Stage 3C

[Keith2007]

What is the survival rate for stage IIIC?  Keith

[dian07]

Keith, there really is no "set in stone" answer to your question.  There are many women here who will be around shortly to respond......there are stages III and IV who can respond better than I can.  They are wonderful women full of life.
Peace.
dian

[Keith2007]

Thank you!  Peace.

[LILLIAN577]

Talk to the gyn oncologist. Everyone will tell you something different. With my mom surgery is the first step. That will happen thurs. Then Chemo for her. She goes to Moffit in Tampa, great facility. The doctor was very optomistic. Prayers lets of prayers!

[jane65]

Hi Keith,
I am staged 4B and my oncologist had said he's expecting me to reach the 5 year mark, it's been 2+ years so far.
Can I assume you're asking regarding your Mom?
How is she doing now, and as Lillian said, make an appointment with her oncologist to ask all the questions you have, he's the one with the answers.

Dian's answer about no set in stone answer is so true, there are women on this forum who have stage 3 or 4 who've been diagnosed many  years ago and are still going strong.

Good luck and please come back to talk.
Jane

[gls2824]

As all the other ladies have said, everyone is different.  I greatly believe that some of the answer is determination and attitude.

There is a woman on the inspire site (www.inspire.com), who was stage 3C and has just celebrated her 9th year not only of survival, but without a recurrence.  She is also brca1+ and has a family history of ovca.  You should read her story.  Her screen name is "spunky66"

[nyc lady]

I have a friend, stage 3B....22 years out.....never had chemo!!!!  Stats are only numbers.  There are always people on the winning side.

[JC145]

All true ..

I am IIIC and am 3 years out.  I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer .. looks like and treated the same as ovarian.  I'm currently in my third chemo, but had a pretty good run for a couple years post surgery (with the help of tamoxifen).  I had surgery first followed by IV/IP chemo.

Make sure your ?? mom .. wife .. sister ?? sees a gyn/oncologist.  They are much better trained for the surgery .. that's all they do .. Ovarian cancer.  Most of them also do chemo right in their office as well.

Judy

[cath81]

a lot of it also depends on the grade of the tumor (whether low grade or high grade) as well as the age of the patient. younger patients generally have a better chance of a long-term remission.

however, like some of the other ladies have pointed out, a positive attitude and determination are also key factors. for a professional opinion, do consult the patient's gynae-onco.

[marie3B]

Tumor cell type makes a difference in response to chemo and survival time.  High grade cell types are more aggressive, but have a better responce to chemo than grade 1s.  I have a chemo resistant kind, but it is slow growing.  Knowing the pathology will help get more information.  Marie

[bohan54]

I understand why most of the responses here are shall we say "upbeat?"  A dx of IIIC ovarian cancer is in reality quite grim.  Sorry, just want to keep it real.  Statistics are not pulled out of a hat, they have a basis in reality.
Sharon

[bohan54]

I am as Spunky as the next gal too...

[melenzbee83]

I believe every case is different. I dont pay attention to stages or grades but believe that other factors play a part such as age of patient, health, positive attitude, quality of oncologist and treatment being given.

Mel

[Teresa222]

I agree with Bohan for the most part.  If we just consider the few people who post here on MedHelp....the prognosis is not the very hopeful. However, God can heal anyone he decides to heal.  We should never give up on His promise of having peace and joy in spite of the battle we are fighting. We don't have to be afraid.  If we feel fear coming our way, all we have to do is ask in prayer for it to end...and it does.

[onthemendmomma]

My world view is that the diety of one's choice including the FSM has nothing to do with it. I am 3c diagnosis too. The stats are grim...the stats are also at least 5 years old they are based on everyone EVERYONE...every person diagnosed period...no matter their age (youngest recorded I believe was 5 FIVE) the average is 68ish...the stats include the woman who is treated by her local general practitioner and poduck surgeon as well as those who are treated by gynoncs who know there cervix's from there elbows.

Each milestone is a victory...ie...how you get through surgery how you respond to 1st line of chemo etc...so yes everyone is different and the stats are grim but they are not prognostic...that is to say...just b/c the stats are a certain way that doesn't mean that's how it is going to go down for any individual person.

[servv]

Hi Keith,

I might not be the best person by knowledge to asnwer, but I find you think similarly as I did. First I did I went to various internet sites and tried to find statistics. I am not sure but I found it 29,8% for my mother Mullerian tummor and they say majority 80% of women are in stage III and IV when cancer is detected
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_cancer

Now this would be the straight answer you are looking for. But what I understand other mebers are saying and what I start to understand myself now and after all this searching is that we should now focus to be there for that someone that we like and is suffering. To see what and how we can act to help.  As we in normal circumstances do not think on statistics on lifetime we should neither do it now. We just give help, love and hope as long as hearth bits.

This is how I feel.... Numbers I did search and I found them on several sites, but they mean nothing now to me...

[melenzbee83]

Well put onthemendmomma!

exactly what i wanted to say!

[crecco]

Keith,
   Yes it is different for all of us. Each of our cancers are different as is the way we respond to the different chemos. I think that one of the first things we all think about is survival rate, but we soon learn to focus on living, not when we are going to die. The statistics get lower as the stage gets higher, but there is always that minority that pulls through. And each of us has the same chance of being in that minority. I was diagnosed stage IV in Nov 2006 and and doing better now that I was then. I fully intend on making up to and past the 5 year mark. That does not mean that I will be cured, it is mainly a goal for me. I set that new goal each Nov. Reading and rereading statistics is nothing but depressing and you must remember that when you read a set of statistics that they are at least 5 years old. Hope, strong will and determination , are 3 good things that will help.
   Chris

[crecco]

Keith,
   Just a small correction is my last response to you. I was diagnosed stage IV in Nov 2005. As you can see I am coming up on my 4th year. So what do those Drs know anyway. Good luck.
           Chris

[onthemendmomma]

So I lifted this excerpt from another newsgroup and this is someone else's story.....in terms of "staging" she was as you can see even worse off than 3c.....Great inspiration and a great big "FU" to OVCA"....enjoy....





Okie dokie here ya go.....will share the best I can here. You know by my post I am a 13 year survivor of ovarian cancer and I was dx. a stage 4. This was all back in Aug. of 1996. All happened very quickly.No real symptoms except all of a sudden I began to spot a bit and my abdomen felt odd but this happened with in a couple of days. I went to doctor right away and they sent me to a gyn of course. Then the tests....a vaginal ultra sound and a CT scan. I had mets to the liver so they did a liver biopsy. The very next week I was in surgery for a complete hesterectomy and then in about almost 3 weeks began chemo. Mostly taxol then. I admit I was scared as I knew nothing of this ovca. No time to read up on it or what ever. Think it was about half way through chemo had another CT scan and learned tumor on the liver had shrunk down to scar tissue like. I was told. I had been given approx 3-7 mo. to live and maybe just maybe if chemo worked maybe a year longer. That was then and this is now. Go figure. It worked the chemo that is. So far so good. I was 58 at the time and I am 73 now. Docs are amazed they say and so am I. But you all must know these things happen. There are more stg. 4 survivors out here. And again I am lucky never so far to have had a recurrence. Whew! Now ya all know why I spread hope and encouragement around. You never know with this cancer stuff. I eat maybe a little more healthier than I did and I take basic supplements. I do have neuropathy that really bugs me and doc says it is probably from the taxol. Gets to those nerve endings. Feeling in my feet is crazy. I walk a little off balance too. No big deal but chemo can do this to you. Depending. Such a journey. Feel free to e-mail me anyone if I can be of help to you. Healthy tomorrows my friends. Hugs and be well, JanPS. I was released from my oncologist care and follow ups and all about 3 years ago. They doubt ovca will return but that is not to say I could get cancer of any kind like anyone else. I do have yearly very through check ups by my gyn/surgeon and a mammogram every year. A CA-125 every six mo. That is about it.


  

[sheri938]

1 year ago i was diag with stage 4 ovarian cancer -today i'm finished with the chemo- had a radical hysterectomy in january of this year- just waiting for my hair to grow back my ca125 is down to 8-
kaiser  oakland calif -can't say enough  about them-remember there are a lot of wonderful people that give so much to help us.and the families. good luck

[Pat4444]

Survival is reported in a number for a population which is diverse.

Survival is increased by optimal debulking by a gyn onc surgeon and that separates groups. Either before or after chemo is started.

Tolerance and response to platinum drugs makes a huge difference.

Overall health and age make a difference.

Grade and spread of tumor make a difference. Spread high in the abdomen is a liability, spread low is better.

There are so many factors here. I think the stats don't have personal meaning for me,,I cold die in six months or six years or live out my natural life with a stable cancer and multiple treatments.

It isn't cut and dried.

[queenie934]

Wow, I'd say you've kicked *** lady,all the very best to you
I'm waiting for my last of 6 chemo treatments.Diagnosed with ovarian cancer Feb 2009, had hysterecomy and biopsy showed Grade 3 cancer, CA125 count was 2400...have since found out what that meant and now my count is 25...chemo is working together with a positive attitude (I'm going nowhere yet I've got too much to do!!) I've only today found this site and am inspired by you
Thank you
queenie934

[monkeygirl1967]

I too was diagnosed with Grade 3c (June2008), aged 42. Full hysterectomy and optimal debulking followed by 6 Taxol/Carbo sessions. Count was stable at 17 at last check up (was over 6000 at diagnosis!) and I am feeling great. Hair has grown back and I feel like a new person! So far so good. Like you I am going NOWHERE! I have 2 beautiful twins daughters aged 4 1/2 and have too much to live for. Keep positive. Each day is a blessing, so live life to the full I say! I have two other friends that are survivors, one at 15 years, the other at almost 5 years so we can survive this. Good luck with the final chemo sessions

[queenie934]

Thanks for your support .... thought my initial count was high !!  Great news with your friends...Can i just ask if you've lost feeling in your toes ? I have and spoke to my  dr who said i may not get feeling back (hey ho small price to pay i suppose) however is there anything that you've come across or heard about that would ease sensation in any way
Thanks, and a big hello to your twins