Well 7 years ago today I had my opration, a radical hysterectomy and the surgeon came by my bed and without any warning just stood and said 'the prognosis is not good' to which I replied 'who are you'. Taken aback he told me he'd operated on me and that Id have to have chemo , id lose my hair and be lucky to survive 'a couple of years'. Not the best way to find out I had stage 3 Oc. Id nursed my mum at home in 2006 for three weeks til she passed away on 1st March from Cancer so I knew a little about the disease. After the surgeon's visit to my bedside A macmillan nurse visited and reiterated what he'd said.
Well here I am 7 year later, 2 recurrences under my belt, 3 trials later (one ongoing), one stage 3 anaphylactic shock, (stage 4 and its curtains lol) and working full time. Latest scan no evidence of disease. Ive visited Las Vegas 6 times, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and this May got married in Las Vegas to the man who has held my hand every day of the last 8 years. So I want to say to that surgeon, Thanks but you were wrong...... thanks to that Macmillan nurse but you were wrong..... Is been an eventful 7 years, I lost my beloved father from Cancer in May 2013 and lost my boss from Cancer in September 2013. Both gave me so much support me and whose words keep me going 'Dont let the b*****ds grind you down Kathy' . Well Ive probably rambled a bit but it goes to show that there is life after diagnosis and a poor prognosis.....
Best wishes to all xxxxx
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Katmal-UK
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You are an inspiration. Carry on the fight. We all need to be there for each other. Have just finished second line. Chemo and am searching g Webb sites for a holiday, maybe should look further afield. Keep smiling. Jill
I t does however depend on when you hear it. At diagnosis it really did feel like a death sentence & of course I frightened myself by launching onto the internet & read all kinds of stuff, some much less credible than others.
18 months on and still on chemo, it feels much more like a word, actually the name of a chronic disease which can be treated.
Go further afield lol, done Egypt, Los Angeles and Las Vegas this year, off to Tenerife next week. Told my children they can have the house when Im gone but there wont be any cash left lol
Hi just had last chemo last week and although hair has thinned on the whole have kept most. It is looking bit tatty so have worn wigs on odd occasion when going out but pretty happy with results. Mid term scan showed no active cancer having another pet scan in 2 weeks so fingers crossed all still ok. Oncologist is happy and saying I will not need to see her for three months. Will be first three month gap since diagnosed May 2013 so looking forward to no hospital for little while. Jill
Wow what a totally inspiring story of sheer guts and courage!! Well done to you, and congratulations at what you have achieved by your own positivity, and discounting all the negativity you have received from the proffessionals!! It just goes to show that our mental state has very must impact on our physical health, although at times may be difficult to remain upbeat when your bloods are low.
So sad to hear of your losses, but the Cancer battle continue, and I see that there is more research and funding being done now than ever. My beautiful daughter Emma has just run a marathon I. melbourne for Ovarian cancer with a group of friends and raised $6,000 .
Best wishes to you and for your continuing improvement xxxxxxxx
Katmeal, what a fantastic story that will give a lot of ladies including me hope . What we all need is hope and I think the medical profession could be a bit more positive and give us a ray of hope as we all need hope. All the best to you and thanks for sharing your wonderful story, good luck to you and your wonderful hubby xxxx
What a brilliant post. Thanks so much for sharing this experience. You've shown that we're not a statistic and nobody can predict with any assurance what our destiny will be. You demonstrate it is possible to lead an interesting and fulfilling life even though there have been challenges and losses for you along the way. I'm sure this is going to be a heartening post for newly diagnosed women who are worrying about late stage diagnosis.
Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you many more happy years together. xx love Annie
What a story, go girl! Love the idea of so much life and travel in between all the important and harder things. This is what life is made of. Thanks for helping me to open my eyes a bit wider today.
I decided a long time ago I could sit and feel sorry for myself or I could live my life. I dont want to reach the end with regrets..... Wishing you well xx
OH what a lovely post to read. I agree with the comment "don't let the b'##d: get you down", but I like to think it is the disease as being the b''##d as both the surgeon & oncologist were kind, hopeful, tender when discussing my future with me. But i do understand that if you hear bad news in such a cold manner - it can be a bigger shock to the system. I am still under treatment, 3rd line now, for nearly 4 years - so it is a disease that no one can predict an honest outcome.
Im not sure Id call myself an inspiration just someone who's been lucky so far to be honest although my Gp said to me the other day ' how can you continue to work full time with two illnesses (I also have hypothyroidism, no biggy) to which I replied, why wouldnt I work? I admit Im lucky and I don't do it for the money but for the normality it affords me and there are days when fatigue hits that I ask myself the same question but I dont do anything different that loads of others do, I keep going..... I wish you well x
What a great post. Exactly what I wanted to wake up to and read this morning as I'm shortly started my next cycle and have been told 'there's not much more to try after this one'. We definitely need stories like yours, I desperatley search them out in my darkest times to keep me going - so thank you so much, what a tonic you are xx
Hi EllaRose. Stay positive, never give up hope. I wish you all the very best for your next cycle. The consultant who treated my mum said she'd be lucky to make 5 years but went on for 16 or so. Xx
You go girl!!!!. Love your post. Brilliantly motivating for anyone in doubt. There is hope and life and fun after oc. I am 5 years free. And thought it is in the back of my mind always. I do not let it rule us. Well done and enjoy xx
Kathy, thank you for sharing your story.I was diagnosed in June 13 with stage 3b, went into remission after chemoonly for it to return in August this year. No treatment yet will be scanned again in November. I love your attitude and get up and go. I'd love to go to Las Vegas but worried the insurance would be too expensive. Long many you continue this fight. Ann xo #Warriors
I think your post is so inspiring, keep up the good fight,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful, positive survival story. Keep going!
Having now read the thread of comments, I think there are many good stories out there and I admire the way people are living with this horrible disease with so much courage. It was a good day to sign on to the site today, and I hope everyone is happier for reading this story. Thank you for sharing
An inspiring good news story. thank you for sharing. on my diagnosis I thought I wanted to know my prognosis, but none of my health professionals would say. As we know, we all respond differently to treatments and adversity. I think is an unwise health professional who would say what you heard 7 years ago! I don't ask now, I feel well and have decided that having viewed statistics of survival, that somebody has to be on the long tail on the right hand side of the curve, so that's where I wish to put myself. Only God knows in the end. But life is good.
Wishing you all the very best in your married life. Maureen
Hi what a fabulous uplifting post . Go girl. Hope you continue to have many more wonderful holidays and kick this illness in to touch for many years more. I have never asked my prognosis and avoided looking at statistics as much as possible. My way of coping . Couldn't agree more about work keeping you feeling normal
Super to read your post - it just goes to show you must never give up hope. Everyone is different - as you've proved - and so have I. (I'll just have a quick touch wood - lol)
Love this post! I was diagnosed stage 1V in 2012. I've been lucky enough not to have a recurrence ...so far.... I have been living life to the full, travelling all over the world, albeit planned last minute and without insurance for C. I recently took time out from work as contemplating early retirement. I've now returned part time and loving feeling normal again. Obviously get terrors but try to live in the moment and appreciate what I've got here and now.
I love this post too, I was made redundant from my job on Wed last week and contemplated whether or not to even look for another one. However an agency approached me with a similar job, went for the interview and got it!
I start next week and can't wait, I truly believe that life is what you make it regardless of what it throws at you along the way.
I travelled to the USA for 3 weeks with no C insurance this year and loved it, we all had a fabulous time.
Congratulations on your new job! Life certainly is what you make of it ! I always travel with insurance but none for the cancer regardless of whether it's say Eqypt of Tenerife or the States. I don't go if I'm having treatment and always when I'm feeling well, usually shortly after a scan .
Cried when i read that, you my friend have been there throughout my journey, i have told you things no other person alive knows!! lol. you kept me sane when i lost the plot, made me laugh when i cried but most of all gave me hope that it would be ok, and look we are!!!! there are so many things I hate about this journey but when cancer gave me you - it was one of the blessings of my life. Thank you my lovely xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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