What happens now?

uotterno
uotterno Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
My step mother had surgery today for an intestinal blockage. In February 2008, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, had surgery and finished Chemo in August 2008. About a month ago, she went into the hospital with severe stomach pain and vomiting. The doctor that did her original surgery, did all kinds of tests and said that they thought it was stress related and that they didn't feel it was related to the cancer. They said it was highly unlikely that the cancer would be back that soon after Chemo. They got her stabilized and released her, recommending that she see her family doctor. Her family doctor sent her to a gastroenterologist, who ran a bunch of test and determined that there was a blockage and sent her to a surgeon. Both the gastroenterologist and the surgeon immediately suspected the cancer was back, saying that there was a chance that it was scar tissue from the previous surgery. For several weeks, now, all she has been able to eat is broth. The surgeon today said that cancer is all over her abdominal wall and that her intestines looked like someone poured Superglue all over them. They are all stuck together and he was unable to remove the blockage. He said that there was nothing more that he could do, and that she would be unable to eat. Chemo and radiation aren't an option. He said that they could keep her on pain medication, which would probably keep her pretty 'out of it'. They are calling in Hospice. So do we just watch her starve to death? How long can she survive like that? She doesn't know how bad it is yet. She has a Living Will and a Do not resuscitate order. I don't know where to go from here.

Comments

  • aandj
    aandj Member Posts: 33
    #2
    I am Sorry
    Hi Uotterno,

    I hate to say this but you really need to prepare for the worst, this is the exact same situation that happened to my wife. She ovarian cancer came back within two months this time last year, so got worse and worse and by Febraury this year she could no longer fight. She had a bowl obstruction and the cancer spread to her left lung. She doctor kept her on mophine to keep her out of pain.

    If you would like to chat in private send me a personal message.

    Stay strong.

    Jeremy
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #3
    I am so sorry
    This is devestating news for you after such a valant fight. My heart aches for the whole family. This starts as a nasty disease and ends that way, it seems. Thank goodness there is Hospice for compassionate care. I think that you have done all you can except pray for peace and comfort and be there for her when she is awake. We all come in by birth and all go out with death. The timing is not ours to decide. Sometimes the Lord calms the storm: And sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child. I hope he calms you.
    Saundra
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #4
    Lots of prayers N Hugs
    Sorry to hear of your MIL struggle. I can only tell you for myself I would want to know my odds and how bad things have become. I know Hospice would be my choice so I could leave as peacefully and with as little pain as possible. Holding you all in prayer. Bonnie
  • texasfriend
    texasfriend Member Posts: 2
    #5
    My Mom ..EXACT SAME STORY
    I ready your story and cried. My Mom Ovarian Cancer diag in Feb 08. Stopped Chemo Sept 08.
    Got Rhumatoid Arthritis from Chemo in Sept 08 very bad. Feb got Pnumonia from it.
    From March 09 to June 09 we were in out and of hopsital 4 times just saying that her pain, vomitting and abdominal swelling was from slow bowels due to low dose pain patch for her back and RA. Then we were referred to another GI doc who said that it he felt cancer was back and to call her Oncologist...BUT her oncologist did a PEET SCan April 1 09 which was negative!! Well June 3 09 she had major surgery ...complete stricture in large instestine and had to place Ostomy Bag..still no Bowl sigs..Now saying both intestines are matted down and the cancer cells are EVERYWHERE....liver, pancrease, entire abominal wall, etc. She still can not eat and in pain..BUT they want to try low dose chemo. Palliative Care said it is her decision. We are so confused on what to do. I just want her to have no pain.
    PLEASE contact me. We need to talk and maybe we can help each other. I am so confused and they want to start this chemo in 2 days since we are at week 3 from surgery.
    Much Thanks
  • Julie Frizzell
    Julie Frizzell Member Posts: 1
    #6
    New to Here
    Oh my goodness.
    I am so sorry to reply here but this is my first post and today is the first day I've faced with the possibility of facing ovarian cancer... havent even got thefull diaog yet, apart from an overty worred doc (my CA125 is 38) and an ultra sound today where i have a 'cyst'/mass of 10 cm in my tum and an inabilty to look my normal flat tum self lol! Honestly, I;m bloody terrified but seeing some of the CA scores makes me feel a little more settled. But the colon blockages does worry me as I;ve only been able to poo with the help of bisocodyl in the last 3 years. No, not looking for help, just dont reallu know why I',even writing this - but guess every woman whos written here knows what I mean ....
    woth love
  • JoanC
    JoanC Member Posts: 231
    #7
    Julie Frizzell said:

    New to Here
    Oh my goodness.
    I am so sorry to reply here but this is my first post and today is the first day I've faced with the possibility of facing ovarian cancer... havent even got thefull diaog yet, apart from an overty worred doc (my CA125 is 38) and an ultra sound today where i have a 'cyst'/mass of 10 cm in my tum and an inabilty to look my normal flat tum self lol! Honestly, I;m bloody terrified but seeing some of the CA scores makes me feel a little more settled. But the colon blockages does worry me as I;ve only been able to poo with the help of bisocodyl in the last 3 years. No, not looking for help, just dont reallu know why I',even writing this - but guess every woman whos written here knows what I mean ....
    woth love

    New to here
    Welcome and come back anytime but......hope your results are NOT ovarian cancer!
    (((Hugs))) Joan C
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #8
    Julie Frizzell said:

    New to Here
    Oh my goodness.
    I am so sorry to reply here but this is my first post and today is the first day I've faced with the possibility of facing ovarian cancer... havent even got thefull diaog yet, apart from an overty worred doc (my CA125 is 38) and an ultra sound today where i have a 'cyst'/mass of 10 cm in my tum and an inabilty to look my normal flat tum self lol! Honestly, I;m bloody terrified but seeing some of the CA scores makes me feel a little more settled. But the colon blockages does worry me as I;ve only been able to poo with the help of bisocodyl in the last 3 years. No, not looking for help, just dont reallu know why I',even writing this - but guess every woman whos written here knows what I mean ....
    woth love

    This may not be OVCA
    You are welcome here. Why don't you post a new thread by going to the Ovarian Cancer discussion page and on the upper left corner is a link to "start a new discussion". That way you won't get buried in someone elses topic. You will find lots of help here if this does test to be cancer. Could very well be a cyst. I know it is a scary time for you regardless. We've all been there. (((Hugs))) Saundra

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