What happens after chemo ends

[1lisamac]

Hi just wanted to know my mum is just having her last chemo session she was diagnosed to have stage 1c oc what happens how they said they will be in touch with her in 3 months but have a ct scan before that we are just in limbo you have everybody there for you while you have chemo then nothing for 3 months I’m concern for my mum I help her as much as I can but your website helps me so much to give her advice she had a full hysterectomy and a debulk can anybody give us advice on what happens now any reply’s would be gratefully recieved THANKYOU from an anxious daughter 💕❤️

[Hidden]

Hello Anxious and Loving Daughter - Thank you for taking such good care of your Mum. She is fortunate to have you to help her through this frightening time. We are here for her and for you and are happy to share our experiences so that hers might be a little easier.

You've heard it said (I'm sure) that cancer and it's treatments effect everyone a little differently and there are many, many nuances to our reactions to chemo, our recovery time, what happens to us next, etc. - there are themes and trends however and those are what can help guide you and your Mum toward what is best for you.

My experience (I am now just four months past my surgery/chemo first line treatment for stage 3C OC and 2C Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and one month past my first post-chemo check up) is that once chemo is complete, there is little to do but recover and wait. Your Mum will hopefully begin to feel better in a few weeks as her body recovers from the chemo. Hopefully her strength and energy will return.

Unless there are specific instructions from her doctor, she need only focus on healing - be sure she gets good nutrition, some exercise and that she remains involved in the day to day.

If she is like many of us, however, as the days and weeks tick by she will wonder if the cancer is gone. Hopefully she will have a CT scan within a month or so and that will confirm that the doctors have successfully removed it and eradicated it with chemo. If you do not have a CT scan scheduled, please work with her gynae to ensure she have one. It will give you both some peace of mind.

Even when that comes back "clear" you will have some challenges.

After months of nearly constant medical attention, information and support, there is none - unless you initiate it. It can be frightening not to know what your CA125 level is or to worry about whether or not your white blood cells have returned to normal. Every ache and pain is a "possible recurrence" and there is a near constant presence of cancer in your every thought and movement. If you are lucky, as the days pass by, you can forget for hours at a time that you are dealing with a cancer diagnosis....those are precious moments.

It's a difficult time, these first three months, but they pass and there are often many little celebrations to be had. Focus on the healing, notice your Mum's strength return, be present for her and let her share her thoughts, hopes, fears and worries. She is "living in the gap" between being ill and being well just now and that is a frightening place to be - for her, certainly, but also for you.

If your Mum feels ill or has any questions at all in these next three months, she should call her doctor/nurse. They are there to help and are very informative, supportive and comforting. And, if there is something that might need to be dealt with, they can keep on top of it. Do not feel like your questions are "too small" or that her symptoms are "not worth bothering the Dr. about" - every concern or worry should be addressed. Don't hesitate to call.

There are also a number of support groups - for patients as well as for caregivers - and perhaps joining one will help.

Three months from now your Mum will take another blood test, return to the Doctor for an exam and follow through on what is needed (if anything at that time) to continue to treat her disease. (If she has a CT scan done before her 3 month follow-up and it is clear, she will not have one again at her 3 month visit)

Hopefully, she will remain cancer free for all the days to come.

You are a kind and thoughtful daughter. Your Mum is fortunate to have you.

Keep us up to date and let us know how we can help.

All the best,

[1lisamac in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou so much almalyffe for replying we know what to expect now thanks to you I don’t know who worries more me or mum 😘about her cancer we lost my gran 15 years ago to breast cancer and when mum got diagnosed with oc I just thought I’m going to loose her but with people like you and many more on this website it gives us hope I wish you all the best to your recovery and wish you a long long long pain free cancer free life ❤️❤️💕❤️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That’s an excellent reply and covers everything you need to know. I just wish that the medics had the time to give this info instead of ladies feeling alone .xx

[1lisamac in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou x and yes they don’t give you any advice just say see your surgeon in 3 months we don’t even see chemo doctor unless more chemo is needed for mum but fingers crossed ct scan will be fine thankyou so much for your and everybody’s advice 💕

[Caroles1]

Hi love,

Agree with everything the ladies have said, I too was 1c, had the de baulk and 6 months carbo/taxol and a scan 6 weeks after finishing with regular blood tests and gynaecologist appointment, but I am private. I also had some courses to support me, since you can feel a bit like you have been cast adrift. I suffered with a bit of depression, because it can seem like , how did that happen to me?. It is a bit like post traumatic stress syndrome,but with support from friends and family, it can be got over. If mum is suffering there is no shame in getting help, there is a resident nurse on here, or McMillan or support courses available.

The good news is I am 3 years in remission next month and feeling well, getting on with life and keeping busy, travelling, looking after grandkids, going out on our boat and socialising with friends and family.....all for your mum to look forward to.

With such a supportive daughter, she will be fine 😀xx

[1lisamac in reply to Caroles1]

Thankyou carol that’s lovely news to hear it will give hope to my mum ❤️All the best to you and your family thankyou so much for replying my mum means the world to me and I would do anything for her as I expect any daughter would for there mum, reading this will give her hope and look forward to the future ❤️💕make sure you take it easy too xx all the best caroles1 xx

[Caroles1 in reply to 1lisamac]

I have a daughter too love and you are both special😘❤️ Xx

[1lisamac in reply to Caroles1]

And mums are special too 😘you can never replace a mum x

[Caroles1 in reply to 1lisamac]

Wish I could replace mine, treasure your time xx

[ShropshireJo]

Great advice from the ladies. Spring and Summer to look forward to. Just be gentle and kind to yourselves and go with the flow. It does take the mind and body a while to heal and come to terms with the enormity of what you’ve been through. All the very best Jo 🌸🌼🌺🌻🌹

[1lisamac in reply to ShropshireJo]

Thankyou you take care too shropshirejo ❤️💕will pass it on to mum and all the other ladies on this website 💕

[Fahza]

Hi You are doing a great job. But dealing with post surgery/chemo will be tough for you both. We are lucky that Sam was given NED last year and her first review was fine. But Sam has found it hard to process what has happened. There is the worry about not being a good mother or wife. She is 50 this year and will have many important decisions like to return to work or not. We have found Maggie's McMillan and our local cancer group really valuable and importantly they have helped Sam and I talk to each other about how we are feeling. It's the hardest thing in the world not to be able to talk with your best friend! Best wishes to you both.💐

[1lisamac in reply to Fahza]

Thankyou fahza I make sure my mum gets everything off her chest if I’m unsure of what to say I will always ask the lovely ladies on here for advice I think it’s too very important to talk as it keeps my mum sane thankyou for your advice and all the best to you both ❤️I know mum has a long way to go before she’s back to anything like her normal self but with time I’m hoping she will xx take care xx