Riddled with anxiety

[mgrae456]

My mother was diagnosed about 3 1/2 years ago with high grade stage 3 ovarian cancer. She had optimal debulking done by Dr. Chi at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. She then completed dose dense carbo and taxol. He pre-op ca125 was around 200 and since her second week of chemo it has been single digits. Every 3 months she goes for a scan (MRI the doctor let her choose because she was concerned with radiation) and a ca125. The scans for 3 years have been clean like I said and single digit ca-125. She had a scan Monday and the doctor called today to say the scan shows a 5mm cyst by her spleen. He said that he feels 90% it's not cancer and it would be an abnormal presentation of recurrence. He said it's too small to biopsy and the only thing we can do is wait minimum a month and get another scan. This time CT. In the meantime I feel like I got punched in the stomach. I know the odds sound good but the thoughts in my mind are making me crazy. Any thoughts, or advice would be helpful.

Michael

[Perthgirl]

Michael, your Mom sounds like she is in great hands and if the doctor is that positive, I feel sure that it is nothing to worry about but even if it was too be a recurrence, they have caught it so early. Try to remain as positive as possible and be reassured that her doctors are doing everything right

[mgrae456 in reply to Perthgirl]

Thank you for the reply. I'm trying not to let my mind get the better of me.

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Michael i was diagnosed stage 3 high grade nearly 12 years ago, still here despite 2 recurrences. Yr mum is in good hands, she is being checked regularly, to say try not to worry is easy to say but harder to do I know. Having said that worrying wont change anything but will spoil the time you have with yr mum x i wish you both well, do let us know how things go xx Kathy xx

[Jcspirit54 in reply to Katmal-UK]

Good advice

[Lyndy]

Hi Michael

This is really hard...the waiting around, is it, isn’t it but unfortunately that’s the game we are all in. The only thing that works for me is to focus on today, try to make the most of your time, enjoy every little thing and let tomorrow alone. Your worry is not going to affect the result but it is going to sap your energy and enjoyment. xx

[Caroles1]

Hi Michael,

The waiting and Uncertainty is the worst, but she is in great hands and worrying won’t make it any better.

You have to put your faith in the experts and try to get on with life no matter how hard.

Try to arrange some trips, days out, even a little holiday to make the time go by and make some memories.

Every day is a new day and one to be enjoyed.I am still here 4 years later,

Carolexx

[Lind58]

My mom had her surgery by dr. Chi as well! He’s a miracle worker. I hope for you both this is not cancer related. Msk closely monitors and she’s in great hands.

[mgrae456 in reply to Lind58]

I can't say enough good things about Dr Chi and MSKCC. They have my total confidence which is so great for piece of mind. They tell me something like this and what to do I trust it completely. I hate this waiting but at least I know it's the right course of action. At another facility on top of the test anxiety I would be wondering if the doctors were doing the right thing.

[Trathi]

Hi Michael, sorry to hear your mum is having problems again after 31/2 years clear. I know you will be feeling awful and thinking here we go again, and it is only natural.

I was similar to your mum, after Initial findings I had debulking which also removed part of my bowel, omentum and then they found it along my diaphragm. I had Carbo/taxol 6 sessions over 6 months and was given the all clear. Just coming up for a year in remission I had some pain just below my right side of my ribs and felt bloated again, and off food. My bloods showed my Ca125 had risen so a CT scan was ordered, which showed that I had metastasis in my spleen and my cancer was now incurable. My oncologist even told myself and my husband he thought I had two years maybe more, maybe less to live. However, I was started on a Caelyx/Carboplatin mix of chemo and have just had a CT scan again mid cycle which showed it was reducing the tumours, I had another session of Caelyx/Carboplatin and have two more to go, then he will put me on oral Niraparib following another CT scan at the end of chemo. My oncologist was much more positive after this scan and said i was doing really well.

Only thing was I then fell over in our living room (I don’t know how, my foot just went from underneath me) and I have broken my foot 😂😂 I don’t know one thing after another.

I guess what I am trying to say is it doesn’t mean the beginning of the end, stay positive it really does help not only you but your mum. I am living a full normal life and I am about to move house (hopefully if everything runs smoothly).

Sending you all lots of love 💕 hugs 🤗 and positivity

Tracy xxx

[RomanZ in reply to Trathi]

Hi Trathi, glad to hear you are responding well to treatment and I hope you are feeling well. Are you positive for some sort of gene mutation? Like BRCA? and if you don't mind sharing what were your ca125 levels at time of relapse?

[Trathi]

Hi Roman, no I wasn’t positive for any BRCA mutation. When my Ca125 initially went up it went from 12 to 47 so not significantly raised as such but along with all the symptoms returning I was seen quickly.

I am in the UK which may be different in USA. I hope you are getting your head round things a little and your mum is ok xx

[RomanZ in reply to Trathi]

Thanks Trathi. Hope you're feeling well and your recovery continues. All the best.

[mgrae456]

Quick follow up question. My mother just had her ca125 and it's 9 it has fluctuated 7-10 for 3 years. If this half centimeter cyst was a recurence wouldn't ca125 be elevated? I thought ca125 popped before imaging could show anything.