May I introduce myself?

Hi everyone

I've just plucked up the courage to join. I've spent many months reading lots of forums and came to the conclusion this is the most active and most supportive, positive and honest bunch of people. So here I am. However, this is about my mum.

I live in the UK, luckily not far from my parents. My mum is 75 and was diagnosed with Stage IIIC OC in early Dec 2010. She had the symptoms for 6-8 months but her doctor mis-diagnosed as IBS and it was only when she saw a hospital doctor a week before a planned hip replacement op and she took one look at her and saw how much pain she was in that she sent her for a scan and that set the ball rolling. My mum had pleaded with her own doctor to have a scan but he ignored her requests. Therein lies another story which would take too long to tell but suffice to say we were very angry with this doctor.

Mum was admitted to hospital a week before the planned out-patient appointment, with severe pain and bloating. She was so ill, the nurses were shocked her doc hadn't admitted her previously. She had a laparotomy, the biopsies from which gave the diagnosis. She started a once every 4 weeks dose of Carboplatin on Xmas Eve and had the 6th one last week. They said the plan is to reduce the tumours and then operate with possibly more chemo thereafter.

Mum was very ill and spent 2.5 months in hospital. I visited every single night and every time I drove home I never thought she'd survive till the next night. She had a bowel obstruction and didn't eat a thing for 5 weeks. She lost 35 pounds but the obstruction cleared, the first ca125 came back as half the figure it started as, and she gradually got some strength back. I stayed with my dad while she was in hospital as he has advanced prostate cancer.

Her ca125 has been 410 (at diagnosis before 1st chemo), 187 before 2nd chemo, 107 before 3rd chemo, 97 before 4th, 47 before 5th and 51 before 6th. She had a bad kidney infection a week before the last one so the doc thinks that's why it went up slightly. One more test due in 2 weeks then scan is due on 20th May and to see consultant on 1st June.

She has had every side-effect possible, even though I know Carbo on its own is not as rough as the other chemos. I am so proud of her and the strength and fight she has shown.

It has really helped me to type all this out as I have been holding in a lot of emotion all this time, trying to be strong for everyone. I have a brother but he's no help so I do everything myself. I love my mum dearly. She is so precious to me. I know you will all understand I have been through every emotion possible. I admire all you ladies for your strength and courage. Sorry for the long post. I do tend to go on a bit!!

Evelyn