Recurrance??? When???

Well, I had my last chemo on March 25th...declared "cancer free" on April 4th.  I "had" Stage IIIc cancer and the onc stated that "most likely" I will have a recurrance...my CA125 is at 36.  So, how many of you have had a recurrance and how soon after your last chemo, and what stage were you?  Thought I'd do "research" in the REAL world!!!

Rhonda

[msjazz]

Last chemo from original diagnosis was Jan.3, 07. Recurrence Oct. 07.

[SimplyStar]

I am sure you have already done some research and to use the term "cancer free" is a moral booster,  that I hope is true for you.  No one can give you a time table of when or if your remission will last or end. The longer you go with the clean scans and if the CA125 remains low, and it is a reliable test for you, The more time you have to build up your immune system, that is of the most important thing for you to do now. There are cases where no remission is ever reached and some that last for many years and some that never recur  and every where in between. By keeping close watch on how your body feels, getting those regular scans and CA125s for the first year or so is so important, a positive mental attitude, proper nutrition, as active as a life style as you can handle, in other words  keep your body as healthy as possible. By doing all this , if you do recur,  your body will be better able to tolerate further treatment. Good Luck   Marty

[Jan214]

Congratulations and I hope and pray you get a good long remission. I don't think i am ever going to really get remission.  I was dx in Oct of 2006, had 4 mths remission, recurred in Sept of 2007, had Gemzar, but that didn't work so now they will try something else.

[Tybear]

I wish you the best of luck as well and I second all of what Marty had to say.

As much as we'd like to believe that we'll remain cancer free, the likelyhood of a recurrence is quite high when diagnosed at the later stages. I wish I had asked more questions...then maybe I wouldn't have been quite so blown away when my cancer did return! My doctor didn't tell me at all that this would come back...didn't even hint at it.

I finished chemo February 2006 and recurred September 2006 - I was diagnosed stage 3c as well...

Take care and keep in touch!
Becky

[marie3B]

I never had a full remission. The cancer that was left after sugery shrunk a little, but is still there. Scans show that it is dormant, or stable. My doctor call this a remission. I don't, but it has been stable since Nov. 07. Marie

[Brownie3321]

Hi there. I was dx July 2007, chemo until Jan 2008, cancer back Feb 2008. Not really a remission I guess. Oh well, I'll fight harder. Deandra

[PF_PVD]

Hi, like my cyber cyster, Deandra, I was dx July 2007 (stage IV), chemo until Dec 2007 and cancer back in a big way (hospital/surgery) in Feb 2008. I am fighting on. Paula

[Lafnatitall]

Thank you soooo much for your comments!  Believe it or not...it makes me less apprehensive and more diligent as to continue to be on alert as to the returning signs!  

I knkow there are so many of your there that are really suffering right now...physically and emotionally...but I haven't seen any reports of being down spiritually.  That's what I love about this sisterhood...strength through faith...whatever each of us considers as a spiritual belief.  

Like all of us dealing with this ****...it gets so tiresome.  I want my hair back, my eyelashes and eybrows back...basically MY FACE!  I want my fingernails and toenails back...the neuropathy gone...my previously alert mind...and so on.  But, what I DON'T want back, is the way I used to take life and the enjoyment of it for granted.  The complete turn around in my way of thinking, I want to keep that.  And, I want to keep the contact I have here...the hugs, the prayers, the touch...

Rhonda

[crecco]

Congratulations on being cancer free! As Becky said unfortunately when we are dx in the later stages, we know that it is going to come back. I have never really had  remission either but was dx in Nov 05 at stage IV and still going strong. I know just how you feel about wanting your life back. Actually we just want things to be normal again. And you are right, even the little things like eyebrows eyelashes and even nose hairs, we want back the way they were.  Hang in there. Enjoy now! And try not to worry about the when.
  Love Chris

[kismetfarm]

My mother was diagnosed 3C in December 02, finished chemo (carboplatin only) August 03 - no recurrence to date.

I was diagnosed 3C in December 2000. Finished chemo June 01 First recurrence Feb 2005 - interestingly I knew I had recurred but I don't know why I knew, I just did. Had a new gynacologist who suggested politely that I was neurotic (asked my husband behind my back if I was highly strung), my CA125 was 11, but the scan I demanded showed it... No real remission since, some ups some downs, I'm still here and intend to be for a while yet :-)

I guess we are all different so expecting anything at all probably isn't a good idea.