At my age

[Petey388]

I am 80 yrs old--I was dz with 0vc 7 yrs come Jan--I took the regular taxol and carbo  I was in remmission for 3 yrs then it came back so went on same chemo again--was in remmission 1 and half yrs--came back again took carbo again--inremmission 8 months--Now have to go back on chemo again and think itis goint to be doxil--Ive heard so many bad things about it that i dont knbow if i want it or not--Should I at my age not take anything (by the way my blood count was 316 but cat sacan showed nothing) otr should i live the time i have left free of chemo--My last three times i was on chemo was not rerally bad--never really sick just tired--(Had complete hysto) Now the question is should I take or not take--I feel great except for tiredness that comes on once in awhile--Ive had a great life--great husban and great kids--even great dogs LOL-Im in a quandry--anyone else in same position????? Would love to know what you gals think--Bye for now

[SimplyStar]

bumping this up for you

[PinkTissue]

I guess there is no right or wrong answer to it. My mum is 62 and has been diagnozed with stage 4 OVCA a few days ago and my sister and I were still in a shock. Suddenly, it dawned on you how important your mother is to you. No matter how old you are, mother is the only person who loves you unconditionally. I am especially close to my mother and the news is really devestating. I know I am now in a depression - and I know that if I get to upset, it is time for me to seek professional help. I am really happy that my mother is fighting the disease. I am selfish - I want my mommy to be around as long as possible. But then, my mommy is still in relatively good health and I have not seen the 'suffering' part. My father has passed away from cancer a few months ago. I am sad but there is also some sense of relief, my father is no longer in pain. When diagnozed with cancer last year, he went through a major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After the treatment, my father was weak but he still had quality of life - able to eat and drink and to move around on the wheelchair.  He went into remission for a few short months when the cancer came back again this year, the doctor asked my father whether he wanted continued treatment - the cancer cells could be removed but it would meant removing the entire tongue and my father would no longer be able to eat and may just prolong his life for a few more months. My father rejected the treatment plan - and in this instance, I am glad for him because more treatment would mean more pain and there is no quality of life. My father passed away in his sleep. The night before he passed away, he had a can of his favorite beer and watched his favorite TV program. After that he went to the bed and never woke up. I could accept my father's decision although it meant a certain death because it gave him the quality of life he wanted and to die peacefully. But if mother choose not to go for further treatment, I would be devestated because even at this stage, there is a strong possibility that the cancer could go into remission and my mum is still visibly a healthy person and though the treatment is tough, there is every possibility that she could recover from it. As a daughter, I learn to let go when my father refused further treatment because the treatment has such low chances of success and the success would come with a heavy price. But for my mum, who is still strong when diagnozed with the disease, I would not be able to accept and would be devetated if she gives up treatment. I understand that you are 80 - but think of it, you could live up another 5, 10 or even 20 yrs if the treatment works for you. I am not a cancer patient - so I cannot understand the pain of chemotherapy. Perhaps you can try at least 1 or 2 sessions to see whether there is really some bad side-effects? Sorry for so being so emotional - I am still devestated by my mum's diagnosis and I really envious to hear that you have recovered well from the treatment.

[SimplyStar]

Looking at this from a different angle, I have read posts on here from children of Mothers that have the dx of OVCA,  that  are afraid of chemo and some that are just tired of it and want to quit, but reading then about the feelings  of the children, desperate to keep their Mothers as long as possible.  For some of us, it must be a case of , do I please them or please myself.  I have a living will that states that no measures are to be taken that will prolong my life, if  it means any type of life support just to keep me breathing.  I feel that each person has that right to make,  while they still have cognitive powers. I also, as a nurse have watched the slow progression to death and know it is hard on the family.  Hospice has changed all this to some degree.  I would just add that if you do decide to forgo chemo, that you sit with your children and explain fully why you make that decision, and prepare them. Get your affairs in order and then live each day for the rest of your life to the fullest.   As I said before, I am greedy, I intend to hang on as long as I can, and hope that God takes me in His time, not mine.  

[rmarie]

I am a stage 3 C with one recurrence and have considered would there be a point when I would stop chemotherapy.  As a nurse I have taken care of a number of patients with cancer of all kinds over my 42 years and have seen some continue and others say enough is enough.  This decision is very difficult because of the fears it brings with the end of the fight, none of us want to lose the fight,  I had an aunt with breast cancer well into her 80"s who never got off the chemo, because she was afraid.  The chemo destroyed her liver and kidneys.  I have discussed the option of stopping chemo someday with my husband, because I don't want to be on the poisons at the end.  All my best to you.  Love is being sent  Marie

[EchoUK]

If you look further back in the forum (just days ago) you will see Doxil widely discussed also under the name of Caelyx.  I was concerned about starting it but had my first dose yesterday and so far no ill effects.
You have done very well so far on chemo - I never went into remission at all - I would definitely not pass the chance by if your doctor says you are fit enough,

Good luck,

Ruth in the UK

[rootietootie]

You sound like you have a lot of life left in you, I think you should continue to fight this disease especially since you didn't have much of a problem with the other chemos. That is great that you went so long with remission too!  Don't be discouraged because you didn't have such a long one last time, many women on here have ones under a year and continue to fight and do well, waiting on the time when they will have a long one or beat this thing!  Keep up your chin and fight!  God bless you, Shannon

[vrw520]

I am not an expert on doxil, but I feel that there is something I can offer. I think that it is worth doing if it gives you a chance to continue to have opportunities for more great things and people in your life. At 80, there is still a life out there to be had and having the ability to continue to choose to fight this further is a choice many do not have. If the other chemos were not that bad...then I would say to give doxil a chance. These drugs affect people differently and maybe it will not be too bad for you. Although your life has been great...there may be some more great in your future.

[Diana14]

I will pray or you.  It's a hard to decide, my mom is 66 with stage 1 OVCA the tumor was removed and all her scans have been completely normal.  Drs. want her to have chemo to prevent any cells from re-appearing.  The tumor had very few clear cell carcinoma cell, it's suppose to be pretty bad.  Since she feels and looks great and all her scans has been normal she doesn't want to go thru chemo.  She knows it can come back and she is very afraid.  I really would like for her to go thur with it, but she is in deniel and gets very upset when I talk to her about it.  I'm so scared and upset.  Keep your chin up, you sound like a trooper!!!!!
I will pray for you......hugs      

[SimplyStar]

finally someone posting on here older than me, I am 77.  My daughter  was staged 3  June 2006,  She is now on Doxil for a recurrance.  They will probably order an ECG to test your heart as Doxil can be rough on it, daughter takes COQ10 to help regulate that,  side effects are fairly mild for most, no one told us about the foot and hand syndrome, and she had major pain with that, it can be avoided, usually happens after the 2nd  infusion.  Ice chips in mouth during chemo, ice bags to hands and feet during chemo, and be sure the person doing the injection is good at it, any Doxil going into the tissue  causes problems.  No hot baths or showers, no dish washing in hot water, stay away from hot spicy foods. Drink lots of liquids. Avoid constipation.  Doxil does do a job on the blood counts. They can lower the doses in this easily. Daughter started out at 80  , reduced to 60 now.  It does a good job on the cancer cells for most, she has treatments every 4 weeks and has had 7 so far.  Takes about 1 hour.  She tells me that most of the women taking chemo at the same time with her are all "White haired Old ladies" ,  at my age, if I were in your shoes, I would do it.  Nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Almost all the ladies on here, are now treating OVC as a chronic disease now.  Good Luck and keep us posted , we care.