Stage of Ovarian Cancer

[4mom]

My mom is 55 years old and just had a hysterectomy. She had a low level of 10 for the CA-125 test before the surgery. She had a cyst on her ovary and was growing, so she had the hysterectomy. She just got the test results back and the Doctor confirmed Stage 1, "borderline" stage 2 cancer. He said it was confined to the ovary, but some of the tumor was touching the pelvic wall, which was removed, The Doctor said my mom "was clean", but he suggests chemotherapy for 6 treatments as an "insurance policy".  My question with this early of a stage, what are the chances that the cancer can come back? She will be on taxol and carboplatin every 3 weeks for 6 treatments- would this be the best combination?
Does anyone know what the 5 year survival rate actually means? I have read different things from people are alive after the 5 years to people that have not had a recurrence after 5 years....


Thanks for any input you can provide.

[ddemaso]

Hi,

I was 39 years old when I was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer stage 1c. I have been clear for a year and my prognosis is good per my oncologist. You mom is indeed lucky to have caught this at an early stage. Most Ovarian Cancers are caught at stage 3&4. This is because the symptoms are so vague and there are no good tests for ovarian cancer that we women don't know we have it until it is in the later stages.

Just a FYI, the ovarian cancer ribbon is teal. Show it proudly, we need to get the word out that there is no breast self-exam or no mammogram to detect ovarian cancer. Women need to know the symptoms.  I will be thinking of you and your mom as I have a 15 year old son and all I could think about was am I going to be here for him.  It is so so hard. Your mom and I are very lucky.

Sincerely,
Danielle

[nyc lady]

From the research that I have seen, most of the time, the lower the grade of cancer the lower the risk of recurrence.  I suggest that you don't make yourself crazy over stats and numbers.  First of all, they are only numbers, someone has to be on the low side and someone has to be on the high side, who is to say who is on which side...a positive attitude is what you need to concentrate on.  Also, the stats are based on studies from 5 years ago.  It takes lots of time to gather and analyze data.

Carbo/Taxol is usually the first line of treatment for OvCa.  I was dx'd with stage 1A and never had to do chemo, but have several friends that have.  They all say, although chemo is tough it is very doable.  It is very important that you mother has an excellent relationship with her doctor.  There are many many women on this site that are undergoing chemo or have undergone chemo.  They are a world of knowledge.  Pick their brains, learn all you can to help your mom thru it.

As for does survivor mean never recurred or not....every women that I know with OvCa that has recurred still considers themselves a survivor.  I have a good friend on her 3rd recurrence that they have been trying to stablize for about a year...she will tell you that she is a 4 year survivor.  I know someone stage 3C, never recurred that is a 17 year survivor.  If we have lived thru the dx'd, we are survivors!!!!

Good luck to your mom and family...keep us posted...will your mom join us?  We can be a great resource for her as well

[dalip]

yes and also what did they consider it to be beforehand. Complex simple,ect ect. And how did they diagnose it,ct,vus,abd us ect ect?.There are a lot of ladies reading your post who are now shitting bricks and imagining all sorts of things(me sort of included)so tell us more please.Hope your mom is ok and feel for you.Dawn

[montie]

I was curious, how big was the cyst that they removed from your mother?

[rmarie]

I recommend reading the book "A Guide to Survivorship for Women with Ovarian Cancer by Montz and Bristow.  It is written by physicians from Johns Hopkins.  I just read it, and I am 7 months out from chemotherapy and still learned.  It is well written and explains alot.
Best of luck to your mother.

[dian07]

Hello there....I was diagnosed stage IC....I too was 55 at the time....my cancer was in the left ovary but a few cells were found in the peritoneal washings so I did the 6 carbo/taxol....I was diagnosed in March of 2005...began chemo in April...finished chemo Sept.13, 2005 and am now one year and nearly 2 months out of chemo....so far so good...your mom is very lucky to have caught this disease at such an early stage...just like I was very lucky...I hope to remain free of that monster and no doubt your mom will have the same result.  Please give her my best.
Peace.
dian