Hi ladies, although I’ve read a lot on here, this is my first post. I think this site is just fab, all the info on here is so helpful & the support you give each other is just wonderful.
I was devastated when my lovely mum was diagnosed with stage 4 grade 3 OC in Dec 15. She had debulking followed by first line chemo carbo/taxol & Avastin & thankfully was NED at the end of treatment.
We had her 3 monthly oncologist apt today & were so relieved to be told that her CA125 (which has always been a good indicator for her) is still really low at 7 & exam was normal. Although mum is in remission & currently very well, I have a lot of anxiety over this awful illness to the extent I have many gastric ulcers (although Mum doesn’t actually know this & I never let on how bad my anxiety is!). So the usual ‘washing machine’ feeling in my tum started a couple of days ago in anticipation of her apt.
But, all is good atm and I’m so happy for Mum.
Just wanted to say hi and send this positive news for any newly diagnosed stage 4’s out there.
Take care everybody and wish you well.
Deborah (UK)
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DebMarner
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Hi Deborah. Thank you so much for saying hello and for your absolutely positive story! I’m so sorry you and your mum have had to go through this. Oh my gosh, your description of the washing machine tum is spot on! Like a bloody spin cycle that never gets to rinse and stop.... Here’s hoping for a long and healthy life for your mum. Hugs from Australia 💜
Hi Deborah,
Glad your mum is doing well as you say this is an awful illness.
Hi Deborah. So glad to read your mum is doing well, great news. Its never easy watching someone you love go through an illness like this. Make sure you look after yourself too xx Big hug xx Kathy xx
Deborah thank you! You have given me a clue about my daughter and her bad stomach episodes....she has also gone through my stage 4 dx and now remission but this disease never really lets you go.....both my girls have suffered with anxiety. Support is so important for families...if you can persuade them to take it xx
Fantastic news . Glad you have posted and found support here. Yes it's such a relief to get the results , and we live our lives going from one check up to the next . I am sure you are a great support to your mum but as the others have said please look after your own health too .
I have bloods done every 6 weeks as still on Avastin till January so it will be anxious results time next week !
May your mum have many many more good results in the years to come .
I guess welcome and hopefully your Mum stays well for a long time is my wish for you both. That dreadful anticipation waiting for results is probably one of the worst things in this journey. I hope you find the support is helpful. Good luck Sharon
Lyndy, so sorry to hear your dx. Anxiety is carried in the stomach (gut is our second brain)& it is tough for us daughters & sons as our mums mean the world to us - it’s not being able to help that’s so hard. That said, I’ve become much closer to Mum since her dx which is lovely. Not sure of your daughters ages but I found mindfulness & exercise helps me.
Think I need to stop reading stuff online too as it rarely helps anxiety. Not easy for me to escape cancer tho as I work in oncology for a pharma co, plus whilst Mum was in hospital having debulking last Jan I found out I had bilateral breast cancer (stage 1). Not the best timing! Never thought we would get through it all last year but we often laugh about it now!
Thank you for posting the good news for both you and your mum. I know exactly what the washing machine feeling is like, I still get it before check ups three years on, I don’t suppose that ever really goes away.
Please try to get some help for your ulcers and take care of you too.
Hi Deborah---I love these ladies too. So informed, so helpful and supportive. I wonder about my sons now. They have been wonderful and no matter when, always seem to be handling it OK--maybe they are suffering as you are and I need to ask more or delve (or are you better off with your mum thinking you're fine?) Anyway---my father had a couple of cancers (BRCA II but we didn't know it back then) and was the most even keeped human being in the world. All of a sudden, he would act strange--short with us or one syllabic answers-- and I realized it was always before a test/test result from one of his cancers, then he was his normal self again after results. There are many posts about learning to live with the anxiety--meant for the patients mostly but I am sure the same way of dealing with it would apply to you. I would search some of those responses (you can do word searches on the top right of your home page) to see how people cope and cope well. Good luck with mum and I hope she remains NED and I hope your ulcers improve or go away as you follow her on her journey. ox Judy
Thanks Judy and good idea I will have a search on here about dealing with anxiety when I get a min - others experiences and tips always help. Glad to hear you have such fabulous sons and hope they are dealing with it ok. I always feel a lot better when I can do practical things that really help mum but sometimes she doesn't always like to ask. We can't control the disease but feeling that we have helped you, greatly helps us!
I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year just after mum's surgery - terrible timing and although it was luckily caught early and I escaped chemo, I did have a mastectomy and ovaries removed so crashed into an early menopause. Although I don't worry about my own health, no doubt it hasn't helped my anxiety. I do prefer mum to think I'm fine! I can deal with myself and have a lovely partner to look after me, but I can't deal with the thought I'm giving her another worry.
Hi Deborah. I know what you mean about the washing machine effect. My mum was diagnosed 3c on Christmas Eve 2013. She's had the debulking and three lots of chemo and it currently quite stable. I'm so grateful to still have her around and really enjoy my time with her. I live over 200 miles away from her so that is hard. Thanks for sharing your positive story. Jane X
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