Local support group......last night's meeting

I joined a lovely bunch of ladies last night for a BD celebration/support group meeting/homecooked Vietnamese dinner. It was great fun and great food.

This particular meeting combined patients with all types of gyn cancers - mostly ovarian and cervical. I was delighted to meet a woman who was diagnosed stage III c (ovca) over 6 years ago and has never had a recurrence. She was in the carbo/taxol clinical trial and received 8 IV treatments of carbo/taxol - no other treatment. Her ovca had seeded throughout her peritonium/abdomen. Her doctor (who also happens to be my doctor) recently "graduated" her from CA 125 and CT scans every 6 months to once a year.

I regret that I never met the legendary member of this group who lived 18 years after her diagnosis (also stage IIIc). She died last year, but I am not sure if her death was cancer related or not. She was 80+ years old, so as Tina says, I'll buy a ticket on that ride.

There was a young woman there who just finished treatment and came commando - with her "high and tight" military-style hairdo. Very inspiring!

Another lady, whom I have met before at the local NOCC meetings, has just been diagnosed with her first recurrence and has started treatment again. She was 4 years out before it came back and let me just say, she looks like a million dollars.

I really encourage all of you to seek out a local group of ladies whose lives have been impacted by OVCA - either survivors, ladies in treatment, or family members. Don't settle for a combo group unless you absolutely cannot find one that is primarily for Ovarian Cancer. Contact the NOCC, the ACS, or ask your doctor. Maybe you could even start one! After all, someone started all the groups....why not you?

We are all desperate to hear success stories and talk one-on-one with women who have traveled this road. Remember....if it's a burden, share it and your load will be lessened; if it's a blessing, spread it around and your blessings will be multiplied.

Carlene