I am new to OC and the forum

Options
Hissy_Fitz
Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I was wondering if there is a way to message other members, and does my story sound remotely like anyone else's?

I am 62 with no risk factors for ovarian cancer, other than my age. I had my uterus and cervix removed 30 years ago. Recently (approximately 2 wks) I developed some bothersome symptoms: pain in my midriff area, sometimes moving down to my right abdomen, also a desire to urinate very frequently and a general feeling of fatigue and bloating. My PCP and I both guess gall bladder.

Tuesday I had an ultrasound, including transvaginal ultrasound, and yesterday he called me to say it looks almost certainly like ovarian cancer.

I have a tumor in my abdomen, so I guess that means it has spread. He mentioned 2 inches, which sounds huge to me, but I don't know if that's the abdominal tumor or if there is one on my ovary (or both ovaries).

I go Monday to the oncologist. My PCP sounded pretty grim, however. He told me I have probably had it a year or more, it is incurable, and the survival rate is about 30-40 per cent.

I am just a basket case. I don't know if the pain means it is really bad, or what to expect, beyond surgery and some form of chemo.

Thanks for letting me whine.

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Options
    I'm close
    Dear Hissy, I am close at 71. Been on this trip since March 2007. First, it will take you awhile to get out of the panic mode. It took me at least, 2 months. A gastroenterologist found mine and pretty much said the same thing, grim prognosis. I started posting on this site and found the most wonderful group of women who will share their love, understanding, prayers, and experience. You can click on my picture and read my journey, so I won't retype it all here. You will feel vulnerable for awhile but with time you will become a warrior. Find a gyn/onc and have your surgery by that person in the larger hospital the better for a better outcome is what I did. I went to Dallas for that but have my chemo locally. Mine had spread to my liver and those were burned out with high frequency ultrasound successfully. Surgery came after four doses of chemo (Taxol and carboplatin) which shrunk my many tumors to half their size before the surgery. When you sign on and click on the discussion group you can also click on e-mail and Send by the name each of us use. I'm Saundra and You are Hissy_Fitz. We will answer questions as to our experiences. Some are similar but God made us all different so we react to drugs differently etc. Take someone with you to appointments to affirm what you hear because it is pretty confusing at first. A ct-scan confirmed the spread of my tumors. Sending you lots of hugs and prayers to get you through the next days of appointments etc. Saundra
  • arbor3
    arbor3 Member Posts: 103
    #3
    Options
    WELCOME
    Hi

    I will second what Saundra said. It takes awhile but the shock does get better. I am 3 years into my cancer and doing good in my opinion. Have been through 4 rounds of Chemo and I am going to fight always. Welcome, although I know how hard it is, this is such a wonderful site to be on.

    Hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Dinora
  • jane65
    jane65 Member Posts: 277
    #4
    Options
    Hisssy-Fitz
    The thing that makes me crazy, is a doctor diagnosing ovarian cancer without you having the surgery, and the pathology lab at the hospital reviewing the specimin and making the cancer diagnosis.
    Especially a PCP who is not an expert in any cancer, and how dare he tell you how long you have to live.

    That being said,you should be seeing a GYN/ONC Surgeon who is a specialist trained in female diseases. that doctor will do your surgery, remove as much of your cancer as he can, (if you have cancer)and send the specimens he removes to the lab.

    If the report comes back as cancer, you will be referred to an oncologist who will discuss a treatment plan to destroy and remove the remaining cancer cells in your body.

    No one can predict how long a cancer patient lives, there are so many chemo. drugs, radiation and treatments available to us and new ones coming along.

    I know you are terrified, we all were when we heard the word cancer, but take it one day at a time and know that we're here to support you, and give you the best advice we can give.

    I was diagnosed in 2007, stage 4B and had surgery, a port put in and chemo started when I recovered from surgery. I relapsed and had a different chemo drug. My last 2 scans were clear and I'm on a chemo break which will end in a couple of months when I will start a 3rd chemo drug.

    There's always hope, please don't give up because a doctor who shouldn't be diagnosing or putting a time limit on you has upset you so.

    Take care and please feel free to talk to us when you need to.
    Jane

Discussion Boards