Just diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

[doreenharwood]

Hi would appriciate any comments to help me at the moment re treatment I may expect for overian cancer. Not sure which stage I am at.

[Jersey-girl]

Dont panic easier said than done I know, I was diagnosed in Febraury. There are so many different treatments out there and each of us have specfic drugs etc with our own idivdual cancers.just want to say you are not alone.....

Just try to absorb information and I will leave it to the lovely 'volunteers' on this site to explain more.. For now take care and chin up, a positive attitude helps even though I am sure you are still reeling from the shock.xxx

[Hidden]

Sorry you've had this happen to you - but don't despair.

The 'standard' treatment is surgery plus chemo (sometimes 3x sessions of chemo to shrink the tumour/s, then surgery, sometimes surgery then 6x sessions of chemo). The surgery is usually to remove everything in the pelvis which has been invovled - hysterectomy, ovaries, omentum - perhaps appendix (depends upon the type and stage of your disease). The chemo is usually carboplatin and taxol; although again, it depends on you and your disease and there are decisions to take about what to do (I refused taxol, for instance). All of it is much more 'do-able' than you would imagine.

With luck you get through the surgery and chemo and find yourself in remission and don't have a recurrence.

If you are looking to inform yourself about coping with the treatments and getting free from disease, you would do well to get hold of 'Anticancer; a New Way of Life' by D Servan-Schrieber.

Very best wishes,

Isadora.

[daisycandoit in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Isadora, I have ordered that book, I like the sound of it and I have already changed my diet, I find I don't fancy sweet stuff at all since this bout of chemo! so shouldn't be too difficult to follow, love Diane xxx

[doreenharwood]

Thank you ladies that was a great help to me, I hope one day to be advising other people in my situation. I plan to beat this and it wont beat me got to much to live for ie a husband, children and 7 granchildren. So let the fight begin x

[Whippit]

Dear Doreen, Welcome to our community. You'll find lots of support on this site in addition to the care from your local surgery and hospitals. I was diagnosed in spring last year, had a radical hysterectomy within 2 weeks and it was about this time of year I started chemotherapy.

The care I've had has been exceptional. My GP's a great support, the hospital staff were incredibly kind and encouraging and even though no one wants this diagnosis you will be aware of many blessings.

You're starting off well with your determination to fight the disease and your positive outlook. It's good to ask about the initial treatment. Like Isadora I didn't have Taxol - more by chance than design. Carbo-platin in large quantities seemed to work for me.

The first step is probably surgery. The techniques have become incredibly sophisticated and is one of the major factors in improving the prognosis for us. Good luck with it all. Let us know how you get on. Xx Annie

[daisycandoit]

Dear Doreen, you have found the right place and from the start of your treatment, it took me a bit longer to find! you will find all the help and understanding you need here, it is brilliant love Diane xxx

[Lottie6636]

Hi, I know exactly how you are feeling at the moment and it will take a while for the reality to sink in - it did with me. I'm stage 3c and I've had 3 chemo sessions, one more next week and then I'm having my operation. I feel really well and I'm keeping positive and determined to beat this. My tumours have shrunk to less than half of what they were after the 3 sessions and after 2 my CA level had come down from 4206 to 62!! You will have your bad days, but I'm sure being positive helps. Good luck and take care. Lottie

[lill]

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but think your positive attitude will get you through it. It is difficult to keep positive sometimes and I think it helps to have something (can be small and quite temporary) to look forward to.

I know you will receive enormous support from this site and I echo all the sentiments expressed above; I would just add that, if you are offered the opportunity to be on a trial, take it.

[wendydee]

Hi Doreen

It's not as scary as you think it will be, there is a lot of help along the way, the doctors and nurses I have come across are all wonderful and there have been some hidden benefits along the way. I won't go through my story, you can see that by clicking on my profile, but I was diagnosed nearly ten years ago and I'm still here, so far ........ You sound as if you have a really good attitude and that will help you along the way. Chin up and keep coming back here whenever you need to ask about a wobble, a worry or a WOW! We will all be here to share the way with you

Love Wendy xx

[EllaRose]

Hi Doreen

I was diagnosed in January. I am 44 with 2 small children. All a bit of an unexpected shock.

So far I have had 3 sessions of chemotherapy (carboplatin and taxol one week followed by taxol for the next two weeks) I then had surgery in april - full abdominal hysterectomy and omentum removal - I am now starting my second session of chemo (2 of 3) Seem to be responding well. Its a scary time I know but I have found having a positive mental attitude really helps. Obviously there are difficult times. Ask questions and make sure they explain things to you. This is my first posting but I remember how I felt in January - good luck xx

[Hidden]

Hi Doreen

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It is a scary time and can be a rollercoaster of emotions. Here you will find such love, comfort and advice from people who understand what you are feeling , no matter how trivial you may think a worry, it is a worry and we have been there.

Remember we are here.

with love Suex

[Hidden]

Hi Doreen

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis... Welcome to the club that no one wants to join... you will find a lot of support on here and you might not think it yet, but you will be a lot of support to others ... Thank you for your lovely poem.

Best wishes x Gwyneth x

[murielw]

chemotherapy is what I was put on in may.I have stage 3 and I am waiting for a scan after 3 lots of chemo.good luck Yvonne.