New to this board

forme

Hi All

I thought I would stop by and say hello. I am not new to CSN or to cancer. I had/have two different cancers. Thyroid and Lymphoma.
Now I most likely have ovarian. I have a large tumor and some smaller (as in 10cm smaller) tumors.

This week has been very busy and fast.
Started with visit to reg Doc and then ct followed by new gyn onc and now surgery in the coming week.

The onc said that she is 85-90% positive it is cancer. Just not 100% sure it's ovarian.
So I am entering your world and I am scared.
Right now my biggest fear is the surgery. I'm not sure it's all really totaly sunk in yet.

I have had an idea that this was going on for a little while, now I cannot ignore the symptoms or the scan.

I hope to get to know you all in the coming months. I know that I am in for the ride of my life.

I am a frequent poster on the lymphoma board and have made many many long lasting friendships there.
I am sure that you will have loads of great advice and helpful info as I journey through this.

Overwhelmed is an understatement!
Lisha

Tethys41

So sorry
You have sure been through a lot. No one should get more than two cancers in their lives.
I understand your fear regarding the surgery. We've all been there. But as foreboding as it seems, it will be over before you know it.
I hope your surgery goes well and the waiting in between now and then goes quickly.

kikz

Tethys41 said:

So sorry
You have sure been through a lot. No one should get more than two cancers in their lives.
I understand your fear regarding the surgery. We've all been there. But as foreboding as it seems, it will be over before you know it.
I hope your surgery goes well and the waiting in between now and then goes quickly.

Welcome Lisha
You already know how helpful these boards can be. I happen to be a little prejudiced and feel that the women on this board are some of the strongest, kindest and most knowledgeable women I have ever known.

I am sorry you had to come here but we are here to help you however we can. I have often posted about finding this board and sobbing as I typed my first post. I was in treatment and at my wit's end because I felt so sick and hopeless. But I also cried because I felt I finally found people who really understood what I was going through.

We come here to share our experiences and all experiences are welcome. Happy, sad, angry, relieved, hopeless, helpless or just thoughts we may be having that day.

I wish you well on this journey and will remember you in my prayers.


Karen

sandyinmi

Sorry to meet this way
It's a lousy way to meet, but I think the people here are caring and supportive and helpful. So sorry you are facing yet another cancer.

We've all been where you are now - I always think of that stage as 'shock and awe'. You will at least know what you are dealing with once the surgery is over. I am glad to see you are being treated by a gyn onc.

My thoughts are with you. Please keep us posted.
Sandy

forme

Thank you
Hi Tethys, Karen and Sandy

Thank you for the warm welcome. I have followed the posts on this board for awhile and can see that this group of women are truly great.

Last night the reality hit. meltdown.
Today I feel like I am on the edge of tears at any given moment.
I am scared. scared of the surgery and all that will come after.

thanks again for the warm welcome
Lisha

kikz

forme said:

Thank you
Hi Tethys, Karen and Sandy

Thank you for the warm welcome. I have followed the posts on this board for awhile and can see that this group of women are truly great.

Last night the reality hit. meltdown.
Today I feel like I am on the edge of tears at any given moment.
I am scared. scared of the surgery and all that will come after.

thanks again for the warm welcome
Lisha

I am having
a meltdown of sorts today too. I took my first Tamoxifen yesterday and today I am feeling anxious, emotional and really tired. I'm sure it is not the medication. I think I am just responding to the stress of the last three months. I am scared and although I keep a stiff upper lip most of the time, it has taken its toll.

But I know that my slumps usually only last a couple of days, thankfully. I just can't afford to waste too much time on feeling bad.

Karen

mopar

HUGS & PRAYERS TO YOU
What a way to meet, Lisha, but I'm glad you find solace and comfort here. It certainly is a journey, part of which you have already traveled. Don't be too anxious about the next part of it, as there are lots of people here who care and will support you all the way.

If in fact you have to face OVCA, I hope the surgeon is a gynecologic oncologist. They are best equipped to handle it all - surgery, treatement if necessary, follow-up visits and tests. As for the surgery, I was also nervous because I remembered how much my sister was in pain when she had her hysterctomy. But that was in 1976, and my first surgery was in 2000. What a difference. My doctor is so aggressive and so pro-active with ALL aspects, that he didn't leave any stone unturned - from pre-surgery testing, prep the whole week before, the recovery in the hospital, and at home. My pain was minimal. I couldn't believe how quickly I was up and around. And I was back to work in 5 weeks instead of 6.

I don't want to overwhelm you with details, because this isn't a sure thing yet. So, in the meantime, I will pray for you and send lots of hugs your way. Please keep us informed. You certainly are a strong individual to have gone through so much already. May your strength and hope increase day by day!

Monika

mopar

HUGS & PRAYERS TO YOU
What a way to meet, Lisha, but I'm glad you find solace and comfort here. It certainly is a journey, part of which you have already traveled. Don't be too anxious about the next part of it, as there are lots of people here who care and will support you all the way.

If in fact you have to face OVCA, I hope the surgeon is a gynecologic oncologist. They are best equipped to handle it all - surgery, treatement if necessary, follow-up visits and tests. As for the surgery, I was also nervous because I remembered how much my sister was in pain when she had her hysterctomy. But that was in 1976, and my first surgery was in 2000. What a difference. My doctor is so aggressive and so pro-active with ALL aspects, that he didn't leave any stone unturned - from pre-surgery testing, prep the whole week before, the recovery in the hospital, and at home. My pain was minimal. I couldn't believe how quickly I was up and around. And I was back to work in 5 weeks instead of 6.

I don't want to overwhelm you with details, because this isn't a sure thing yet. So, in the meantime, I will pray for you and send lots of hugs your way. Please keep us informed. You certainly are a strong individual to have gone through so much already. May your strength and hope increase day by day!

Monika

Cindy Bear

Aw Forme (Lisha)
I am so sad to read this. But this is a great board with caring, compassionate, strong, supportive women. I first started coming to CSN in 2009 . My mother had uterine cancer, a brother-in-law had esoph cancer. I know you are scared , who wouldn't be. Just wanted to say thinking of you and sending great big hugs your way.
Cindy

AnneBehymer

welcome to the club no one wants to be a part of.
I so understand overwhelmed is an understatment I felt that way a year ago when I was told I had ovarian cancer. You have come to the right place these ladies have helpped me more than I could say. They are very loving and can help you with all you questions and fear. Please do hesitate in asking for help they are always willing to give it and more and no question is to dumb trust me I know lol. Please come back as much as you want you are in my prayers and thoughts.

Much,
Love, Hugs, and Prayers
Anne

lovesanimals

AnneBehymer said:

welcome to the club no one wants to be a part of.
I so understand overwhelmed is an understatment I felt that way a year ago when I was told I had ovarian cancer. You have come to the right place these ladies have helpped me more than I could say. They are very loving and can help you with all you questions and fear. Please do hesitate in asking for help they are always willing to give it and more and no question is to dumb trust me I know lol. Please come back as much as you want you are in my prayers and thoughts.

Much,
Love, Hugs, and Prayers
Anne

Hi Lisha
The ladies on this board truly understand the fear and anxiety that you're feeling, especially with surgery coming up soon. My tumor was baseball-sized and yet the surgery went smoothly, the pain was kept to a minimum, and my recovery at the hospital and at home went very well. I was ready to go back to work by my fifth week. This may sound weird but I look back on my surgery and hospital stay with fondness because they got the bad stuff out of me and saved my life. Plus I got great care there.

Sending you good thoughts and prayers as you prepare for surgery and whatever comes next. We're here to support you in anyway we can.

Hugs,
Kelly

forme

Thank you
Hello sweet ladies

Thank you for your warm and kind words. Every bit of info can only help.

I was in nursing many years ago and by nature I am a researcher. I always want all the facts and time to sort through them. Of course, when it's me needing the surgery, I am scared. Surgery has always scared me. I have had many. It's the being put to sleep part and the pain that follows when you wake up.

I know that any question is a good question, so here goes...

The bowel prep before surgery concerns me some. Since I now have continual pain from the size of the largest tumor (17cm) and even a small amount of gas pains are truly bad, will the bowel prep add greatly to my pain. Do any of you ladies have any tips to ease this first part of the journey?

Thanks again
Lisha

Tethys41

forme said:

Thank you
Hello sweet ladies

Thank you for your warm and kind words. Every bit of info can only help.

I was in nursing many years ago and by nature I am a researcher. I always want all the facts and time to sort through them. Of course, when it's me needing the surgery, I am scared. Surgery has always scared me. I have had many. It's the being put to sleep part and the pain that follows when you wake up.

I know that any question is a good question, so here goes...

The bowel prep before surgery concerns me some. Since I now have continual pain from the size of the largest tumor (17cm) and even a small amount of gas pains are truly bad, will the bowel prep add greatly to my pain. Do any of you ladies have any tips to ease this first part of the journey?

Thanks again
Lisha

Bowel Prep
Lisha,
As you know, every patient is different. I had no pain relative to the bowel prep. I was having pain with gas and with bowel movements prior to surgery, but the "GoLytly" did not aggravate these symptoms. I was well on my way to a bowel obstruction, which I didn't realize until half way through my gallon of prep, when it was backed up into my stomach. But even that wasn't painful. Very uncomfortable yes. Good luck.

forme

Tethys41 said:

Bowel Prep
Lisha,
As you know, every patient is different. I had no pain relative to the bowel prep. I was having pain with gas and with bowel movements prior to surgery, but the "GoLytly" did not aggravate these symptoms. I was well on my way to a bowel obstruction, which I didn't realize until half way through my gallon of prep, when it was backed up into my stomach. But even that wasn't painful. Very uncomfortable yes. Good luck.

Thanks
Hi Tethys

Thank you. I don't have pain with bowel movements, a little with constipation and a lot with gas. Also, am now having constant pain all the time from the large tumor.But it's different from the sharp gas pains.
My onc is having me drink 1 bottle of magnesium citrate, it's a very small bottle and also using two of the small fleet enemas. one the day before and one the day of.
Hopefully this type of prep will not be to uncomfortable.

Thanks again for your input.
Lisha

Mwee

forme said:

Thanks
Hi Tethys

Thank you. I don't have pain with bowel movements, a little with constipation and a lot with gas. Also, am now having constant pain all the time from the large tumor.But it's different from the sharp gas pains.
My onc is having me drink 1 bottle of magnesium citrate, it's a very small bottle and also using two of the small fleet enemas. one the day before and one the day of.
Hopefully this type of prep will not be to uncomfortable.

Thanks again for your input.
Lisha

Hi Lisha
I hope your bowel prep goes easily. I, also had thyroid cancer, but that was many years ago. I had my debulking surgery in 2006 and was amazed how quickly I recovered. We'll be right here for you and waiting to hear that you had an easy "go".
(((HUGS))) Maria

kimberly sue 63

Hi Lisha, you maybe entering
Hi Lisha, you maybe entering our ovarian cancer world, but you have seen more cancer world than most of us. You have fought the cancer before, and you can do the same with ovarian. Hang in there. And, even though you have been thru this before, it is ok to be scared. Every time we have to enter something such as surgery or other frightening issue, it is normal to be scared. So hang in there, use that courage you have relied on for so long. Kim