Cancer & Uni.

[ihearthomos]

After the discovery of a 10cm "cyst" in February it took the hospital until September to remove it. They left it because the doctors and nurses told me it was nothing to worry about, it would go in time. By the time it had been removed it was 25cm. It turned out to be a cancerous tumour.

It is a possibility that the cancer has spread, I will be having a CT scan next week to see this. Hopefully the week after my ovary will be removed. (possibly a full hysterectomy will be performed)

I am 20, I have just started uni. My question is how much should I expect this to effect working & Uni? Especially if I have a hysterectomy or chemo? What should I be expecting?

I have no one to ask around me as no one my age has experienced anything like this.

You answers would be much appreciated.

Regards,

[wendydee]

Hi! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, especially the delays you had to suffer. It's all so scary at first to hear stuff like this, isn't it?

The nurses on the Ovacome helpline have experience of all ages of women having ovarian cancer, so they will be able to answer your question. I'm retired now (from teaching) so I'm too old to do uni! I had OC, two ovaries and a full hysterectomy 8 years ago. However, after your CT scan next week, you'll know more about your treatment plan and the likely outcome. I know of a daughter of a friend of mine who had a radical hysterectomy at the age of 19. She was at uni but put her course on hold for a year and a half while she recovered. I think you'll find the authorities will be very supportive in the case of a diagnosis like this, if it turns out to be necessary to take a break to recover. Macmillan are also very helpful in giving you advice about finance if it comes to that. A lot of hospitals have a Macmillan nurse on their staff for advice. Ask to speak to the Gynae Nurse Specialist at your hospital and she should be able to help you. This info is all just in case. It may not turn out to be necessary for you. I hope you get the reassurance you need when you see the team at the hospital next week. Good Luck and let me know how things go for you.

Love, Wendy x

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Hi, I'm sorry to hear this too, you must feel really fed up. I had my operation 4 weeks ago, they just took the one ovary & fallopian tube as the other ovary & uterus looked clear. My cancer was staged at 2b but they are happy to leave the other stuff in at the moment as the biopsies were clear, and they will monitor things closely.

In terms of the op, I'm now almost back to normal activities after 4 weeks. I have been off work for 4 weeks, and still have to be careful, so even if you don't have a full hysterectomy it's a pretty major operation, and don't expect to be studying for at least a month.

I start chemo in a couple of weeks. All the drs and nurses have been very clear that you don't know how chemo will affect you until you start - some people can carry on living a fairly normal life, others are tired or poorly sometimes during treatment, so they can't advise me on exactly how it will affect me.

Wendy is right - talk to as many people as you can - specialist nurses & the uni - there will be lots of support out there, and deferring a year might be a good option - facing chemo is pretty stressful so if you do have chemo it would be good to de-stress your life as much as possible.

Also, if you haven't got it then get the Macmillan leaflet ' cancer of the ovary' - it's been really useful for me & my family.

Good luck!

Rachel x

[beckyh]

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis and both Wendy and Rachel are wise in their response. My staging was 2C and had followed a similar path to diagnosis with the hospital telling me that it was a harmless cyst and not to worry - it took 8 months to be properly diagnosed. It is one of my greatest worries that the medics are so blasé about ovarian cysts.

My own experience of chemo was that first two weren't that bad but then I took longer and longer to bounce back after each treatment. I would add that I was 47 when diagnosed and have a family to look after so may be I wanted to do too much too soon.

I hope that you won't require any further surgery and that you are able to thread the chemo through your life at uni.

Becky xxx