Long Term Survival Rate

My mother was diagnosed w/ ovarian cancer in August 2005 and had surgery the following September.  She has currently had her 3rd dose of chemotherapy.  I am seeing all these statistics for 5 yr survival rate for stage III ovarian cancer.  What is the most current statistic?  I just lost my grandmother recently to a stroke, and it worries me that I may lose my mother soon too.  Thank you for any info you can provide.

[MickeyVicki]

Pamnyc is correct; statistics cannot be applied to individual situations.  The best example is that these statistics relate to the history of ovarian cancer and treatments.  However, these treatments undergo a continuous evaluation and change.  New developments are made in treatment therapies each  year.  It can take several years for the changes in survival time to be incorporated into the statistics.  The statistics that you read this year might not apply in several years.

Also, these statistics include everyone diagnosed with the disease.  Therefore, these statistics include many women who have lived long enough to be quite elderly and infirm before developing the disease.   Obviously, one would not expect as good an outcome of treatment of these women as for women of a younger age.  When you read individual studies of treatments and diagnoses, you can get a better feel for the relevance of these statistics to your particular case.  

Last but certainly not least, there are women who post on this site who, statistically speaking, ought to be dead.  But, they most certainly are not, and many of them are either still in remission, or have lived years 'cancer free' before requiring further treatment.

[leeav]

To Shlyke with Thanks to Pamnyc, Mickeyvicky & Lilybug.  

Those words are very encouraging and I feel the same way.  I was told 2 weeks ago that I had a complex lesion on my right ovary and I am waiting to have another US done. I keep telling myself that I will still be the same person (wife, mother, daughter, aunt, friend, co-worker) no matter what the outcome.  Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Be strong for your mom and you will see that your strength will give her strength. I seem to forget about what is really happening when my daughter is near and I feel a new strength when we are together.  I know it is hard but your strength and optimism is hers right now.  I just began on this forum and it seems like a good place to let go and vent when it is most needed.  Great people here!

Wishing you and your mom all the best!

[LILYBUG]

One more thing to consider as well. While I don't have ovarian cancer (but am going Monday to a gyn/onc to be evaluated for it due to an elevated CA125), I do have melanoma so I can relate to the statistic discussion regarding cancer. While these support boards are wonderful and have very compassionate, new friends that we meet, there are some survivors out there who are doing well and living their lives who may not come here often. I only point that out to remind us that anytime you go to a support board, you are dealing with a statistic of 100% of people with an illness or being evaluated for one. So of course that can seem grim at times (and I don't mean to belittle anyone's condition at all, I know this is very hard and very serious). Just try to remember that although we hear heart breaking stories, there are others you don't hear that might be good. And everyone is right, it takes years for new treatment to effect the overall statistics. I don't have statistics on ovarian cancer so I can't share that with you, but I've learned to live each day without worrying all the time. It is sad to think of losing a loved one or losing your own life. But it is an incredible opportunity to make the most of what you currently have.

[luellen]

My mom had surgery followed by chemo for her stage III ovarian cancer 16 years ago.  We had little hope at that time.  Even her surgeon had told us all to get her affairs in order, and he was very pessimistic.  She is an active and totally healthy 82 year old now, though, and has never had any sort of reoccurence.

I was visiting another forum, but felt compelled to pop in here and post.  God Bless