Just a few ?'s

Randi...
I would say that
Randi...

I would say that reality lies somewhere between your mom's super-upbeat optimism and the worst of the statistics that you will find if you Google OVC (ovarian cancer).

80% of all women respond to first line treatment - which is the 6 sessions of chemo your mom will be receiving (probably carboplatin and taxol). I was diagnosed at stage 3c and was just declared officially in remission after completing my chemo.

That's the good news. The bad news is that over 50% of us will have a recurrence, usually within a year. Ovarian cancer is very persistent and frequently comes back, often more than once.

More good news......even though most long-term (over 5 years) survivors have to undergo multiple rounds of chemo, they are long-term SURVIVORS, not women who died of ovarian cancer.

I personally know a woman diagnosed at stage 3 who is more than 10 years out from her initial diagnosis. She has a terrific quality of life, is back working full-time, etc. But she has had numerous rounds of chemo. Her longest remission was 12 months and most were shorter.

I have also "talked" via the Internet to a woman who has lived with OVC for 14 years. She has had 13 rounds of chemo, but she is alive and enjoying life.

If you click on any member's photo/name, you can read their story, if they have written one (not everyone does....mine is loooooong - grab yourself a sandwich and a Coke before you start).

Come back here as often as you like and ask all the questions you might have. These are the best gals in the world - funny and feisty and friendly as can be.

Carlene

RandiK said:

Thank you, and I called my
Thank you, and I called my Mom and read to her what you said and she said, "God I hope I'm one of those enjoying life 14 years from now" Oh and I try to stay away from Google, since all of this has been going on, really google will scare a person to death.

I hope your mom is "one of
I hope your mom is "one of those", too. I hope we all are.

You are right about Google, only it's not Google's fault. Some of the stats you can find if you Google "ovarian cancer" are outdated and somewhat skewed. For example, I have seen (more than once) stats that say 65% will die of the disease within 5 years of being diagnosed. That number, however, includes women who were at death's door when they presented, as well as women who elected not to have chemo, etc.

Statistics are just a way to track trends. They are not a predictor of what lies ahead for any one individual. If statistics meant anything, I wouldn't have OVC in the first place. I had no risk factors and no family history.

Carlene