Just a few ?'s

RandiK
RandiK Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
My Mom was just diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She had a total hysterectomy, tumor and omentum removed on Feb. 23. She was told that she would have to have 6 rounds of chemo, one treatment every 3 weeks. The doctor just told her this week that her lymph nodes were not swollen and they don't think they are affected. Hearing this news my Mom is very upbeat and is pretty sure that everything is gonna be ok once she gets through the chemo treatments. The question I have, and this may seem dumb, but are we being way to optimistic that everything is gonna be ok. It's just scary not knowing what is gonna happen.

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    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
    RandiK Member Posts: 31

    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

    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.
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    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
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member

    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

    Thank-you Carlene
    Carlene, I have just read your reply to Randi. Thank-you, I never knew about the statistics that you have quoted and you have given me hope. 80% is good odds of responding to my first treatment that I am currently on. Thank-you so much I never realised the odds were so high as my oncologist (as they all are) are pessismistic and don't give the hope that I receive on this web site.

    Good news about your remission love Tina xxxxxxxxx