Good day

Good day, I have had a completed Staging Surgery, a complete hysterectomy, and recovery!!
The chemothreraphy begins tomorrow....I will have one drug Thursday the second on Friday they are not compatable... My Cancer  a new `1a stage 1 L Ovarian Cancer, the lymph nodes ar negative,
the ovarian mass was large 8.o cm. .....it was enclosed in a placenta like sac, attached to the ovary..
all other matter were ok....
My Doctors found it after a cat scan for another matter, one month of recovery for acute colitis,
Oct 15 the Surgery, recovery, Nov now the beginning of the chemo....The waiting is difficult alto I'm sure the Doctors want me healthy to begin theraphy......Now, they can not put in a port until this coming Tuesday, I said to the Doctor I was eager to begin.  If I could right away....He said he was worried also....The chemo will last for six months once a week for the one drug and once a month for the other.....sorry I do not yet know the names of the drugs, the insurance has accepted the chemo threatment....Thank the Lord....OK....MY ? why all the waiting and what to expect......they assured me it was a walk in the park, now they are saying if need be they will keep me overnight.....I have issues with seizures that are undercontrol for 20years and only relaspe on stress......Is this the problem......and is it a stroll in the park....I know it is only 6months of my life.....and then I go forward.  I also know we are 100% sure of death.....nothing is guaranteed.....love and more thank you, PiaTherese

[Jan214]

Are you going to start chemo tomorrow and than not have the port put in until next Tuesday?  Am i understanding that right?  (I had chemo yesterday and neulasta shot today so I am confused)  Usually they won't start you until you have your port in.  The usual amount of time between surgery and chemo is about 4-8 weeks, depending on so many factors, so it seems you are on track.  Do you have to go to a hospital to have your chemo and why would they think you would need to be kept overnight?  You should find out what drugs you are taking so that you will be more prepared for any side effects that might arise.  I have not heard of any that you take a day apart because of incompatibility.  If you have stress issues maybe your Dr could give you something for that.  The best way to avoid stress with this monster though is to be informed.  The more you know the more empowered you are.  You are very fortunate to have caught it at the earliest stage as so many of us are not DXed until stage 3 or 4.  Take care of yourself and let me know how it is going.
Jan

[rmarie]

You are fortunate that it was discovered at an early stage, great news for you.  If your question is about the time to starting chemo, I started 6 weeks out from surgery. Some have started as early as 2 weeks from from surgery, so we are all different.  The started chemo I received was Carboplatin and Taxol given in a 21 day cycle, I don't know what you are getting a week apart.  Is chemo a walk in the park, it was not as bad as I thought it would be, but not exactly a walk in any park I want to walk in.  They do have great meds to treat nausea, and with my last treatment, I had a new 5 day drug and wasn't nauseated at all.  Much depends upon the drugs they use, write us when you know more.  I had my port put in on a Tuesday and started chemo the next day.  Hope this helps.  Good luck to you, keep us posted.

[PiaDiane]

Jan & Marie,  yes, I'm starting chemo Thursday at 11:30 am the first drug...I don't know the name...sorry, willl find out tomorrow....the second drug on Friday....also the name problem, I will surely make a point of finding out......
I thought they wouldn't begin until the port was in....

Thank you Ladies, I'm happy to know I'm on the  track as far as time goes...

Yes, the chemo is done on a special floor on the Hospital.  We my husband Mike and I asked about the side effects and the Doctor assured us they would give me meds for these.... I think they are concerned about my history of seizures...staus seizures is a big worry...so thus the thought of needing to perhaps be hospitalized, maybe the same reason for not giving the different chemo drugs together?

Yes, I'm trying so hard to be well informed, without scaring the begoodness out of myself.  I'm very fortunate I have caring Doctors and Nurses as well as family to stand with me.....Oh yes, I'm on drugs for the seizures the same drugs they give for anxiety and soforth...so I'm aware of this aspect of my treatment....

I do feel blessed to have this found accidentally and in the early stages....
The Doctor for whatever reason after more comperhensive notes and talks with the surgeon and pathologist made him anxious to begin....I'm sitting here nervously watching the clock, my husband works in NYCity and won't be home until late, perhaps around 10pm.....then off to bed and then chemo.....I'm scared and a baby at age 62years,

Also, great concerned about the genetics for my daughter Michele age 29!!!!  Is there a DNA Marker yet for this Cancer, I know prevention is not paid for, but will a cat scan be the best way to see the Cancer for her!!! and myself after this treatment is finished......

I think after the first two treatments I will know what to expect. I will then be calmer or not.....

I will pray for all the ladies here, hoping all goes well for Us.... Having lost my best friend to this disease has made me more nervous, she passed away 6years ago after a four stage illness and fought a hard battle for five long years....I hope to make her proud.  Many Thanks for your kind words, Warm Regards, PiaDiane

[PiaDiane]

Whoops forgot to mention yes, the port will be put in next Tuesday, and then I have the week off....
I guess they will need to assess the treatment......lol..Pia Daine

[PF_PVD]

Being dx stage IV, they were in such a mad rush to get my chemo started (before surgery) that I had my first round IV in my arm and had the port inserted the next day.  The first chemo took six hours and that is tough without a port.  They just didn't want to wait which was kind of scary.

[PiaDiane]

oh my gracious, now I'm really frightened, six hours was it very painful and burning, I'm so scared and here it is midnight......why tell me this....PiaDiane......who are you PF PVD

[Jan214]

Don't be afraid.  They will give you plenty of meds to make sure it is as comfortable for you as possible.  This is not a walk in the park but it is not the worst thing in the world either.  Your daughter should start having TVUS as part of her yearly checkup.  My daughters are 23 & 26 and given my family history they start at 25 having TVUS's.  My neices also start at 25.  My mom died when she was 38 and 4 of my 5 sisters have had this, so yes early detection is certainly the key.  Good luck today.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Jan

[vegas2cr]

I had just ending in Aug. 6 rounds of chemo without a port or picc line.. No problems.  Next time I will ask for the port because now I have a vein problem... Nope no burning thru the 6 hours and I read and slept and talked....

[PiaDiane]

Sweet Ladies, Sooo so Pleased to log on this am and have such gracious kind words.  My Mike is feeling better and will be with me...OK about the TVUS could you kindly tell me more about this test.
I also have two younger sisters and several nieces.  Jan my sincere sorrow for the lost of your Mother to this disease.. Jan and Vegas many kind thank yous, I will go now feeling stronger and braver for your thoughts and prayers for me.  I send out all my Best Wishes and Blessings for all the Women, and their Famlies for Health and Strength, Much Love, Pia Diane

[PiaDiane]

Good Everning, My first Chemo went well, they gave me so many drugs for side effects as follows Anzemet, Kytril, Zofran, Aloxi, Decadron all IV before the Chemo...the first drug of Chemo is Carboplatin........I feel well, fine in fact... We were there from 11:30 am until 3:30 pm....so that is ok...
Mike was fine also:)   Tomorrow, we go and begin the second drug which I will take once a month
Taxotere.......then Tuesday the port is going to be put in...... I'm so pleased with the wonderful care My Doctors and Nurses Christina and Debbie are giving to me......My Thank yous and I will keep you up to date....They said I might be anxious tonight from the steroids..I plan on taking an extra Clonopin and Benadryl......Wish me luck, Love to all My Friends, especially Jan and Vegas

[Jan214]

Thank you for your condolences.  My mom died in 1964 when I was just 7 but there are still times when I miss her so much.  It would be nice to be able to talk to her about all of this but...
A TVUS is a Transvaginal Ultrasound and I wish every woman would get one just like a yearly mammogram.  Make sure your sisters and neices have one when they reach 25 or 30.  I am sending a link to a site that explains a study that was done at the Uof Kentucky and please look at the links at the bottom of that page.  http://www.imaginis.com/ovarian-cancer/ultrasound.asp  This is a small part of the conclusion of the test.  "Over 17,000 screening years have been accrued and there have been no deaths from primary ovarian cancer in the screened population."  Some of these research studies were done in the late 90's and I can't for the life of me understand why it is still not a part of every womans yearly checkup.
I am so glad you like your Drs and nurses.  We are very lucky because mine are just wonderful but some of the ladies on here have not been so lucky.
Are you going to be taking a Neulasta shot.  My Dr gives it to everyone no matter what.  He is very pro-active.  It is painful, but it does help.  I don't know about the side effects of steroids because I am allergic and have to take my chemo without them.  I got very lucky because with all of the drugs I am allergic to I did not have a bad reaction to the carbo/taxol.  I hope all goes well for you today.  
Big Hug
Jan

[PF_PVD]

I'm sorry if I worried you.  Mine took a long time because I had two drugs plus all the stuff they drip in first (Benadryl, Decadron, Zofran, Zantac) and they go quite slow the first time.  There was no pain or burning--just couldn't bend my arm.  I am now down to four hours, but that is because I have a reaction to the taxol if it is not given at half speed at first.