What's Next?

Simplysam1955

I'm new to this site... I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in August. I've had 5 weekly chemo treatments so far, 4 to go before they check to see if it's doing anything. Other than a little constipation, loss of energy, and thinning hair, I'm feeling fine. Assuming that I may become really sick, I applied for and was approved for SS Disability. This limits the amount of money I can make to $1,170 per month, even though I won't get my first disability check until March of next year. So now I'm trying to pay my bills with my income slashed to one third of what I usually make, only work 15 hours per week instead of 40, and spend most days asking myself... "What is going on? This is cancer? I feel fine.... why is my life turned upside down?"

 

So... my question to you... is this going to change? Will I one day wake up in severe pain? If the scan comes back saying the tumours haven't shrank will I just die? This is the most bizarre situation and I'm just big time puzzled....

 

Jhd2u

Hi Simplysam

It is hard to say what happens next except you won't "just die" if this chemo doesn't work. Chemo is normally quite effective for the majority of OC patients. For those with low grade OC (like me) it is often not as effective but low grade doesn't grow as quickly. Even so, there are a host of other treatment options, chemo being just the most common and first used.  You are in for a marathon, not a sprint.  Be thankful that you feel well and continue to live a healthy active lifestyle. I also feel good, and have changed diet and exercise to build up for battles to come.  

rejoycew

Hi SimplySam,  Let me

Hi SimplySam,  Let me reassure you.  I've been in treatment now for 2 years and homestly have not felt sick.  I had 2 carboplatin/taxol chemo treatment, then emergency surgery for a block colon, and 6 weeks after had 4 more chemos.  When that didn't lower my CA 125, we swiched to gembitacide, then doxil, and now I'm on Avastin every three weeks  I'm feeling almost normal.  Yes I lost my hair with the first treatments  of the carbp/taxol, but hey it was only hair and if came back about 3 monrhs after stopping that chemo.  It is listed as one of the side effects for Avastin,  but I haven't experiened anything but a little thinning.  My onolgolist isn't to worried about the CA125 fluctuating, (my last one last week was the lowest ever and we celebrated)  she is more interested in symptoms and how I feel.  And as I said life is good for me,  I appreciate every day and am having a healthy active happy life.  Everyone is different and responds differently to the treatments,  but there are many options open to us for treatments.  When one does work there are others and so don't give up. We are blessed with the advancements of medical science.  Although we aren't "curable"  we can still have a good quality of life.  I firmly believe a positive attitude and faith  helps us heal.  I will pray for you.

faithycan123

New here

hello all,

 First of all thank you for being here.  I had a non-imaging CAT scan because I had UTIs that weren’t all UTIs. My doctor sent me to a urologist, and she called me on Tuesday told me I had two complex cysts. One on my ovary and one on my kidney. She set me up with the pelvic ultrasound and a MRI.  On November 8th. I’m 67 years old and I thought I was in great health.  I still feel really good I still walk my dog 2 miles a day, and except when running to the bathroom all the time I feel great. so I just don’t know what’s going to happen going forward.

Any comments would really help!

Thank you,

Faith

Metis

faithycan123 said:

New here

hello all,

 First of all thank you for being here.  I had a non-imaging CAT scan because I had UTIs that weren’t all UTIs. My doctor sent me to a urologist, and she called me on Tuesday told me I had two complex cysts. One on my ovary and one on my kidney. She set me up with the pelvic ultrasound and a MRI.  On November 8th. I’m 67 years old and I thought I was in great health.  I still feel really good I still walk my dog 2 miles a day, and except when running to the bathroom all the time I feel great. so I just don’t know what’s going to happen going forward.

Any comments would really help!

Thank you,

Faith

Hi faithycan123

My 81 year old Mom was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer last April, and just finished chemotherapy in September.

The waiting to have tests done, and then waiting for the results is going to be stressful.  Exercise can help to alleviate some of that stress, so keep walking your dog.

If they do suspect ovarian cancer, please make sure surgery is done by a gynecological oncologist.  Gynecological oncologists are oncologists who specialize in cancer of the female reproductive organs, and they have better surgical outcomes than a general surgeon or gynocologist.  During cytoreductive surgery, the gyncological oncologist will remove as much of the cancer as possible (debulking) and determine what stage the cancer is at. 

Debulking and staging are extremely important in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

If your doctor recommends chemotherapy, you'll most likely receive Carboplatin and taxol (paclitaxel).  They now have medications that can help to control or eliminate the nausea and vomiting.  The most common side effects you'll probably experience will be fatigue (be prepared to take a lot of naps), hair loss, loss of appetite, changes in taste, and aches and pains in your joints, bones and/or muscles.  Chemotherapy isn't fun, but you can get through it and the ladies here are a good resource for information on dealing with the side effects.

Don't let "well meaning" people scare you out of getting chemotherapy.

And don't look up the survival statistics for ovarian cancer on the internet!  Mom's gynocological ongologist is giving her much better odds than Dr. Google.

Tethys41

Hard to predict

No one can predict what will happen.  I was diagnosed in 2009 with stage IIIc ovarian cancer.  My surgery was suboptimal and my doctor told my brother I was not going to live for a year.  I did conventional treatment.  First line chemo has an 80% success rate for ovarian cancer.  The challenge is making sure it does not came back.  I incorporataed a number of integrative treatments while in chemo and worked hard, once I acheived remission, to get as healthy as possible and stay that way.  A healhty body does not grow tumors.  Tumors are caused by toxins and lack of proper nutrients.  As appreciative as I am for what my doctors did for me, I hate that they don't know how to make us healthy from this disease.  I relied on a naturopath for that.  

Good luck, get well.

takingcontrol58

Tethys- I totally agree with you

I was diagnosed with Stage 3b, Grade 3 endometrial cancer (endometrioid adenocarcinoma) in Oct 2014.
Two months later, cancer metastasized to my liver, spleen, vaginal cuff/outer rectum plus nodules in
multiple sites. 34cm of new tumors in all.  Radiologist told my husband I probably had 4-6 months to live.

Two months later, I was 88% cancer free.  It took five additional months and I was totally cancer free.

An integrative oncologist led me to my remission as well. I took supplements, metformin,
(which lowered my high insulin and IGF-1) levels and aspirin.  I lost 40lbs, exercise everyday and radically
changed my diet.  I am healthier than I have ever been and have tremendous energy.  I just
passed my 3 year anniversary and still remain cancer free.

You are absolutely correct; cancer doesn't grow in a healthy body. It is all about balance.  Either
you are lacking the nutrients that make your body function properly or have toxins (biological or
chemical).

Only when oncologists stop treating cancer patients as a tumor and start treating them as people,
will we start to see cancer statistics improve. I believe as long as I continue following my healthy
lifestyle, cancer will not come back.

You are a perfect example as well of how cancer drugs are only a minimal part of the picture and
that integrative treatment is the only way to put advanced cancer patients into remission.  I trully
believe this. If only more people understood this.

Takingcontrol58

Tethys41

Like

So true, takingcontrol58, so true.