Stage 4 cervical survivors?

marybethk
marybethk Member Posts: 5
edited October 2011 in Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine) #1
Hello,

I haven't been on the board in a long time. We thought my mom's cancer went away last year but then her leg started swelling. Initially told it was lymphedema from the radiation and got therapy for 3 months only to find out the cervical cancer has spread and there's a 4cm mass wrapped around her kidney/ureter. She's participating in an experimental chemo study starting next week. What I'd like to know is if there are any other stage 4 survivors out there now. I see there were some last year are you all hopefully still there fighting the fight? Has anyone survived more than a year or two being stage 4? Any help is appreciated. My mom is so scared, I can't imagine my life without her.
thanks,
mary beth

Comments

  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #2
    Mary Beth,
    I was diagnosed
    Mary Beth,
    I was diagnosed with staged with IVA. I've been out of treatment for 3 years now and as far as I know...still in remission, but I haven't had any scans for a long time. Paps frequently come back with dysplasia, which leads to colposcopy's. I wish the best for you and your mom.
  • marybethk
    marybethk Member Posts: 5
    #3
    beckyracn said:

    Mary Beth,
    I was diagnosed
    Mary Beth,
    I was diagnosed with staged with IVA. I've been out of treatment for 3 years now and as far as I know...still in remission, but I haven't had any scans for a long time. Paps frequently come back with dysplasia, which leads to colposcopy's. I wish the best for you and your mom.

    stage 4 cervical survivors?
    Hi Becky,
    thank you so much for responding. when you hear stage 4 it seems so hopeless, it helps hearing there are other survivors out there. we went to the oncologist today to enroll in a study that is looking at combining chemo drugs that are already being used to treat other types of cancer. my mom will start treatment either later this week or beginning next week. hoping she'll be able to tolerate it, she had a hard time with chemo when she had cancer a couple years ago. I will keep posting and am hoping to hear from other survivors as well. God Bless.
    mary beth
  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #4
    marybethk said:

    stage 4 cervical survivors?
    Hi Becky,
    thank you so much for responding. when you hear stage 4 it seems so hopeless, it helps hearing there are other survivors out there. we went to the oncologist today to enroll in a study that is looking at combining chemo drugs that are already being used to treat other types of cancer. my mom will start treatment either later this week or beginning next week. hoping she'll be able to tolerate it, she had a hard time with chemo when she had cancer a couple years ago. I will keep posting and am hoping to hear from other survivors as well. God Bless.
    mary beth

    Thinking about the first
    Thinking about the first time I went through chemo, I can relate. That stuff is nasty! Short of losing my hair, I experienced many of the symptoms. Right down to developing ablood clots in my lungs 6 weeks after treatment ended. I hope things work out better for her this time around.
  • mamadawg
    mamadawg Member Posts: 17
    #5
    stage 4 survivor
    Hi, I am sorry to hear about your mom. I too was diagnosed late when tumor cut off my ureters in both kidneys causing high BP of 210/180 which led to two occurrences of seizures and coma. It was second time when they found tumor was from cervix. I will say it may be a tough battle but one that can be fought and won. I know each case may be different, but I can tell you what I have experienced so she may know some things to expect. First I have had nephrostomy tubes in both kidneys to maintain function. (Which they both have and one was down to 15%) I had 5 weekly doses of chemo, 28 daily doses of radiation and 7 internal radiation treatments. Then after that I had recurrence so I was left with no option but to have a total pelvic exteneration surgery in which they removed all female organs, my bladder, part of rectum ( had fused because of radiation), and my left vaginal wall. I have been left with a colostomy, a false bladder made from some intestines, and a reconstructed vaginal area from some leg muscle. (This last prt was done because I am married and only 39). The reconstruction would not bed necessary unless she is still sexually active. All in all I have had 20 surgical procedures in the last yr and most. But I was originally given 6 most to live and that was in Sept 2010. So while I am a new survivor, I feel great like my old self again. Sort of. But I feel I am proof that it is possible.

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