How Long?

In Dec. 2005 I had surgery for Stage3 Ovarian cancer, followed by gem/carbo chemo. By May all clear, CA125 continued to drop to a low of 5 in Oct,2006.

On Feb 6,2007 I had a followup visit. There were swollen lymph nodeds in my abdomin (abdomen) but the doctor said that's common in people as they age (I'm 57) & his are probably swollen too. My CA125 was 27 but still in normal range, so he said that since I felt great he had no worries.

Feb 15 I was rushed to ER unable to speak, just babble. A CT of my body revealed an abdomin (abdomen) full of tumor & an MRI of my head showed 4 tumors, all on speach/language center of my brain. Steriods reduced the swelling in my head so I regained my ability to speak. I have had 18 rounds of radiation therapy & am scheduled to se an oncologist to begin chem April 3.

I have lost my equilibrium so I need a wheelchair when I leave the house. I've had spells where my whole body goes into uncontrable motion like an earthquake. My whole body is swollen, even the insides of my ears,I can"t even get a Qtip into them so hearing is a problem.

The radiologist is baffled, has no idea why these things are happening. Has reduced steriods from 4/day to 1 every other day to see if that helps. He ordered a 3rd MRI to see if something else was going on in my brain. It showed no difference from previous MRI's. If all 3 test are identical does that mean the radiation has had no effect?

At this point I believe the radiation & chemo are not meant to stop the cancer, but are to make me more functional & comfortable in the time I have left. Am I correct about that? All the research I"ve done says 2-4 months, is that a good estimate of what I can expect? I'm totally okay with dying. I'm not afraid I just want to be able to plan. Hospice won" take me unless I have less than 6m.

Thanks for any info you can provide.
Jo

[rmarie]

The radiologist is not considered your primary physician, you need to talk to your Gyn/onc and make him talk with you, and be straight with the answers.  Tell tem what you are saying.  If they don't hear, do you have a physician that you trust?  My Family Practice is wonderful and he hears what I say so work with one of those if you have one.  You need someone to be an intermediater for you in all this.  Doctors don't like to tell us the bad news, ie that is not much else to offer.  Prayers are with you.

[Helmar]

Dear Jo.... Don't give in. Please get another  one (or maybe 2 ) opinions. Is your Doctor an Oncologist.. or just a 'regular' Doctor, as your Radiologist seems to have most of the 'say'? In your case, I wouldn't be waiting until April to get some action... I would be insisting on something happening immediately. I've found with this particular cancer, we don't have lots of time to mess about waiting for the medical profession to decide....we need to get things on the move a.s.a.p.. When I was dx in Feb.'04 my abdomen was 'riddled' with cancer, to the extent that one of the Surgeons just wanted to sew me up and send me home to die... but the other one said no. Thankfully he did, because that was over 3 years ago now, and I've had a great 3 years of enjoying my life. It hasn't been easy, as I've been on lots of different chemos, but I tolerate them o.k. and still enjoy each and everyday. I will fight this thing until I don't have anything left to fight with. If you can stay strong mentally, I'm a firm believer in that being of great help in the battle too.
Please stay in touch... and let us know how you are doing.
Best wishes and hugs..Helen.

[SimplyStar]

If I were in your place I would try anything I could find to stop the cancer.  I really hate to suggest anything on here because of the back lash I will receive,  But I believe we need to fight to live and not give into death so easily.  I do not know if some of the things advertized on here work as well as they say they do, but in your case, I think I would try them.  Type in Zeolite for Cancer and read about it.  I have not personally tried it and know no one that has,  just that researching for my daughter I have made a list of many suppliments that "declare" they can either help/cure cancer.  God Bless you hun and I will keep you in all my prayers.  Maybe some of the other Cysters have heard of "last ditch" methods you can try.

[Jo A]

Thanks everybody. The radiologist is the one getting first crack at me so he's been the one i've been addressing my issues with since i think it's the radiation causing thing. Next I go to my oncologist for chemo. It turns out he's out of town on vacation. nice timing. So I've spoken with a case worker who will be working with bith docs & she; sending a visiting nurse out tio do an exam & get a handle on where I'm at now & what I need, like a power chair because I can"t move around in a manual now, cramps in my hands & weakness, can't do carpet. every day is noticably worse than the day before so I don't have time to mess around. phone calls aplenty.

I know you have good thoughts & wishes for me & I so appreciate that God Bless you all!