Chemo

[2002chevy]

Starting chemo Feb 27th. Very nervous about it. Any advise would be helpful. I have stage 3 low grade ovarian cancer. I am not even sure if it will respond to my low grade.

[Hidden]

Of course you are nervous about treatment but you will find the staff helpful and kind, do you have any support network as in friends to pop in and do some shopping etc for you. You may have one or two bad days then again you may not. Do you have a gynae liason nurse who could help to put supports in place for you?

[2002chevy in reply to Hidden]

No nurse yet. Have a meeting with cancer team on thurs. I do have 2 friends and a nephew to help me. One will be moving in annd one has been staying here with me. Only been 4 weeks since surgery. I am able to get around the house. No energy to leave house and I am mentally freaking out about dieing. Has visiting nurse come out today and ask about anti deppresents cause I am in a very dark place right now. I think it's hard to deal with life knowing your going to die and I am not looking forward to pain treatments. I have low grade and chemo don't usually take to it. So is it worth being miserable or wait it out. Ughhh

[Hidden in reply to 2002chevy]

First of all you are still recovering from surgery and you are still tired and weak. I remember when diagnosed I was very upset, I did opt for treatment and I am glad I did so. At this stage your energy levels are depleted. So try and eat a little and drink fluids. If you are able, walk around your house every hour or so to build up your strength then perhaps a walk in the garden. You are bound to be sore, wear loose clothing and I found cami vests very handy to wear as I felt it protected my tummy a little. You shouldn't be lifting anything heavier than a cup of tea. Having Ovarian Cancer doesn't mean you will die, we all feel doom and gloom. But you are lucky to have some support around you. Can your friend take you out to a café for a cuppa it would do you good to get out for a bit. If you need antidepressants to cope with this that is okay too, just speak to your doctor,

[Iodjam]

I felt exactly the same when I was diagnosed with an inoperable pelvic tumour OC in Nov 2016 . The worry and fear is traumatic. I had 18 sessions 6 cycles of chemo and responded very well. I was told this would kill me at the start too and now I am returning to work next week so please remain positive you can do this

Hugs

Imelda

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

Were you on carb\taxon chemo

[2002chevy in reply to 2002chevy]

Taxol I meabt

[Iodjam in reply to 2002chevy]

Yes carbo/ taxol 6 rounds of very strong doses had a few weeks where it couldn’t b done because of bloods being low but started injections for 5 days after every chemo and they worked great

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

Will it make ill. What can I expect . bad symptoms. Will I be able to function.

[Iodjam in reply to 2002chevy]

I got flu like symptoms after the first week about 3 days later but was fine every other week I’m prone to absess so had a few issues with my teeth/gums etc but didn’t affect me only hyper the day of chemo from steroids and found it hard to sleep that day. Everyone is different though but you shouldn’t be sick they’ll give you plenty of anti sickness meds to take

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

Why every other week. I have carb every 3 weeks. Were you every other week. ?

[Iodjam in reply to 2002chevy]

I was on very aggressive chemo so had taxol every week then carbo every 3 weeks

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

I will be having taxon every week and carb every 3 to. I hope it's not agtessive chemo. Don't like feeling like I have the flu. When did you have chemo done

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

Why was hours aggressive ?

[2002chevy in reply to 2002chevy]

Yours I meant

[Iodjam in reply to 2002chevy]

They had to do aggressive chemo because my tumour was aggressive I know there’s diff strengths they give because they reduced my once I started Dec 2016 and finished April 2017 then had 31 radiotherapy sessions . The flu symptoms were only the first week every other week was fine my advice to do is don’t plan anything that week and wear black nail polish for duration of treatment as nails can be very sensitive nobody told me this until my last day of chemo. I’m regards to hair my started to come out after 3rd chemo

[2002chevy in reply to Iodjam]

I heard about the hair. Mine is to my butt. Not looking forward to that. How are the nails sensitive. Like brutal or they hurt ? I have low grade ovc. Maybe my chemo won't be aggressive.

[Iodjam in reply to 2002chevy]

I hope I’m not worrying you it was nothing too bad obviously it sucks having to go through it but I really did find it manageable. My nails got very sore that’s why they lowered my dose and they all started to lift but didn’t fall off so definitely use the black polish. The hair is traumatic I didn’t shave mine left it all fall out took weeks to go. Invest in the maybelline tattoo brow for your brows so you don’t have to draw them in everyday it’ll stain your skin I swear by it

[annieH1]

Hi Chevy,the dark place is not a nice place to be but ,most of us end up visiting it now and then.First of,if you read on the internet about Ovarian Cancer and prognosis then,you get out of date information.They go by 5 year statistics and they are 5 yrs out of date.2nd we are all individuals and respond differently to treatment and diagnosis.I was given 3 months survival as I was advanced stage four,inoperable ,incurable,that was back in 2014,I didn't give up,I didn't give in,I was and am very tough on my o.c! I do visit the dark place but find music helps me leave it.You'll get through this,you have no option but to fight it and you will deal with all that entails with the help of your gp,specialist nurse and family xx

[2002chevy in reply to annieH1]

Ty. Have an appt with regular doctor for antidepressants ?

[annieH1]

Anti depressants are ok for short term if you really need them.At the end of the day ,they don't solve the problem.There are fantastic therapists who deal with cancer patients and I guess that's what we need,someone qualified to give us the tools to help us cope with the trauma of diagnosis.I would ask your gp for referral or phone the Irish cancer help line or your specialist nurse would give you contacts.i found writing a diary helped a lot,when you can't talk to a person ,you can always write on a page x

[2002chevy]

Yes I know I really don't want to take anti depressant but I figure I go and see what my doctors says. I also will inquire about cbd oil. I don't think I can take my percocets while on chemo ???

[Hidden]

Try ARC. They are great and really understand the difficulties of treatment and chemo and the concerns real or excessive due to fear. I found them really good and I wouldn't have been the greatest candidate for attending such a group. Ask your team.

A suggestion for your hair might be to donate it for a wig. Your hair will thin or fall out altogether. There is a cold cap treatment where you can reduce the rate of hair loss. it does still thin though. I had it and it worked past my daughter's confirmation which was my problem. After that it began to fall out completely in places so I gave the cold cap up and had my head shaved. Again talk to the team for more advice and information. Hairloss is always traumatic.

Nails there are products that can protect to a degree your nails and hair.? Perfectyl in Boots. Have a look. Talk to your team.

Your oncology nurses will help you and guide you through all this. Get used to talking with them. You'll feel comfortable talking with them about anything after a short while.

The sooner the 27th starts for you the better. It's a lonely time for you until then and then once you start that goes as you move to a full on interactive treatment of chemo day wards full access to talking etc. Your fear will abate during this. I think all on this page would confirm that.

I wish you the best of luck. You sound exactly l Iike I felt when I started in early March last year.

Big Hugs.

[2002chevy in reply to Hidden]

What is ARC?

[Hidden]

ARC are cancer support services.

I am in Dublin and have access here. Google them to see where they are for you.

[Nancy222]

Two years ago I was diagnosed with low grade serous cancer. I had surgery (lost 8" of my bowel because it had spread to the bowel, thank goodness. I say thank goodness because my cancer would have gone undetected otherwise) and a complete hysterectomy. I was told my cancer was chemo resistent and if it came back there would be nothing they could do.

Two years later, I'm now told that letrozole is showing promising results and I'll be going on that.

2002Chevy, I don't know if the chemo helped or not. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't the worst. But I know I'm still in the game.

As to chemo advice, drink lots of water (I used iced water), try to eat as healthy as you can, and at the first sign of nausea, take the anti-nausea medication. And get out and walk. XXOO

You've had one session under your belt. Let us know how it went.

[2002chevy in reply to Nancy222]

Yes Iam on d at 3 chemo. Feeling ok . so far ?? My chemo is moderate Not aggressive . not sure if really makes a difference. I do walk for now. I used to walk for warm up and come back get bycycle and then a video. I would exercise 1-2and half hours a day. My average weight was 130-135 couldn't figure out why the belly thing wasent going way. I know why now. Anyways Iam now 115 soaking wet. I'm giving it a shot. Eating like a pig right now.

[2002chevy in reply to 2002chevy]

I meant day 3 of chemo

[Nancy222 in reply to 2002chevy]

Day 3 was when I'd feel like I was hit by a Mack Truck, and then...it was over. Hang in.

I'm so pleased you're eating. That always helped me. You're really active. That'll help a lot.

[2002chevy in reply to Nancy222]

Yes day 3 and my chemo treatment ended at moon on Tuesday. Little tired .

[Nancy222]

I hope you'll be able to nap.

[2002chevy]

Iam out in garage working on my 68 mercury cougar and my friends truck and mine. Keeping busy.