Newbie needing some tlc

deekat · June 2011

Hello all,

My name is Dee and I am 56. I just had a complete Da Vinci robotic hysterectomy to remove many cancerous tumors in my uteris. That went fine-to which I am VERY grateful but doc found a teeny tiny spot on my bowel and he said 1st biopsy showed no cancer but second one did. In about a month or so I am set to begin chemo once a week every 3 weeks for 6 sessions. He is very hopefull this will do it and get me healthy again. I am so scared of the chance of recurrance.

Has anyone out there been in a similar situation?

This is my first dealing with cancer- so forgive me if I sound stupid. I have been doing a lot of research but having real people to talk to is what I am hanging on to- not to get so nuts I cannot function. I don't have much family left and they don't live nearby. I am lucky to have one FABULOUS friend- but I cannot put this all on her.

I am disabled (but I can get around ok thankfully)- because of panic attack, extreme anxiety and chronic depression. I also have atrial fibrillation, diabetes type 2, bad osteoarthritis-many places and fibromyalgia.

Anyone have any feedback as to how bumpy of a ride I am going to have & any tips?

My gyno/onc is very well resptected & liked in the medical community so I am lucky in that respect. He has been wonderful so far.

I am going on the Carbo/t? drugs - sorry my laptop is acting up and I had to come to library and don't have the full names with me.

Thanks for listening-blessings to all

kkstef · June 2011

Welcome, Dee
Welcome to this site, although this is not the place none of us really wanted to join...BUT if you have cancer, this is good place to be. The women on this site readily share their vast knowledge and experience and also provide comfort and support. SO, do not hesitate to ask any questions.

Am so glad that you had an easy recovery from the DaVinci procedure...I had that too and was amazed at how quickly was up and going again. If you don't know, you need to find out what type of uterine cancer you have along with the grade and stage. That gives one a clue about how aggressive the treatment might be, etc. I am very happy to hear that you have a gyn oncologist....that is good!!

You will make it through chemo....it was not nearly as scarey as I had expected. The nurses are wonderful and they prepare you for all aspects of it. I would highly recommend that you have a port inserted that they can use to draw blood through and also deliver the chemo...it saves your veins and makes things SOOOO much easier.

Write down your questions, and if possible, take someone with you to write down what the Dr. says. It is so easy to be overwhelmed and then you don't remember what you were told.

It sounds like you are getting pretty much a standard drug protocol....carboplatin and taxol every 3 weeks for 6 sessions. You will lose your hair...shortly after you have your first treatment so you may want to look into getting your hair clipped short when it starts to start falling out (don't shave your head) and look into a wig. Your local American Cancer Society should provide some info on this.

It sounds like you do have some health challenges that won't be made easier with your new diagnosis, but you can do this, I KNOW you can! You might ask at the hospital you were in if there is a support group for women with cancer. That could be a good resource for you too.

Please scroll back through the many posts on this site....there is a wealth of info.

Let us know how we can be helpful....it will get easier!

Big hugs, Karen

Rewriter · June 2011

kkstef said:
Welcome, Dee
Welcome to this site, although this is not the place none of us really wanted to join...BUT if you have cancer, this is good place to be. The women on this site readily share their vast knowledge and experience and also provide comfort and support. SO, do not hesitate to ask any questions.

Am so glad that you had an easy recovery from the DaVinci procedure...I had that too and was amazed at how quickly was up and going again. If you don't know, you need to find out what type of uterine cancer you have along with the grade and stage. That gives one a clue about how aggressive the treatment might be, etc. I am very happy to hear that you have a gyn oncologist....that is good!!

You will make it through chemo....it was not nearly as scarey as I had expected. The nurses are wonderful and they prepare you for all aspects of it. I would highly recommend that you have a port inserted that they can use to draw blood through and also deliver the chemo...it saves your veins and makes things SOOOO much easier.

Write down your questions, and if possible, take someone with you to write down what the Dr. says. It is so easy to be overwhelmed and then you don't remember what you were told.

It sounds like you are getting pretty much a standard drug protocol....carboplatin and taxol every 3 weeks for 6 sessions. You will lose your hair...shortly after you have your first treatment so you may want to look into getting your hair clipped short when it starts to start falling out (don't shave your head) and look into a wig. Your local American Cancer Society should provide some info on this.

It sounds like you do have some health challenges that won't be made easier with your new diagnosis, but you can do this, I KNOW you can! You might ask at the hospital you were in if there is a support group for women with cancer. That could be a good resource for you too.

Please scroll back through the many posts on this site....there is a wealth of info.

Let us know how we can be helpful....it will get easier!

Big hugs, Karen

We're here for you, Dee
I hope that we can offer you support and share our experiences, which should help to make your cancer journey easier.

As Karen mentioned, the first step in information gathering is to to get a copy of your pathology to determine the stage and grade of your cancer. That will enable you to search through various cancer websites and these message boards for information and protocols specific to your diagnosis.

I agree with Karen that chemo (and, in my case, vaginal brachytherapy) was easier than I feared it could be. Yes, I lost my hair and felt easily fatigued; but I did not experience nausea or other more difficult symptoms. My appetite was good; I slept well; and I was generally able to continue the activities I enjoyed.

Karen suggested something that I found critically important: Write down all of your questions before any doctor appointment, take someone with you who will help you remember the details, and keep notes. I found it helpful to create a file with all of the paperwork related to my treatment.

You WILL get through all of this, and we are here to help.

Best wishes,

Jill

Kaleena · June 2011

{{{{Dee}}}
Sorry you had to find this site, Dee, but this is the best place to get a lot of information and answers that you need.

Karen and Jill both have great advice and I reiterate that advice. Also, please do not look up stuff on the internet. That information is old and out of date. No question here is stupid. We are all here to help each other.

You should be getting either a CT Scan or a PET Scan since your diagnosis. If possible, try to have them give you a PET Scan since there was a biopsy on your bowel. A PET Scan will light up any active cancer cells. However, a lot of insurances won't cover the PET Scan unless it is mark as ovarian cancer.

Also, try to keep as much of a positive mind and outlook as you can.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Kathy

upsofloating · June 2011

Sorry you had to join us Dee
Sorry you had to join us Dee but all of us who must be here are more than glad to answer questions and provide support.

The pathology report including specifics about the type of cancer and the Stage and Grade is very important as not all cancers behave or are treated the same even though the initial chemo regimen is quite standard. As Kaleena mentioned, a CT (shows structures)and as well as PET scan (shows normal vs increased metabolic activity) would be quite beneficial before chemo in case there are any others areas of concern since cancer was found on the bowel. If anything were to show up, repeat tests following chemo can be compared to monitor treatment response. Also, have you had your ca125, a gyn cancer 'cancer marker', been checked? It is not always a valid marker but if it is for you then it can be quite beneficial in monitoring the disease.

The carboplatin/taxol chemo is quite doable with many pre and post meds to control side effects. But don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
Annie

deekat · June 2011

upsofloating said:
Sorry you had to join us Dee
Sorry you had to join us Dee but all of us who must be here are more than glad to answer questions and provide support.

The pathology report including specifics about the type of cancer and the Stage and Grade is very important as not all cancers behave or are treated the same even though the initial chemo regimen is quite standard. As Kaleena mentioned, a CT (shows structures)and as well as PET scan (shows normal vs increased metabolic activity) would be quite beneficial before chemo in case there are any others areas of concern since cancer was found on the bowel. If anything were to show up, repeat tests following chemo can be compared to monitor treatment response. Also, have you had your ca125, a gyn cancer 'cancer marker', been checked? It is not always a valid marker but if it is for you then it can be quite beneficial in monitoring the disease.

The carboplatin/taxol chemo is quite doable with many pre and post meds to control side effects. But don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
Annie

Thank you!
Thanks everyone for such a quick reply. I have stage 4 uterine cancer that metastisized to my bowel. I see the doc on July 6 to make sure I am ready for chemo. I get a port put in the next day and the next day the chemo starts...here we go...............
I have scripts for nausea and for pills to take the night before my treatments. He has also scheduled blood work. He has not mentioned any scans yet-do they sometimes wait till after the chemo to see if it got it all?
I am trying to be positive & view this as a get well journey -I know I am better off than many.
I'll let you all know my experiences.
Bless you all-and get/keep well. You are all in my prayers.

Love, Dee

paris11 · June 2011

deekat said:
Thank you!
Thanks everyone for such a quick reply. I have stage 4 uterine cancer that metastisized to my bowel. I see the doc on July 6 to make sure I am ready for chemo. I get a port put in the next day and the next day the chemo starts...here we go...............
I have scripts for nausea and for pills to take the night before my treatments. He has also scheduled blood work. He has not mentioned any scans yet-do they sometimes wait till after the chemo to see if it got it all?
I am trying to be positive & view this as a get well journey -I know I am better off than many.
I'll let you all know my experiences.
Bless you all-and get/keep well. You are all in my prayers.

Love, Dee

Best to you, Dee
More and more cancer is being treated as a chronic disease.

Chin up. You will be just fine.

Your new buddy,

Connie

Newbie needing some tlc

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