On the 18th November I had the shock of my life and was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the age of 22. My life changed instantly.My mind was a state. I met a consultant and had major surgery on the 17th December.
On the 5th January, after a very quiet Christmas, I then got told chemotherapy is recommended. I went home and cried my eyes out, it was so hard to come to terms with it.
I have my first treatment on the 21st January, and I am so scared, I don't know what to expect at all. I'm scared of the side effects, I'm scared its not going to work, I'm scared my confidence is going to go. I'm just scared of everything.
I don't know anyone who has gone through anything like this before, so I have no-one else to talk to about it.
Written by
bethcappleman
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I am sorry to hear your news. Your diagnosis is so recent, it must feel so raw. I have spoken on a few occasions to the nurse Ruth on the Ovacome helpline and she has helped me so much. I also speak to the clinical nurses in the Oncology department. Does your clinic have a clinical nurse specialist to talk to?. Everyone has a unique experience of chemotherapy I think. Have they told you which chemotherapy you will have? For me, I had my first chemos in 2012: Paclitaxol and Carboplatin on the same day : 6 cycles that year, 4, before surgery & 2 afterwards. I tolerated them well, fortunately I was very sensitive to both chemos & they shrunk my tumour conssiderably enabling a 2 years 7 months remission. I had some side effects which didn't last, fortunately. I had more chemo last year, 4 cycles ( July to September) followed by more surgery at end of October 2015 for a small recurrence, & I have no evidence of any disease now again. There is a lot of information & support on this site and elsewhere, but it can be hard to take it all in, I know. I would suggest talking to Ruth & other women on this forum. They are all so understanding and kind.I send you a virtual hug.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this so young. I think you are at the most difficult part now . Once you start chemo I hope you will feel the disease is controlled and won't feel as scared . I was terrified at your stage too . The good news with ovarian is some 80/90 %of cases achieve remission after chemo . The side effects seem to vary for everyone but I sailed through the carbo/taxol. Worked part time and kept my hair courtesy of the cold cap machine. You should ask your unit about this . It is a but uncomfortable at first but you get used to it v quickly. It also makes your appointments longer but so worth it . While it sucks getting this disease at all especially so young the fact you are young and otherwise healthy will stand to you during your treatment. Focus on the future and plan something nice for when u finish treatment . In the meantime be kind and patient to yourself and prioritise the things you want to do in a week and only see the people that make you feel better. Avoid the' energy vampires 'as I've heard them so eloquently referred to on this site! You will get through this and come out the other side stronger and back to doing the things you enjoy . Could you ring your support nurse to talk about the side effects you may experience?This might make you feel less anxious . Nausea is preventable these days due to the different drugs that have been developed . Most common side effect is tiredness which is manageable . Good luck with your treatment. Keep us posted on your progress.
Welcome Beth,you are so young its not fair ,but ,know what ,you will have your treatment you WILL get through it and you will then get on with your life ,because that's what WE do .Cry,shout ,curse ,whatever it takes ,everyone on this site knows exactly how you feel been through all the emotions and we will all be here for you ,and you always meet lovelypeople in oncology ward .depends on what treatment you on ,how you will feel ,hopefully it be a mild one . Beth wishing you all the best lots of hugs try not worry to much all will be well, on cemo myself at the moment. so if an oldish bird like me can do it so can you ,xxxxxx
Wishing you all the best with your treatment Beth, there is soo much support from all these lovely ladies on this site and lots of good advise to. You will get through and we have all felt as you do now, big hugs xx
Like the other ladies I am so sorry that you have to go through this and at such a young age! I was diagnosed last year too and can remember only too well the emotional roller coaster that it involves! I was petrified too but as I learned more and started the process the fear was more manageable!
I am currently in the middle of Chemo and had 2 surgeries late last year! The Chemo is tough but it is doable and the most important thing is that you get your head in the right place which is, as with many other things, easier said than done! It's important that you are aware of what might happen during Chemo so you have some information but as the others have said it's a very individual journey and you might be lucky and not get many of the side effects!
Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need even if they seem trivial if you need to ask them they are not trivial to you!! There are some really good support services available so don't be afraid to use them! The ovacome helpline and macmillian too they are all there to help and as far as I know there are specific services for young people who have been diagnosed!
Beth please don't be afraid to be afraid it's perfectly normal and inevitable the key is to do everything you can not to let the fear take over! Harness the fear and use it to kick that cancers ass!!!!! You will get through it and you will come out the other side with a renewed zest for life!!!!
Meanwhile be assured that all of the wonderful ladies on this site are here to listen and help all the way through the process!!!!
I wish you the very best of luck as you embark on this journey that no one wants to go on but that everyone learns something from!!!
Don't be scared, be strong. There are many treatment options out there. Chemo is not that bad really. I was diagnosed at 40. So young but of course not as young as you. It helps me to understand the disease fully, I'm sure you will find your own way of dealing with it. Nicola x
So sorry you are having to deal with this at a very young age. Being scared is part and parcel of the journey and I too am scared, but I try to put those thoughts to the back of my head as being anxious/scared all the time is not good for the mental wellbeing. Try to focus on the positives in your life, surround yourself with good friends try to take your mind of things. The thought of the treatment is less scary than it actually is (see clare50's post). Do you have a local Macmillan centre you could go to for support. Have you seen targetovariancancer.org.uk/.... There maybe a local support group near you, I know there is a young persons cancer support group at my local Macmillan.
Hi Beth, so very sorry that you've had such shocking news... if you look at the 'pinned posts' on the top right, you'll see a link to the 'younger women's guide'. It was created by all the main OVCA charities and a lot of women who have gone through similar things to you and come out the other end wanting to make it a little easier... Do have a look (you can download an electronic copy or ask for a free booklet from any of the charities involved)... There are loads of links for support and it's really wide-ranging so hopefully will be relevant to some of the many things which might feel really difficult at the moment.
When I was diagnosed the hardest thing to cope with was the isolation, like you I didn't know anyone who'd gone through anything similar and it made a massive difference to find out that I wasn't alone... It's great that you've posted here and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice and friendly support.... As someone has said, there is a nurse-led helpline at Ovacome and there is also a lovely supportive services team at Target Ovarian Cancer who may well be able to put you in touch with other women your age.
The fear of chemo (as it is so unknown) is really really natural, there are lots of posts on here with tips etc you can find if you use the search box. Once it starts and you know what's happening, you will find your own way through the cycles. It does tend to affect people a little differently and as you'll often hear, it's a good idea to keep a little notebook with you and jot down how you feel, what helps etc on each day as you'll quickly find a pattern to it. You will be really well looked after by the chemo nurses and I hope you've a lovely and supportive CNS amazing sure that you are accessing all that might help?? I started meeting with a oncology psychologist at about the same time that I started chemo (I asked my CNS for a referral) and it was incredibly helpful for me to be able to talk through how I was feeling and have this support.
I do hope you've some nice things planned for the next week- it's so important to be kind to yourself, especially now.. even simple things like a walk or a meal out can help a lot....
We all have that initial sinking feeling when we hear the news first but for a young woman like yourself it must be more shocking. This disease mostly strikes older women like myself but there are also some younger women on this site too. We will all try to encourage you because sometimes the thought of having to go through the treatment can be worse than the reality. I found that during treatment for some reason I never felt better. I had known deep down that something was wrong and now that I was being treated it felt like a positive step. I didn't even mind losing my hair so I had it shaved off just before the second treatment and got a nice wig and a selection of scarves.
If you look to the right of your post you will see a heading called Pinned Posts. They tell you about a new publication called Guide for Younger Women. It would be well worth your while reading it as there are issues younger women need help with and you will find answers and reassurance there.
Finally I want to wish you all the best. Cancer patients are mostly treated with tender loving care by their medical teams. Have any questions ready and written down and if it's possible bring a friend , partner or relative you trust with you to your first few appointments at least. Try not to be scared. Not everyone has severe side effects and if they have there is a solution for every known side effect. Of course just come on this site and you will have so many experienced people ready and willing with encouraging
Hello Beth, I'm so sorry you are having to face all this, especially at such a young age. A friend of mine was diagnosed with OC when she was about the same age at you. She was very poorly by the time she was diagnosed and underwent major surgery and chemotherapy. Twenty five years later she was there for me when I was diagnosed with the same disease and she was a great support to me and still is. Being diagnosed with cancer is terrifying and life changing but you can do this. Take each day as it comes and don't be afraid to share your worries and thoughts with us all. We all know exactly how you feel and offloading these feelings really does help, take care, love Kerry xx
You have every right to be afraid. It's only natural to feel like this. You are so young to have this awful disease but most of us are old enough to be your mum or nanny and we all go through periods of feeling like that. What's most important is that you don't let this get deep rooted. Please speak to someone about it. I would recommend professionals. I'm surrounded by loving family and friends but it is so good to speak to trained people, others who are going through this and also this forum. You can come here for help, support, information or just to let off some steam.
My daughter is 23 and has BRCA 1 gene therefore has a high risk of getting this cancer. Your post really touched me. Are you BRCA or is there a history of this in your family ?
Get your boxing gloves on and get ready for the chemo. I'm 41 and get tired and frustrated with chemo but there are women on here in their 60/70's who have been through the mill and keep fighting. They continually inspire me to never give up.
A friend of mine who is 5 years out from Kidney Cancer told me (when I lamented I needed chemo) "It's a good thing you have such options." That made me feel better. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Keep on keepin on
Hi Beth...So sorry you've had to join this club that none of us wanted to join. Try to stay positive. There are so many advances in treatments these days. Everyone I know who has had chemo (including me) tolerated it very well. Just keep thinking of it going through your system killing all the hideous cancer cells. You'll find ways to cope with any side effects you may have. This site is so helpful....it's like aquiring so many new friends all at once. Also,your healthcare team will guide you every step of the way.
I wish you a smooth journey. You will come out stronger on the other end,then you'll be encouraging others as we're encouraging you!
Hi Beth, so sorry you find yourself in this situation especially so young, but glad you have found this forum early on in your journey it is an invaluable source of support, advice and inspiration for the fight. The ladies have already given you fantastic advice and everyone is with you
willing you to get through the chemo and come out stronger. Depending where you live you may also find it helpful to attend one of Target Ovarian cancer's 'Being together' days take a look at their website I think next one is in Norwich. Also Ovacome members day on March 5th.
Be kind to yourself and rest when you need to, but also plan as many treats and distractions for the good days in between treatments as it really helps to have things to look forward to and feel 'normal' (whatever that is!)
Sending hugs and wishing you well for your treatment, let us know how you are getting on.
Hi Beth.. I was diagnosed at 40.. I know a lot older and I really feel for you. Everyone here remembers the kick in the teeth that comes with diagnosis and when you feel like the crying will never end.. I was so scared of having chemo.. I had just seen and heard horrible things but actually it wasn't too bad at all. I had 6 x carboplatin and for about 48 hours after my treatment I just felt like I was coming down with a cold and then I started to feel better. The effect was accumulative and by the end I was jubilant but needed time to grow strong again.. Take care of yourself and like others have said, be kind to yourself and don't just hide yourself away.. xxx
Hi Beth, I'm sorry you've had to find this forum T such a young age. It is rare for women as young as you to get this disease but it does happen. My daughter's friends young cousin was diagnosed at 16.
Good luck for your chemo on 21st. There are lots of helpful tips for dealing with chemo side effects on the forum. I would recommend eating some fresh pineapple to help with the metallic taste you will most likely get.
It is frightening at first, but gset one over you and you are on your way to recovery. Keep your chin up, and you'll get there. Remember, we are all here for you so post at any time and someone will get back to you. Ann xo
Hi Beth, it is truly shocking to hear you have cancer - it sounds as though you're in good hands and your treatment is well planned. Take a look at this blog: emilymcarthur.blogspot.co.uk/
Emily was diagnosed at 25 years - her story is inspirational and should give you hope. Use the "contact me" option on her blog page - I know Emily would be happy to talk to you about her experiences .
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