Asking again. Any long term stage 2 low grade s... - My Ovacome
Asking again. Any long term stage 2 low grade survivors out there.
Not sure who is at what stage. There are lots of friends on here who are survivors with stage 3, 4 so I guess here must be some stage 2, have you tried using the blog page and then type stage 2 in the search box at the top of the page. It might throw some light on your query.
All the best
Love Wendy xx
There are lots of people with stage two, but I think it is the low grade that I am not sure about as low grade means it is slower growing, some people are not sure of the grade, I know mine was high grade, sorry I am not much help but you can give the helpline a ring on Monday they might know long term survivors you can speak to Ruth Payne tel 0845 371 0554
Best wishes x G x
Hi I was hooked on grades and I was at the start 3c but speaking to a research nurse does the grading change at anytime (well you have to try anything) and the answer was grading does not matter now as the grading was made at the time of diagnosis and does not come into play again. No doubt this will a few comments!!!!
Regards Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Grades are different to stages, the grade doesn't change because either it is low grade ie slow growing or high grade which is fast growing so that is the histology report they do on the type of cancer you have at the time of the operation.
The stage however is how far the cancer has spread so it is early stage one when perhaps it is confined to one ovary,the more it has spread the higher the stage... the highest being a four...yours being 3c is stage (not grade) they might not have told you the grade whether it is fast growing or not. so the grade stays the same but stage is different because if for instance you are a stage one, it then comes back and has spread further then the stage is not the same stage anymore because of it's spread.
I hope this makes sense... we are talking about two different things Stage or Grade.
So Henry wants to know someone with a 2c but "low grade" and I know that my type of cancer is high grade... It just means that if the cancer has spread it would still be growing but at a slower rate. Love x G x
I meant to say a LOW grade cancer is slower growing...less likely to spread but if it has spread it would still be SLOW ...if it is HIGH grade it would be faster growing so more likely to spread ...xx
well funnily enough the early histology reports after my surgery reported 'undifferentiated tumours' and these are the highest and fastest growing type. The report was then amended to 'serrous' which are not as aggressive. The hospital didn't think to report this fortunate change to me but I discovered it when my GP went through my notes. He explained very gently that whilst they might not be 'undifferentiated' they are not well differentiated either and there's a sliding scale between the two. I'm likely to be on the worse end of the sliding scale in that the cells appeared in early tests to be undifferentiated.
He also explained the significance of this. Chemotherapy is only effective when cells are at a certain stage in their development. Highly differentiated cells take longer to develop and therefore the stage when they're sensitive to chemotherapy is longer and chemotherapy over a series of 18 weeks is more likely to be effective. Undifferentiated cells can be just specks and reproduce very quickly so less of them will be attacked effectively by chemotherapy.
Hi Annie,
I don't know where you get the idea that serous is not as aggressive...mine is serous adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated (not either or) I thought that undifferentiated just means the cells are not so uniform as differentiate cells ie normal cells being more uniform (I could be wrong) I also think that the histology report could be wrong in some people as it is only as good as the histologist interpreting them...love x G x
Dear Gwyn
What my GP explained is it's how differentiated the cells are that makes the difference between how aggressive the cancer is. I'm not sure why my hospital used the term 'undifferentiated' and then changed it to serrous. Another question for my Oncologist next week!
Will let you know if I get any helpful information. Love Annie
Hi Annie,
It is confusing isn't it? I think the thing is I know that mine was diagnosed high grade serous adenocarcinoma this does mean fast growing...I asked the oncologist to write it down so I wouldn't forget it....so it doesn't then make sense that yours have changed the histology report .. unless of course they weren't that sure in the first place..the histology is more important when first diagnosed because then they decide more easily how to treat the cancer, if it is low grade they hold back because it is slower growing and they choose the optimum time to treat it , if it is fast growing it needs to be treated straight away...love x G x
Actually that may not be quite true, I was diagnosed HIGH grade 2c and was told that a high grade cancer was more likely to come back, than a low grade cancer. This must mean that a low grade is less likely to re-ocure or if it does it is more likely to be the same lopw grade.
When cancers re-ocure they do so because old cancer cells are left behind or put to sleep for a while. Reason why an OV cancer can come back even though our ovary`s have gone.
Ofcourse, if Passenger is right then I am thrilled to bits.
Henry, At a stage 2c high grade I have been healthy since my last chemo which was April 2011, surgary was November 5th 2010. I hope that gives you some hope.
I also understood that stage 1`s and 2`s can be cureable. I know some ladies have posted on here about OV cancer not being cureable. Well, if that is the case then that means it`s a battle beyond the odds for life and I know this isn`t true.
I have friends who have been OV cancer free for over 30 years - surely it isn`t going to return after so long.
If we can keep Ov cancer free first time round for 5 years then our chances are much higher, that I do know. Try to focus on the positive and worry about the what if`s, IF and when they arise - its the only thing that keeps me from going quite insane with worry.
Love Tina xxx
Hi Tina,
I agree the longer you are in remission, the better chance of a cure the first time round, and like you say the low grade is less likely to have a recurrence.
I think people get muddled with "STAGE" and "GRADE" two different things.
I was very careful to distinguish between the two when I asked...I asked about the stage and about the grade...otherwise they don't necessary tell you the both.
I hope you are doing ok and you are keeping well love x G x
Hi Gwyn
told you it would bring some comments!!! Thank you for your explanation. Yes you were right I had got my grade and stage mixed up. I was on about my stage.I will give the grade a miss. But your explanation was excellent and very easy to understand. Thats what I love about this site, the knowledge that comes forth.
Regards Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Haha! yes we are a funny lot aren't we? Teehee! no offence meant though... as it is only how I understand it (I'm no expert) but you could call me A---y Retentive LOL love x G x 
Thank you all so much. Reading all your comments has really helped me with some other issues and questions I had. Wishing you all well and my love. X
Hi Henry2012,
I only hope we (or myself) haven't added to the confusion and wish you all the best love x G x
Hello Henry2012,
I have been diagnosed as 2b, it was caught early and all hoped it would not return as it was low grade. Unfortunately after 18mths remission it has returned due to scar tissue and residual cancer cells. My understanding is chemotherapy may not work as well due to the type of ovarian cancer, however my onc due to seeding observed on a couple of areas in my abdomen has now started me on avastin, gemza/carbo. I have been dealing with this for 2 and a half years. Hope this helps a little in yr queries, but at least there is treatment and ongoing research, l look at my illness as a chronic disease with "flare ups".
Best regards x
I was stage 2c because tumour on outside of ovary and just beginning in the womb and other ovary. Don't know what grade, don't know whether they graded them way back in 2001. Followed by carbo/taxol as a preventative precaution.
Recurred end 2009 and apparantly is slow growing. My fourth chemo 'Rotterdam Regime' starts on Tuesday. Wish you all the best. xx
Just thought I'd mention that if it is slow growing this means it is low grade, height grade means fast growing best wishes x G x
Thanks Gwyn
No 1 overnight stay done 5 to go. Don't feel too bad at the mo but two to three days after the steroids keep me on a high. Feel tired as not much sleep last night. xxHilaryxx
Thanks. Any more?
I was diagnosed with low grade stage 3c and had full surgery including omentum removal two and half years ago. I refused chemo as slow growing. Ok so far with next review in January. CA125 very low since op but checked each time.
I notice this post is 2 years old- any further developments?
I changed my diet and take supplements.
Regards Liz
Hi Henry2012
Don't be mislead if you are not getting as many replies as you would like.
I have found (in the short time life has called me to the circle of cancer blogs) that once people kick their cancer, or, are on an extended remission, the tendency is to get on with life and quit blogging, going to groups, talking about it, etc., Makes sense; wanting to forget about this awful life chapter and move on with life.
That could be why you are not getting as many posts as you were/are hopeful for. Could be that there are LOTS of long term stage 2 low grade survivors out there, they just don't care to blog or talk about it anymore-instead are moving on to let the rest of their lives define them and not the past history of cancer.
Hope this helps; keep your head held high! Don't let this define you.
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