To those who haven't posted in a while

SuziDezi said:

Great idea Norma - thanks!
Count me as another frequent checker who doesn't often post. Still I do feel part of this sisterhood and admit I should be a more active member. To recap - dx December 2009 with UPSC, standard chemo and external radiation all finished in July 2010. "Suspicious' para-aortic nodes on CT beginning November 2010 became recurrence in May 2011. Other enlarged nodes in supra-clavicular node found in August 2011. Second round of carbo-taxol completed February 2012. So here I am - a little the worse for wear but still kicking. A CT in December 2011 showed all nodes had shrunk to normal but one para-aortic that stayed at 7mm. My next appointment is May 8 and I have no idea what the followup will be from there. Thanks to this group I followed my own CA125 (against doctors wishes!) and found it was a marker for me - so I will check it again before the May appointment. Marianne has said it best - we all know that recurrence is a probability but hope that it won't be our reality. Again thanks to this group I am better able to face whatever comes knowing that there are still many things to try and that life can be good during the attempt. Thanks to everyone here for sharing and showing great courage as well as compassion.

firstsister said:

Haven't posted in awhile
Haven't posted in a long while. Here's what's going on with me. Diagnosed with UPSC 3C after complete hysterectomy in Sept. 2010. Three rounds of carbo/taxol, then 28 external radiation treatments, then three more rounds of carbo/taxol ending in June 2011. Between the radiation & last three rounds of chemo had fluid buildup in groin area that had to be drained - twice. Had a bad time with depression, lost 20 lbs., etc. Finally got myself back on my feet and then Aug. 2, 2011 a car t-boned mine (with me in it) and collarbone was broken. December 2011 my beloved brother died Christmas morning. Late Jan. 2012 had a pet scan even though CA125 was bouncing around 24, 25, 26. Three nodules lit up in my lungs - one in the left and two in the right. Left was removed surgically with margins clear. Now in the middle of more chemo - carbo/genzar to try to deal with the nodules in the right lung. One more round to go. Then another PET scan.
BUT, I've been singing in my church choir (we sang the Halleluja (sp?) Chorus on Easter Sunday and with two other smaller groups which entertain at nursing homes and I'm doing okay.
Thanks, many thanks for the love and support of this wonderful group of fighting women.
Pat

Kaleena said:

Great Post, Norma
Thanks for posting this. I too wonder what everyone is doing.

Here are my facts:
Sept 2005 - Hysterectomy (not for cancer)
Oct. 2005 - Staging Surgery - final diagnosis Endometrial Adenocarcinoma
Grade 2, Stage ii/iiia
Nov 2005 - port placed - chemo started - Allergic to taxol - changed to
carbo/gemzar - finished in May 2006
Aug 2006 - 3 bracytherapies
July 2009 - after CT told I had recurrence (spot there since 2005) - changed doctors
after this.
Oct - 2009 - biopsy on mass came back positive for the same
Feb - 2010 - surgery to remove mass (which was negative)(one removed lymph
had microscopic cells) and surgery at the same time to repair huge hernia
Oct 2011 - finally had port removed!
No further treatment required other than normal check-ups and scans.

Since getting my port out, I now have been enjoying my family and friends without the monthly reminder of getting that thing flushed. I am also busy with my sons, two of whom are in college and my youngest is a junior in high school. I am looking forward to going on a cruise in July with my family.

Thanks again, Norma, for posting this. I love your photo! I hope all is well with you and your family. Keep on smiling!

Kathy

marieinlv said:

Hellow Everyone
Hi, I'm thrilled to say I can be counted as another Survivor. We very well could be looking at a turning point in our Illness. I look at this through NED eyes. I was diagnosed 11/17/10, surgery, chemo, test. The depression or anxiety was mild but surprising. The not knowing is harder to deal with than the knowing, am I right? I'm so Thankfull for the collective support with information, kindness, and an unending ear for when we can't take it anymore. Ladies, I have been on the side crying with you when one of us is waiting for a test or having treament. God has asked us to Love each other, Wow is he crying tears of Joy when he observes the Love being shared here. Greatfull for the time I've been NED. I go next month for a check up. I'm feeling fine. My diagnosis was UPSC stage 4 (grade b? not sure). Trying to do what I can to help the Drs. less stress, excercising some, eating more "live food". Happy to be able to say Hi, Marie

SuziDezi said:

Great idea Norma - thanks!
Count me as another frequent checker who doesn't often post. Still I do feel part of this sisterhood and admit I should be a more active member. To recap - dx December 2009 with UPSC, standard chemo and external radiation all finished in July 2010. "Suspicious' para-aortic nodes on CT beginning November 2010 became recurrence in May 2011. Other enlarged nodes in supra-clavicular node found in August 2011. Second round of carbo-taxol completed February 2012. So here I am - a little the worse for wear but still kicking. A CT in December 2011 showed all nodes had shrunk to normal but one para-aortic that stayed at 7mm. My next appointment is May 8 and I have no idea what the followup will be from there. Thanks to this group I followed my own CA125 (against doctors wishes!) and found it was a marker for me - so I will check it again before the May appointment. Marianne has said it best - we all know that recurrence is a probability but hope that it won't be our reality. Again thanks to this group I am better able to face whatever comes knowing that there are still many things to try and that life can be good during the attempt. Thanks to everyone here for sharing and showing great courage as well as compassion.