Young Daughter With Ovarian Cancer

I am new to this whole discussion board thing and never thought I would be discussing cancer none the less. My 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian dysgerminoma on early October of this year. My family is devistated. Although we are clinging to faith that her prognosis will be good, how can we explain to her what she is going through. She has gone through her first round of BEP chemo with flying colors and will be starting her second round next week. The tumor was so large that we are having to do chemo first to shrink it. That scares me. It has been absolutley impossible to find a parent whose child has gone through the same thing at this age. Is there anyone out there who has run across someone in a similar situation?

Comments

  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    I am so sorry about your
    I am so sorry about your situation. I have a friend (an ovarian cancer survivor) who works at St. Jude's Children's Hosptial in Memphis, TN. I will try to contact her tonight. You and your family will be in my prayers. Do you have any other children? I will see if Tena can perhaps provide some insight as to someone you may be able to contact.

    Carla
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528

    I am so sorry about your
    I am so sorry about your situation. I have a friend (an ovarian cancer survivor) who works at St. Jude's Children's Hosptial in Memphis, TN. I will try to contact her tonight. You and your family will be in my prayers. Do you have any other children? I will see if Tena can perhaps provide some insight as to someone you may be able to contact.

    Carla

    I would have no idea how to
    I would have no idea how to explain to your precious little girl what was going on. I'm still trying to figure this thing about myself out. a 5 yr. old shouldn't even have to know the word cancer, let alone learn she has ovaries. AS I stated earlier, I will contact my friend at St. Jude's. She may know of some resources to assist you and your family.
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528

    I would have no idea how to
    I would have no idea how to explain to your precious little girl what was going on. I'm still trying to figure this thing about myself out. a 5 yr. old shouldn't even have to know the word cancer, let alone learn she has ovaries. AS I stated earlier, I will contact my friend at St. Jude's. She may know of some resources to assist you and your family.

    I just spoke to my friend.
    I just spoke to my friend. She said she would make contact with someone tomorrow. She was wondering where you are located? She was wondering if St. Jude's would be an option for you? They do amazing things at that place!
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    This just makes me sick
    I am so sorry to hear this about your young daughter. She will definitely be on my prayers list daily. I will call my doctor's office and see if they know of anyone that has experienced this. I was just in a conversation today and talking about cancer and told the person that is what bother's me the most is all the children with this terrible disease.

    ((((hugs to you and your daughter)))
    Linda
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    THIS IS SO UNREAL
    This must be so difficult for all of you. I've heard of a 12-year-old getting OVCA, but this is just unbelievable. I'm so glad that you have someone here on the board that will be contacting you. I just can't begin to imagine what you are going through. Please know that you are in my prayers. And I pray that you will have good doctors, and that your precious daughter will be just fine.

    Monika
  • zalexander
    zalexander Member Posts: 2

    I just spoke to my friend.
    I just spoke to my friend. She said she would make contact with someone tomorrow. She was wondering where you are located? She was wondering if St. Jude's would be an option for you? They do amazing things at that place!

    We are in NC
    Hi there! We live in Raleigh NC and she is being treated at Duke Childrens Hospital in Durham NC. There staff seems to be great but how can you compare if you have neer been through this before. We do have another young one, our son is 3 and he is sweetie pie! :)
    She had her bloodwork drawn today and her WBC counts are high so no more Neupogen injections until after round 2. YEAH!! And she was so proud she did not cry when her blood was drawn. She is a trooper. Please let me know if you get in contact with your friend. Duke is still unable to locate anyone else this young.
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528

    We are in NC
    Hi there! We live in Raleigh NC and she is being treated at Duke Childrens Hospital in Durham NC. There staff seems to be great but how can you compare if you have neer been through this before. We do have another young one, our son is 3 and he is sweetie pie! :)
    She had her bloodwork drawn today and her WBC counts are high so no more Neupogen injections until after round 2. YEAH!! And she was so proud she did not cry when her blood was drawn. She is a trooper. Please let me know if you get in contact with your friend. Duke is still unable to locate anyone else this young.

    I'll let you know. Tena is
    I'll let you know. Tena is supposed to get back with me soon. She did tell me that when her sister researched OVCA a few years ago, she found a 2 yr. old with ovca. I just can't imagine! Just out of curosity, how was this diagnosed? Did she display some symptoms? I'll let you know as soon I hear something.
  • germanlady
    germanlady Member Posts: 20
    mopar said:

    THIS IS SO UNREAL
    This must be so difficult for all of you. I've heard of a 12-year-old getting OVCA, but this is just unbelievable. I'm so glad that you have someone here on the board that will be contacting you. I just can't begin to imagine what you are going through. Please know that you are in my prayers. And I pray that you will have good doctors, and that your precious daughter will be just fine.

    Monika

    Can't believe it
    The devil has such a hold on this terrible disease. When you hear of children having it, its the worst of all. Prayers going to the throne of God for your precious child, Edith
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    I have read older studies
    I have read older studies noting cases this young. Though beyond that note, there was no other information. I can only imagine your horror at this situation. I will be hoping and praying that you have the most positive outcome.
  • jbeans888
    jbeans888 Member Posts: 313

    I have read older studies
    I have read older studies noting cases this young. Though beyond that note, there was no other information. I can only imagine your horror at this situation. I will be hoping and praying that you have the most positive outcome.

    I can't believe it. Your
    I can't believe it. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I would probrally tell her that the chemo is going to help her get better and her hair may fall out, but it will grow back. That is the truth. I don't know where you live but you should look into your hospital to see if they have a program called Kids Kicking Cancer. the program is nationwide and it offers free karate for kids with cancer. I volunteer here in Gainesville, FL and I teach them basic punching and meditation techniques for them to mentally deal with the cancer. They all say that it is very empowering and helpful for them. In fact our kids where on the news yesterday. I hope this helps. All the best.
    Joyce
  • jbeans888
    jbeans888 Member Posts: 313

    I have read older studies
    I have read older studies noting cases this young. Though beyond that note, there was no other information. I can only imagine your horror at this situation. I will be hoping and praying that you have the most positive outcome.

    I can't believe it. Your
    I can't believe it. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I would probrally tell her that the chemo is going to help her get better and her hair may fall out, but it will grow back. That is the truth. I don't know where you live but you should look into your hospital to see if they have a program called Kids Kicking Cancer. the program is nationwide and it offers free karate for kids with cancer. I volunteer here in Gainesville, FL and I teach them basic punching and meditation techniques for them to mentally deal with the cancer. They all say that it is very empowering and helpful for them. In fact our kids where on the news yesterday. I hope this helps. All the best.
    Joyce
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    jbeans888 said:

    I can't believe it. Your
    I can't believe it. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I would probrally tell her that the chemo is going to help her get better and her hair may fall out, but it will grow back. That is the truth. I don't know where you live but you should look into your hospital to see if they have a program called Kids Kicking Cancer. the program is nationwide and it offers free karate for kids with cancer. I volunteer here in Gainesville, FL and I teach them basic punching and meditation techniques for them to mentally deal with the cancer. They all say that it is very empowering and helpful for them. In fact our kids where on the news yesterday. I hope this helps. All the best.
    Joyce

    I'm so upset
    that your precious five-year-old daughter is going through this. I am keeping her, her little brother and all of your family in my thoughts and prayers.

    Take care,
    Kelly
  • stephanie1976
    stephanie1976 Member Posts: 8
    Have you seen this?
    I saw this article http://www.thatslife.com.au/Article/Real-Life/Real-Life-Stories/Ovarian-cancer-at-5-years-old. She lives in Australia so it isn't close to NC but I wonder if anything in the article is similar to your experience and if there is a way to email back and forth with her parents.

    Praying for your family.
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379

    Have you seen this?
    I saw this article http://www.thatslife.com.au/Article/Real-Life/Real-Life-Stories/Ovarian-cancer-at-5-years-old. She lives in Australia so it isn't close to NC but I wonder if anything in the article is similar to your experience and if there is a way to email back and forth with her parents.

    Praying for your family.

    Awww!!
    That's so not fair as she's just so very young and her body so immature and innocent.

    Cancer isn't prejudice!!!

    I'll keep you and your family in my daily prayers....

    Hugs,
    Jan
  • zarkapopovic
    zarkapopovic Member Posts: 30
    So sorry to read about your daughter
    Dear Z.,

    I hope that your daughter's treatment is effective. She sounds like a real sweetie being able to handle the blood draw.

    Please let us know if there is anything that we can do.

    Zarka
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    I spoke with my friend again
    I spoke with my friend again tonight. She said she does not know of a child that young. She will most likely still keep looking. I belong to another on-line support group. I will post on there to see if we can find you a contact.
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    I spoke with my friend again
    I spoke with my friend again tonight. She said she does not know of a child that young. She will most likely still keep looking. I belong to another on-line support group. I will post on there to see if we can find you a contact.
  • clamryn
    clamryn Member Posts: 508
    Talked to my chemo nurse
    I had a treatment today and was talking to my chemo nurse about your situation. She said that she definitely has heard of a girl as young as your daughter going through this. She said it is a different gene and "highly curable". I hope you have found someone else going through this that you can share. You and your daughter have been on my mind ever since you posted this. Please keep us posted on how she and you are doing.

    Linda
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    too young
    My doctor told me I at 46 was too young for this but five she is just starting to face life she should not have to face this cancer also. I will keep you and that young but strong teal warrior in my prays.


    Anne