how long before surgery?

[trolleydollyuk]

i was diagnosed with stage 3 OC on the 24th June, the date for hysterectomy is 30th July. How long have other people had to wait for surgery, i'm concerned that the cancer is spreading and going spare as regards to how successful treatment is, every website you go to seems to paint a very different picture, do people actually go into total remission from OC?

[Cadbury]

I understand how very scared you feel but you will find that there is much support on this website and reading information from women who have been through this process will give you strength. Remember, you are not alone.

I was diagnosed with OVCA a year ago, just as the summer holidays were about to commence, and the surgeon was away so I was put on the waiting list, like you. I felt desperate to have the cancer out too as I thought delay was jeopardising the situation.

In hindsight, I do not believe that cancers gallop and spread that quickly. You must remember that you have already had this cancer for quite a while, long before you ever realised.

Reading websites can scare the living daylights out of you, but we all do it. Somehow, they can make you believe that you have entered a horror story or a death sentence. The reality is very different. Not all the information on the internet is accurate and some of it is 5-10 years out of date. Facing cancer feels overwhelming but you must remember that the statistics on websites that refer to life expectancy also take other factors into account, like pre-existing health problems, a fatal car crash or heart attack. In other words, the statistics can be very misleading.

Treatment for OVCA is thorough and patients are monitored closely. The difficulty with OVCA is that it is an unpredictable disease and I must stress that every patient is different, so it is impossible to generalise. Nowadays, few doctors talk about "cure" but use the word remission, as no one can ever be sure. Women are often in remission for years and the further one moves along from the initial diagnosis, the more likely it is that the cancer will not return and that one can be deemed cured. I am told by my Oncologist that the "peak" time for a possible recurrence is within the immediate two years following completion of treatment and this is why women are examined every 3 months.

A year down this journey, I feel very well indeed and remain in remission. You will be stronger than you can imagine through this process, and this is the experience of many, many women. They find the strength and that pulls them through. Try to concentrate on one stage at a time at the moment otherwise you will feel drained of emotional energy.

If there is anything else that I can answer for you, please ask.

Best wishes

Isabelle

[beckyh]

Trolleydolly

you might also find it useful to have a look at the forum on the main ovacome site. This has threads from ladies who are at various stages of their cancer journey - you may find someone who is at the same stage as you that you can befriend and share some of your experiences with.

Last July when I was diagnosed I was fortunate enough to find another lady with whom I am now friends - we emailed each other and eventually met up earlier this year when we were both through our treatment. It helped me through the isolation I was feeling and we cheered each other through the difficult days of chemo.

You don't say if you've started chemo yet or if this will be given following your surgery.

It is stressful and shocking to be told you have cancer and if it helps I am now in remission - with no evidence of disease. It can happen - it doesn't mean I'm cured but it does mean that I don't need any treatment at the moment and I hope that it continues to stay this way.

Keep in touch and good luck.

Becky

[trolleydollyuk in reply to beckyh]

thank you both so much for your response, at the moment i'm terrified of everything that is going on and eventhough i'm extremely optimistic the unknown is extremely scary. this site has been fantastic and actually makes me feel as if i can get answers from women who know exactly what i'm going through as they have already been there. So glad that both of you are in remission and i hope that it stays that way, it gives me a lot of hope. Becky have not had any chemo yet, the dr's have said this will start 3-4 weeks after the hysterctomy. Fingers crossed everything will go well.

thanks and best wishes

Shabila

[Hidden in reply to beckyh]

Hi Shabila

as someone else who has been through it all, I just want to say that the advice that both Isabelle and Becky have given you is absolutely on the button, they couldn't have put it any better. Keep re-reading what they have said, it will hopefully spur you on.

As Becky mentioned, keep in touch with us all on the Ovacome forum, and maybe consider Ovacome's fone-friends network.

Gill J

[wendydee in reply to beckyh]

It's a really good support network! I'm still going eight years after my op, so there is a lot of hope. Just want to say keep strong and keep in touch.

Wendy x

[AngelaAbell]

Hi trolleydolyuk. I can only agree with everything that that others have said and suggest that you speak to the Ovacome Helpline. If it helps, I was diagnosed with stage 3 about 13 years ago. I had an emergency hysterectomy follow by chemo - and then 12 years of remission during which time I felt great and did many things. The cancer has now returned but the treatment is well in hand and I as I know a lot more now than I did first time round it isn't so frightening. So speaking to staff, volunteers and members at Ovacome has been a big help. Good luck. Angela

[MargaretJ]

I was diagnosed Stage 3c at the end of Sept 2009, I had 3 lots of chemo followed by "debulking" surgery in Jan 2010. The chemo shrank the tumors (I could actually feel one - where they took the biopsy - shrinking). The surgery got everything visible (dammit the surgeon is absolutely gorgeous and I am a Broadhead Babe despite being old enough to be his mother! Dammit!) and I am now " under review" after a further 3 lots of chemo (and a nasty infection post op). I have hair, eyelashes and eyebrows again and I am no longer into "deferred gratification" after all I don't know how long I have left! If you know of a tasty6 male not young enough for me to have given birth to or taught do let me know! I would actually like to go out with a bang! and I am 70!

<b>Updated on Dec 15 2010 11:56PM:</b> I forgot to say that they told me from the beginning that this was terminal! It is better than being told you have Parkinson's, MND, MS,or a stroke. One of my best friends had a stroke just over a year ago. Thankfully for her she had another one last week and died. She hated being unable to read or talk properly! She was a brilliant and thoughtful woman and I hope I go more quickly than she did! Death is not the worst thing that we face! Make sure that you enjoy every day!