Hi all you lovely ladies. I do hope you are all as well as you can be. I just wanted to encourage you all by saying I've just come back from my 6 year oncology appointment and have been told I don't need to go any more unless I feel the need. My CA125 has gone up to 10 and as you know that's nothing to worry about. The trial will continue for 10 years. Not bad for Stage 3C.
I hope this shows it's possible ladies and my best wishes to you all. Zena xx
Wow! That’s fantastic news!
That’s wonderful news, and gives me lots of hope. Congratulations! xxx
Great news Zena 🥂
Fantastic News! Xx
That’s really great. I nearly made it to 5 years but had a reoccurrence. Currently back on the chemo but your news is very reassuring x
So did I but still here NED a further 7.5 years on..... albeit on a trial drug. Keep the faith 
I’m upbeat and positive most of the time but every now and then I wonder if I’m going to be okay. Chemo does mess with my brain a bit....2 down 4 to go. I hope I’m NED at the end of it...
If I am totally honest I feel the same, I can't quite believe I have been this lucky and am getting to the stage where I think a recurrence is just round the corner! It's like waiting for an axe to fall! All part of the 'normal' for anyone with a cancer diagnosis I suppose. Do let us know how you get on! Last time on chemo I scanned NED after my third so you never know!v xx
Great news and a celebration to be had I hope?! Can I just ask as part of the trial do you still have three weekly drugs?
thanks,
sticky3006
No, I'm on no drugs. I think I've been very lucky. The trial was just to see if it made any difference having chemo weekly or 3 weekly. It turns out it didn't but at least they're looking into things. xx
Sorry just realised I've asked you that question before! I know the answer thanks xx
Just seen this and didn't realise so answered anyway. I put it all down to chemo brain. lol xx
Fantastic news!
Brilliant 💞
Wow that’s brilliant!! Congrats!! BRCA patients seem to do better than non BRCA from what I’ve read . Best wishes for the future , D
Such wonderful news! So happy for you, Zena! 🎉🥂xx Gina
Fabulous, well done xx
Tears of joy for you. LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.
Such wonderful news Zena, long may it continue!! 🥂 Always great to read such positive news on here, gives us all hope 💕
Thanks for sharing
Liz xx
Very well done, Zena - that is fantastic 🍾🍾🍾. Sincerely hoping that you are cured of this hideous disease - and it’s very much looking like you are! Fabulous news - please keep us updated on how you are doing. You look fabulous and as if you are living life to the full - just how it should be, lots of love 💕, Mel xxx
Thanks Mel, I don't say much on here now. So many have left it was getting hard to cope with. I still look every day but haven't got much to say that could help anyone.
I do live every day, I'm always so busy enjoying the things I couldn't do when working plus I love a holiday. I wish I had more money so I could do more of them. I still moan when there are others so much worse off than me.
Wish you all the best. Zena xx
Utterly fab news, Zena!! Let's hope you never have to go back to the Oncologist - but good that you can see him if you do feel the need.
Love and best wishes for the future, Solange 😊
Zina. That's such good news. Mum was diagnosed at 3C too and after three lots of chemo she's been steady since June 17 and her CA125 is currently at 9. You must be so pleased. I'll share the news with mum too. Jane XX
Hi Jane, I'm glad all is going well for mum. Long may it last. Best wishes, Zena xx
Sorry spelt your name wrong!! Zena!! Think it was autocorrect, which also wanted to change it to Rena!! XX
With my name I answer to anything. lol. xx
Fabulous news! Thank you for sharing - I think it's so important for everyone to know the good stuff too. Here's to many, many more healthy and happy years for you. x
I am so pleased for you - this is such good news and gives hope to everyone x x
Love to hear this, so important to share good news! Very happy for you. Keep it up 😊😘
Good to read your brilliant news. Thank you for sharing and cheering me up. Jo 🌺🌼🌸🌻🌹
I’m so happy for you! Wonderful results. Enjoy your life!
That is such great news! Very encouraging! I have to go back and look at your posts before I ask you a million questions.
I was diagnosed in 2015 stage 3 high grade serous. One recurrence in 2018 currently on Zejula. Did you have any recurrence in 7 yrs? My chemo nurse told me that once I recurred it will always come back. I thought that was so discouraging to hear. But, reading your great news, I believe there’s always hope!
Enjoy and stay well!!
Xox
Marisa
Thanks Marisa, I haven't had any recurrences but I've never heard anyone mention that once you've had one you'll get more. Why should that be the case, I wonder. I've never heard of Zejula but then I'd never heard of Avastin or BRCA until I read about it on here.
It just confirms what I always say, you don't know what need to know until you know about it.
Wish you all the best and let me know more about the recurrence if you find anything out, please. Zena xx
You make perfect sense. I truly love that you never had a recurrence because this truly proves that our disease isn’t a death sentence. I completely appreciate doctors being straightforward but I just wish they would let go of the statistics and put more hope into our hearts. I am going to ask the question during my next follow up and let you know what they say.
Xox
Marisa
Fantastic news💙❤💜💛
I’m so pleased for you, it is lovely to have good news, thanks for sharing. X
So happy for you Zena! Don’t know how I missed this earlier but the sentiments remain the same!!! Such great news. ❤️
Excellent Zena, this makes hearts sing! Thanks for sharing this.
Because of my CRUK-UCL patient rep. role, I'm always trying to learn more, so do you mind telling me which type of OC was diagnosed and what your treatments have been and where you have been treated?
Warmest wishes and simply 'brill'. Lesley
My original diagnosis was 10x8 cm mass plus secondary deposit on T2 W vertebral. My CA125 was 137. My tumour was stuck within my bowel and the cancer spread to bowel and abdomen. My notes say 'at least stage 3c, grade 3 (predominantly endometrioid but with papillary structures adenocarcinoma). TAH/BSO, omentectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy, ureterolysis, bowel injury. '
I don't know if any of this makes any sense as I've taken it from the letter sent from the surgeon to my GP.
I was treated in Southend-on-Sea hospital, Essex, England. I had weekly Carboplaton and Paclitaxel.
My side effects are peripheral neuropathy (which everyone seems to get) plus I still get aches where I had the cannula and I swear I still have chemo brain.
Well that was a lot to read and may be completely useless to you. Let me know and I'll try to dig deeper.
All the very best to you. Zena xx
Many thanks Zena,
I've no medical knowledge, except what I learned of my OC and the bits I'm learning from being a patient rep.
Your OC, from the medical jargon in the letter, sounds really invasive and widespread, so you have done brilliantly from weekly (dose-dense my oncologist called it when I had it six years ago too) Carbo-taxol, haven't you. So incredibly encouraging.
Mine has been two occurrences of clear cell with the second ocurrence removed - two tumours from close to my aorta and renal artery by surgery followed by the weekly carbo-taxol plus Avastin. I'm still NED too, six years since the last chemo finished.
Thanks for sharing.
Warm wishes,
Lesely x
Sounds like you're doing great Lesley. Long may it continue.
I probably looked up the meanings of some of the jargon but have since forgotten it. All I know is I had a tumour, stuck to and surrounded by my bowel and the cancer had spread to my tummy fatty tissue. I was lucky enough that my surgeon managed to save my bowel but the damage means I have to take daily laxatives (quite a few of them).
I did ask if she'd give me a tummy tuck at the same time (it was a joke). My tummy is still large and looks like I'm pregnant which I'm not happy about but then again everything could be so much worse.
All the best to you. Zena xx
Hope you're still doing well!! Praise God!!!
I am thanks. Having a CA125 on Friday for my trial. I like regular blood tests. It keeps me happy. xx
Do you get nervous when you do bloodwork at all? I just did some with my regular dr... and I must say I get nervous. Extremely uptight.
I was also wondering how many other Zenas have you met in your life? I like your name..
Thanks DaisyMae, you have a lovely name also. I knew a Zena at school and there was another Zena on this forum a couple of years ago. I also have a cook book by Zena Skinner, a TV cook from years ago. There's a Christmas cake recipe titled Zena's Christmas cake so I have to make that (when I bother). There's a couple of actresses, Zena Walker and Zena Marshall. More than likely dead now. There's Xena the Warrior Princess. There was a tennis player Zina who played Wimbledon. She was American I think. I guess I notice them because the name doesn't crop up much.
As far as the blood goes I don't get nervous. I think I've had too many canulas over the years especially when I did paid drug trials. As far as the results are concerned I assume the worst and it's a nice surprise if it's normal. Once I even took a packed hospital bag assuming I'd be kept in. That sounda silly now. I'm sorry to say that I doubt I'll ever stop worrying that the cancer will return but I do have days when I forget I ever had it at all. It's mainly when I go to bed trying to get to sleep.
I do hope you are doing as well as possible and wish you all the best. Zena xx
Zena, it's hard to go down this cancer road. I find my comfort in Jesus and his word. It's truly my source. When I think of all his suffering in comparison mines nothing. As I look around I see so many people suffering it just breaks my heart. I don't know if I'll ever get used to this new normal . At least that's the term I hear a lot. I'm a Triple Negative Survivor. Hanging on tight..
As for your name... I love it. We have that in common. My 6th grade teachers first name was Zena Gibson. I very rarely run into another Zena.. I think I can count on one hand how many I've met.
Hi DaisyMae, I'm so pleased you have your faith. It's a gift I'm yet to receive. It must give you much comfort. We all have our cross to bare and there are so many others that are worse off than we are. We just do our best.
I wish you all the luck in the world.
Best wishes, Zena xx
Zena, I know that you are going to co tune to do well. You sound like a strong wo.an, and no doubt have a strong support group. We are blessed to have goodDr's.
Stay well!
I was also 3c so your post is really reassuring. Thanks for sharing and I wish you well
Hi Zena just wondered if you can answer me done questions as I'm not getting this trial thing .When you had your debulking operation and chemo did you then have a recurrence at some stage and then go on a the ICON trial for 18 weeks and your cancer has never returned?
Hi Win, no I went on the ICON trial before any treatment. They put me on the chemo every week part of the trial. The results came back that it didn't matter if you had chemo weekly or three weekly the outcome was more or less the same. I've been lucky enough to never have a recurrence. The longevity part of the trial must be on going.
Wish you all the best, Zena x
Just fabulous xxx
Good News
Good news!!!
Good News to Share
Good News, a great relief
