 3c also and after a 9 mos. remission I am on Doxil which the doctor says I can take for a long time. I hate chemo also. Doxil doesnt have quite as many side effects as the others but it is not as good as being chemo free either. I guess if I have no other choice I will go for the long term chemo and keep plugging away. Glad the Avastin has kept you stable. Good luck with whatever you decide.
  • LoveButterflies
    LoveButterflies Member Posts: 74
    #17
    lulu1010 said:

    Love Butterflies
    I am in the same boat as you and understand what you are thinking. I am 3c also and after a 9 mos. remission I am on Doxil which the doctor says I can take for a long time. I hate chemo also. Doxil doesnt have quite as many side effects as the others but it is not as good as being chemo free either. I guess if I have no other choice I will go for the long term chemo and keep plugging away. Glad the Avastin has kept you stable. Good luck with whatever you decide.

    Thank you ladies!
    I appreciate your thoughts and advice. I will talk to my oncologist some more and most of all, do lots of praying for guidance.

    I would like to take at least a break until after the holidays and see where I am at that point physically and mentally.

    Will keep you all posted.

    Blessings and take care!

    Carmen

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