Looking for Stage II Ovarian Cancer Survivors

135

Comments

  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #42
    Tglover said:

    Creeping CA 125
    Hi Ladies! I'm so happy to find this thread. I was diagnosed w/ stage 2a ovarian cancer in 8/08, had a total hysterectomy and then 6 rounds of tax/carbo. My CA 125 was 7 for the first couple of check-ups after chemo, then 9 and now it's risen to 10. I am so grateful for the early diagnosis and how well I'm feeling now. However, the CA 125 is slowly creeping and I'm wondering if it becomes exponential. I'm only 43 and I have a 7-yr old son so I'd love to find some other survivors who have had similar experiences.

    Thanks for sharing - you are an amazing group of women who inspire me!

    early diagnosis
    I am 43yrs old too with 3 kids, my younger ones are 6 and 4yrs. We were diagnosed around the same time too. I was dx'd Sept. 08. Easy for me to say but I wouldn't be concerned about a rise from 7 to 10. You are doing great! How often do you test?
  • Tglover
    Tglover Member Posts: 4
    #43
    nancy591 said:

    early diagnosis
    I am 43yrs old too with 3 kids, my younger ones are 6 and 4yrs. We were diagnosed around the same time too. I was dx'd Sept. 08. Easy for me to say but I wouldn't be concerned about a rise from 7 to 10. You are doing great! How often do you test?

    This is great - thanks!
    Dear Nancy,

    This is super helpful - thanks for posting. I get my CA 125 tested every 3 mos. and I love my oncologist. I feel like I'm in good hands. I also think that part of what had me feeling spooked was going in for my annual pap and having my regular gyno seem so surprised to see me and a little too amazed that I hadn't had a reoccurrence. I know it sounds weird, but she rattled me.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #44
    Tglover said:

    This is great - thanks!
    Dear Nancy,

    This is super helpful - thanks for posting. I get my CA 125 tested every 3 mos. and I love my oncologist. I feel like I'm in good hands. I also think that part of what had me feeling spooked was going in for my annual pap and having my regular gyno seem so surprised to see me and a little too amazed that I hadn't had a reoccurrence. I know it sounds weird, but she rattled me.

    BE HAPPY
    I would love to be in your position! I had a recurrence about 8months after completing treatment. I so worried about a recurrence. Now I wish I could go back and enjoy those days! I am now on carbo/gemzar and completed one round. Hopefully this will knock the cancer back. With summer approaching the kids will be out of school soon. I hope my energy level holds up being home with the kids all summer. I do have activities planned but I will have to do it around chemo.
  • Tglover
    Tglover Member Posts: 4
    #45
    nancy591 said:

    BE HAPPY
    I would love to be in your position! I had a recurrence about 8months after completing treatment. I so worried about a recurrence. Now I wish I could go back and enjoy those days! I am now on carbo/gemzar and completed one round. Hopefully this will knock the cancer back. With summer approaching the kids will be out of school soon. I hope my energy level holds up being home with the kids all summer. I do have activities planned but I will have to do it around chemo.

    BE HAPPY
    Oh, Nancy - I'm so sorry that you've had a reocurrence and you're back on chemo. I will be thinking of you and please keep me posted about how you're doing.
  • Nancy48
    Nancy48 Member Posts: 5
    #46
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    Stage II
    Hi Nancy,
    Thank-You for replying to my post. I see that you are almost 2 years out, in April, no problems. That is fantastic. My friend Kathryn and I were both Stage II and we are 8 monthes out, with no problems so far. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Her CA-125 is holding at 5 and my CA-125 is holding at 6 with clear scans. We are happy, happy, and more happy. Thank-You and keep in touch. Paula

    Stage II
    Hi again Paula, It is now June and I am still doing well. My doctor just told me I can probably go to 6 month visits after July. I have gone every 3 months for 2 years. I hope you and your friend are still doing well. Nancy
  • enjoyn
    enjoyn Member Posts: 2
    #47
    Ovarian Cancer
    I was dx stage 2b, and 6 six session of chemo.
  • Leah17
    Leah17 Member Posts: 2
    #48
    Tglover said:

    This is great - thanks!
    Dear Nancy,

    This is super helpful - thanks for posting. I get my CA 125 tested every 3 mos. and I love my oncologist. I feel like I'm in good hands. I also think that part of what had me feeling spooked was going in for my annual pap and having my regular gyno seem so surprised to see me and a little too amazed that I hadn't had a reoccurrence. I know it sounds weird, but she rattled me.

    Hi, I just joined this
    Hi, I just joined this discussion board. I was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer in Oct 2007 and had 6 rounds of chemo. I now go to the oncologist every 6 months. I am concerned about your CA 125. Have you asked your oncologist at what level he/she thinks would be cause for concern? My CA 125 is currently at 6 and my oncologist said that if it got to 10 or over, she would want to do some tests. She also told me that I no longer need to have pap smears. I would ask the oncologist this also. I do have a gyn/oncologist and she was doing the pap smear. I am sure that your regular gyno did rattle you. It would bother me too if a doctor said that they were amazed that you hadn't had a reocurrence. How insenitive. You might consider another gyn after that.
  • SleeplessNights
    SleeplessNights Member Posts: 1
    #49
    enjoyn said:

    Ovarian Cancer
    I was dx stage 2b, and 6 six session of chemo.

    I was dx stage 2B ovarian and 1A uterian in 2007 when I was 49. What brought me to this site was I was looking for answers to my rising CA125. I was being tested every 4 mo and it was going up by 2 points every 4 months, then it went up 7. The last test was 32. I just finished a test on Thursday and it went down to 26! One has to have nerves of steel to play this game. My mother died in Sept of '09 from Ovarian cancer and she survived for 8 years of almost non-stop chemo and I'm not sure I can go through all that. My medical history is a page long as it is. I had a blood clot that was in the Inferior Veina Cava (almost in the lung) so they couldn't put a filter in at the 6 month mark of my chemo. I inherited a blood clotting gene from my mother so now I am on coumadin for the rest of my life. I wasn't even in pre-menapause when everything came out and after the surgery my bones are falling apart. I don't have any cartlidge between my wrists, I've had a thumb joint replaced and my spine is osteopenia. Also, I had thyroid cancer in 2001.

    You all keep up the kind words to each other, as it makes others like me feel that there are people out there that have feelings and care even for strangers. I wish you all the best.
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #50
    SleeplessNights said:

    I was dx stage 2B ovarian and 1A uterian in 2007 when I was 49. What brought me to this site was I was looking for answers to my rising CA125. I was being tested every 4 mo and it was going up by 2 points every 4 months, then it went up 7. The last test was 32. I just finished a test on Thursday and it went down to 26! One has to have nerves of steel to play this game. My mother died in Sept of '09 from Ovarian cancer and she survived for 8 years of almost non-stop chemo and I'm not sure I can go through all that. My medical history is a page long as it is. I had a blood clot that was in the Inferior Veina Cava (almost in the lung) so they couldn't put a filter in at the 6 month mark of my chemo. I inherited a blood clotting gene from my mother so now I am on coumadin for the rest of my life. I wasn't even in pre-menapause when everything came out and after the surgery my bones are falling apart. I don't have any cartlidge between my wrists, I've had a thumb joint replaced and my spine is osteopenia. Also, I had thyroid cancer in 2001.

    You all keep up the kind words to each other, as it makes others like me feel that there are people out there that have feelings and care even for strangers. I wish you all the best.

    Hello SleeplessNights
    Welcome to the boards. I am sorry to hear of your illnesses - you have had your fair share :( This is a good place to come and off load when you are feeling down. You will get such a lot of support and kind words.

    Keep us all up dated on your treatment and I wish you all the good luck.

    Much Love Tina xx
  • lazurda56
    lazurda56 Member Posts: 3
    #51
    Stage 2
    wow, you are lucky. I was diagnosed Stage 1C, grade 3 - - God Bless us, really. I am having 6 treatments with one to go. My doctor said I could do it with three, but I opted for the "recommended" dose. The "cancer" was found in my abdominal washings and I don't want to take any chances. I to fear for recurrence, but with lots of faith and courage, so many of us get through this.

    Look at our other "sisters" in their more advanced stages, they rock! I've read survivial stories up to 20 years! Let's fight like girls and LIVE!
  • Roxanna
    Roxanna Member Posts: 5
    #52
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    CA-125
    Hello Tglover,
    I was diagnosed a 2B in June 2009. I am 1 year cancer free. I get my CA-125 done every 30 days. After surgery it was a 10. After 6 chemo treatments it was a 5. It has bounced around between 5 and 7 the whole time. My oncologist says they are looking for "doubling of numbers or tripling of numbers". How often do you get your CA-125 done? I do not think you need to worry about a 1 or 2 or even 3 point jump over the course of a couple of monthes. It might go down the next time. Even with a CA-125 of 10, I do not think a CT scan is going to pick anything up. Frankly, I am tired of getting blood draws. Everyone else has it done every 3 monthes. Why do I have to get mine done every 1 month? Don't start worrying yet. I know it is hard to do, but I am just trying to live my life to the fullest and have a good time, just in case I have a re-occurance soon. Thank-You, Paula

    CA-125
    Hi,

    I was diagnosed with a 2c in May 2010 and underwent surgery. I have now had 4 rounds of chemo and have at least 2 more scheduled depending on my CA 125 levels which dropped from 353 presurgery to 17 now. I am very worried because although the levels initially dropped quickly, they have now slowed. Additionally, my white blood and platelet counts are very low. Overall, I am feeling very discouraged.--Roxanna
  • brca-brat
    brca-brat Member Posts: 1
    #53
    Stage 2C diagnosed June 2009
    Glad I found this thread. It helps to see others are doing well.
  • cancer survivor x 4
    cancer survivor x 4 Member Posts: 177
    #54
    brca-brat said:

    Stage 2C diagnosed June 2009
    Glad I found this thread. It helps to see others are doing well.

    I Wonder
    I wonder if all the ladies that responded to this thread almost 2 years ago, are still doing okay??????? Would love to hear from you. Thank-You, Paula
  • childofthestars
    childofthestars Member Posts: 251 Member
    #55
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    I Wonder
    I wonder if all the ladies that responded to this thread almost 2 years ago, are still doing okay??????? Would love to hear from you. Thank-You, Paula

    Stage 11c
    Hi Paula
    I joined the board a few months ago, I was dx with Stage 11C in June '10, am doing well now (apart from bloody joint pains!!)
    How are you doing?
    Michelle x
  • cancer survivor x 4
    cancer survivor x 4 Member Posts: 177
    #56
    childofthestars said:

    Stage 11c
    Hi Paula
    I joined the board a few months ago, I was dx with Stage 11C in June '10, am doing well now (apart from bloody joint pains!!)
    How are you doing?
    Michelle x

    I'm Okay
    Hi Michelle,
    I guess I am doing okay. I passed my CT scan, breast MRI, Dr.exam, and I will have my CA-125 results back tomorrow or the next day. This is all so exhausting. I am so tired of being scared. I almost fainted when I had my blood draw today, just out of fear. Sometimes I am so past this and sometimes I am not. I had about 15 to 20 responses to my post and I have no idea how any of the ladies are doing or if they are okay. I only talk to 1 girl on a regular bases and she is fine. Since it has been almost 2 years, my family does not seem to want to talk about it anymore. It is over for them, but I am still very scared. I feel like I am the only person in the world that is scared. I try very hard to stay positive, but somehow I always revert back to negative thoughts. Anyway, I know you did not ask for any of this information, so to answer your question, I am fine. Thank-You, Paula
  • curlyq1971
    curlyq1971 Member Posts: 56
    #57
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    I'm Okay
    Hi Michelle,
    I guess I am doing okay. I passed my CT scan, breast MRI, Dr.exam, and I will have my CA-125 results back tomorrow or the next day. This is all so exhausting. I am so tired of being scared. I almost fainted when I had my blood draw today, just out of fear. Sometimes I am so past this and sometimes I am not. I had about 15 to 20 responses to my post and I have no idea how any of the ladies are doing or if they are okay. I only talk to 1 girl on a regular bases and she is fine. Since it has been almost 2 years, my family does not seem to want to talk about it anymore. It is over for them, but I am still very scared. I feel like I am the only person in the world that is scared. I try very hard to stay positive, but somehow I always revert back to negative thoughts. Anyway, I know you did not ask for any of this information, so to answer your question, I am fine. Thank-You, Paula

    Stage 2C
    Paula and the rest of the Ladies,

    I didn't respond to the original post, but I wanted to post to let you know that I was dx Stage 2C August 26, 2005, I passed the 5 year mark with out recurrance, and went and saw my onc in Feburary and I was released to 1 year check ups and the real kicker is, I don't have to see him anymore I can just follow up with my gyne. I feel truly blessed that I was dx early and have done so well! At first I was scared but now it seems it is a distant thought and I live my life to the fullest. If there is one thing that I have learned on this cancer journey that I was to take, is you can't let the "What If's" take over and don't let that nasty word cancer own you! Your mind has a way of playing dirty tricks on you if you let it!

    Serentity Prayer:

    God grant me the Serentity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference...

    If you or anyone else need someone to talk to, I am available and here for all of you.
    Take Care,
    Leslie
  • cancer survivor x 4
    cancer survivor x 4 Member Posts: 177
    #58
    curlyq1971 said:

    Stage 2C
    Paula and the rest of the Ladies,

    I didn't respond to the original post, but I wanted to post to let you know that I was dx Stage 2C August 26, 2005, I passed the 5 year mark with out recurrance, and went and saw my onc in Feburary and I was released to 1 year check ups and the real kicker is, I don't have to see him anymore I can just follow up with my gyne. I feel truly blessed that I was dx early and have done so well! At first I was scared but now it seems it is a distant thought and I live my life to the fullest. If there is one thing that I have learned on this cancer journey that I was to take, is you can't let the "What If's" take over and don't let that nasty word cancer own you! Your mind has a way of playing dirty tricks on you if you let it!

    Serentity Prayer:

    God grant me the Serentity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference...

    If you or anyone else need someone to talk to, I am available and here for all of you.
    Take Care,
    Leslie

    Thank-You
    Leslie,
    Thank-You for responding. I wish the other 15 or 20 ladies would respond. I do let all of those dirty little words get into my head. The only thing I can do, is try and stay busy. I will be 2 years out in June. I just had a CA-125 done. I am waiting for the results. Drives my absolutly crazy. I do need to talk to other people about this and so does my other friend. She was also a 2C and I was a 2b. e-mail: vintagehouse@comcast.net Thank-You, Paula
  • childofthestars
    childofthestars Member Posts: 251 Member
    #59
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    Thank-You
    Leslie,
    Thank-You for responding. I wish the other 15 or 20 ladies would respond. I do let all of those dirty little words get into my head. The only thing I can do, is try and stay busy. I will be 2 years out in June. I just had a CA-125 done. I am waiting for the results. Drives my absolutly crazy. I do need to talk to other people about this and so does my other friend. She was also a 2C and I was a 2b. e-mail: vintagehouse@comcast.net Thank-You, Paula

    Hi
    Hi Paula
    How did the CA125 test go, do you have the results???
    I have regular check ups every 3 months, 1st one was last month, next is 31 May. I don't get my CA125 done my onc gives his patients the choice. He is a firm believer that if there is a recurrence chemo shouldn't be started until the patient is symptomatic so if there are no symptoms there's no need to do a CA125!!! I admit this is a bit scarey but so far it's working for me.
    Michelle x
  • amshelley
    amshelley Member Posts: 1
    #60
    Just diagnosed stage 2b ovarian cancer
    I was just diagnosed March 2 with stage 2b ovarian cancer. I went to my family dr. with bronchitis and mentioned bad back pain. He sent me in for an ultra sound, which prompted a CA-125 test, a meeting with my gyno. and 5 days later, complete hysterectomy. One ovary had spread to the pelvic wall and bowel. The wash and lymph nodes were clean. I have a consult with my oncologist today. I've been looking for others with this stage of cancer and agree, it's hard to find people out there. I'm trying to prepare myself by being educated about what to expect. Thank you for your post. It's been helpful to read the positives about recovery! I hope all goes well with you.
  • Rookerbird
    Rookerbird Member Posts: 100
    #61
    cancer survivor x 4 said:

    Thank-You
    Leslie,
    Thank-You for responding. I wish the other 15 or 20 ladies would respond. I do let all of those dirty little words get into my head. The only thing I can do, is try and stay busy. I will be 2 years out in June. I just had a CA-125 done. I am waiting for the results. Drives my absolutly crazy. I do need to talk to other people about this and so does my other friend. She was also a 2C and I was a 2b. e-mail: vintagehouse@comcast.net Thank-You, Paula

    Stress-Busters
    There was a point in my treatment where I became very stressed, and called the nurse in tears. My oncologist called me back right away, and said something that has stuck with me ever since: "Let it go and try to relax, because nothing is worse for you than stress. The cancer will feed off stress." Here are some ideas for not going absolutely crazy worrying about the CA-125 and other things...

    As you mentioned, talking with others is great! Vent, then let it go. Exercise. Fresh air. As you mentioned, stay busy. A glass of wine. Anti-depressants if stress/depression lingers. I got a dog a year ago, and she has provided countless hours of comfort and amusement.

    I was IIc ovarian + Ic endometrial (uterine), and my surgery and staging were in September 2009. I'm platinum-resistant and have been in nearly continuous treatment. But, I've had recent success with Doxil.

    Each day is a gift. I try to remind myself that if I'm stressed about the cancer, then that's a day that the cancer won. Hoping your CA-125 was in the range you want, and that you have joy-filled days ahead!

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