Lost a Friend on Monday to Peritoneal Cancer (Stage 4)

cheerful
cheerful Member Posts: 261 Member
in Peritoneal Cancer #1

I am a a cancer survivor so far of uterine papillary serous carcinoma also known as UPSC (stage 1) and was diagnosed back in February of 2011 (nearly 3 years ago).  My cancer was caught early as I am very grateful as I wanted to have surgery and at that time did not know this was cancer until the pathology report came back, however, I surmised that I could have cancer which I ended up having.  I was bleeding for 6 months when I had the surgery. After the surgery, I felt much better and did not feel as drained or tired.

So far up to now, I have no evidence of disease for which I am very grateful and thankful.  I post on the uterine board under "Cheerful".  The cancer I was diagnosed with is a rare and aggressive cancer and can reoccur, but from what my oncologist said to me I have about a 15% chance of the cancer coming back and so far it has not and I hope to continue to remain without evidence of disease for now and for the future.  I am diligent and watchful of the cancer I was diagnosed with and it is a scary diagnosis. But so far, so good.  I don't ever want to let my guard down because you never know and I still have 2 years to be watchful and diligent.  The first 2 years are the highest chance for reoccurrence and so far, I have passed that mark.  My latest CA 125 test came back as No. 7 for which I am very grateful and thankful.  I changed my eating habits for the better so I am doing what I can to eat healthier.


When I was going through chemo treatments back in the spring of 2011, I met a woman who was going through chemo for Peritoneal cancer as she had Stage 4.  We got along great and I talked with her all through the day while we were going through chemo together.  We had our cancer treatments in Upland, PA at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.  We exchanged addressesa and phone numbers and wanted to keep in touch with one another so we called one another.  My Mom came along with me to drive me home and she also got to meet my friend with cancer. My Mom is now 90 years old and is still doing pretty well.  My Mom is also an early stage breast cancer survivor and was diagnosed 40 years ago.

Anyway, last spring my friend's cancer metastasized to her brain.  I called her back in the fall and did not hear back from her so I figured she probably was not doing well and I also sent her a Christmas card.  Anyway, her sister called me today to let me know that my friend passed away on Monday from Peritoneal cancer - stage 4. She fought a long and hard battle with the disease and was diagnosed with this cancer back in 2010 and I know she went through several rounds of chemo.  I will always miss my friend as she had a very outgoing personality and I am very saddened to hear of her passing. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.  She also was from a large family and had a number of brothers and sisters.

I wish all of you who are fighting this rare cancer all the best for the future and never give up hope.  

Cheerful

a/k/a Jane

 

 

 

Comments

  • seatown
    seatown Member Posts: 261 Member
    #2
    Sincerest sympathy

    So very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I think we can all appreciate how much it means to find someone whose fight is similar. I too have primary peritoneal cancer, Stage IV, so I read your post with mixed emotions. Continued good results to you, and again, my sympathies on the loss of your friend.

  • cheerful
    cheerful Member Posts: 261 Member
    #3
    seatown said:

    Sincerest sympathy

    So very sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I think we can all appreciate how much it means to find someone whose fight is similar. I too have primary peritoneal cancer, Stage IV, so I read your post with mixed emotions. Continued good results to you, and again, my sympathies on the loss of your friend.

    Hi Seatown:

     

      Thank you for responding to my post on the loss of my friend and I do appreciate your sympathy. I will really miss her.  I forgot to mention in my post that my friend was 63 years old and I am 62 years old.  My friend passed away way too young by today's standards.  My friend also lost her sister to breast cancer back in 2005 and her sister at the time was only 53 so she outlived her sister by about 10 years.  Both of them passed away far too young.  

      I do wish you all the best with this rare cancer that you have for now and the future and your treatments for your cancer.  

      Actually, when I met my friend and she told me what kind of cancer she had, I never heard of it. She explained to me what area it had affected.  And I never heard of the cancer I was diagnosed with either until I looked it up on the Internet and read about it.  I joined the uterine cancer group back in 2011 right before I started chemo.  It is an excellent on-line group and the women give you so much support and are real warriorettes.

     

    Cheerful

    a/k/a Jane

     

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