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Stage1AG3 ovarian cancer. Need help

Well.  previously I had cancer in a mucinous borderline malignant tumor on my left ovary. I am going through chemotherapy b/c my doc recommended it. taxol and carboplatin. He said 3 treatments and I'm done. Well before my chemo started like I said (it was recommended treatment) I had nothing in me. Before I started chemo ca125 norm. and everyhting else.  I'm still having a little difficulty wondering why I am going through it. Does anyone know anything about anyone who only did 2 out of 3 treatments and did well. Cause i'm having some wicked side effects and right now I have it in my head to not do the 3rd treatment.Is there a reason to?  i know its just one more but i'd like to get on with my life now. Why do chemo when the doc can tell me now theres nothing in me.  ????? PLease help.

Beth- 19 yr. old f.
17 Responses
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Avatar universal
GOOD GIRL!!!!  Yaaaaaaay!
You will not regret going for it, honest.  
If you hadn't done the third treatment, you might always wonder if you should have....
Best wishes to you!!  Keep us posted!!
Helpful - 0
143952 tn?1237864541
good for you!  i'm with your mom - i would do anything to protect my daughter and ensure that she got the proper treatment!  best wishes - this will be behind you before you know it! :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again.  I must say I really do like ALL your suggestions.  Now since I got it in my head and all to up and quit, my whole family pretty much banded together saying either do it normal or go in a straight jacket.   Hmm well it seems like my best bet is to do it normally huh.  lol  a lil humor.  I also talked with my B/F  and ilistened to  him more then a few people. I appreciate everyones advice on here hard core or not.  Thanks.   I've decided to just get the **** over with and have my 3rd treatment.
Helpful - 0
140437 tn?1215109742
nope sorry just read the title again!

chemo is tough hun but trust me, ive seen enough relatives die of cancer to know that its a walk in the park in comparison.

Have that final treatment, you have far more to loose by not having it!

Like Dian I have great difficulty understanding this cavalier attitude. I was extremely lucky in that my tumor was benign but had it not been, there is no way I would not have had everything offered

Anna x
Helpful - 0
140437 tn?1215109742
Im a little bit confused here? What stage was the cancer isn't Beth saying it was a borderline?

Anna x
Helpful - 0
106886 tn?1281291572
Hi Beth,

I was wondering if you had a radical hysterectomy when your cancer was first discovered? If you had your ovaries removed, you could be suffering from symptoms of surgical menopause, which can be quite debilitating for some women.

Hoping you continue with your treatments, but again, if you had your ovaries removed, the difficulty you are experiencing could be attributed to menopausal symptoms...Just thinking out loud here.

I do hope you start to feel better soon.

Mary
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Kiddo, I am really, really sorry to hear that you are going through this horrible ordeal.  I have a weird suggestion for you... how about trying some hypnosis?  I learned self hypnosis many years ago when going through a very stressful time and it helped a great deal. I still use it when I am freaking out...
Sounds to me like it would be helpful if you could get your thoughts and emotions and fears under control a bit more... very understandable to have all those feelings you are so YOUNG.  A lot of these women are much older than you and have more life experience.  Darn it, how unfair!....You have been used to great health, gosh you are just a kid, we all think we are bullet proof when we are young, and it must have been such a shock to you....
You are not being ridiculous, not at all, any feelings or emotions or reactions you have are YOURS BABY, and you OWN 'EM !!!!  You are entitled to feel as freaked out as you want!  Scream, cry, beat on the ... pillows?  You can be as big a brat as you want.... just DON'T risk your life by stopping the treatment now.  You have come this far, make us proud, hang in there!  Milk it!!! Write here as often you want, we have lots of suggestions....  You do the chemo to make SURE there is nothing left in you.  Don't question it, just be glad you have the option to go for it!  YOu can do it!  The side effects will pass.  We have faith in you!
Lots of Love and prayers and good thoughts to you ...
from Katie
Hey if you want, find some of us at our MSN site, we'd love you join us...
http://groups.msn.com/BulgeBattlingBattalionCysters/welcome.msnw?&pps=k
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, you can quit if you want to do so, but you need to understand that ---- quitting may very well cost you your life.

Seriously. The key to your diagnosis is the Grade 3 status.  Grade 3 cancers are extremely aggressive.  I am surprised that your doctor recommended only three rounds of chemotherapy.

There is not one of your treatment side effects that cannot be managed to some extent.  Have you ever discussed the side effects with your doctor and asked for relief?  Have you discussed the side effects with the nurses and staff at the chemotherapy center and asked them for help with the symptoms?

Anxiety seems to be the biggest issue for you, and that is the most easily treated medical condition I have even encountered in my work as a home health aide.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm not doing this whole "quit" thing to be selfish. I just hate the way it makes me feel.  After my first treatment i had a panic/ anxiet attack and i thought i was going off the deep end.  well went to the ER for that and it got a little better within a weeks time.  After that I was just anxios all the time and ususally i am one of the most laid back people i know.  Now side effects,  I dont know if this is worse then pregnancy or not but i cant take the nauseu and the tingling in my legs and everything else i get. Not to be a wuss or anything but jeez,  my legs are the worst of it.  Its worse then the general side effects of chemo.  I know everyones different in the way things happen and treatments and recurrences and all but still theres always that chance that it wont come back i know its just one more treatment and im almost there but i dont want to do it and im not trying to be selfish in any way. As of now my nurse is looking up stats for me to help me make up my actual final decision.  I just cant take the side effects, I didnt want to do chemo to begin with cause i had nothing in me but i let my mom talk me into it.  From the beginning to now everything has been normal stable or however you want to say it and i am pretty dang sure i dont have anything in me or it would show up with all the ct scans and bloodwork ive been doing.  So maybe that is my answer.  to quit.
Helpful - 0
143952 tn?1237864541
well, if you felt anxious after the first treatment, just imagine how anxious you will feel after turning down the third treatment.  do you really want to have to wonder if you did the right thing, and wonder if a recurrence is lurking around the corner because you stopped your treatments too soon???  i have a nearly 16-year-old daughter.  i can't imagine her having to go through something like this, and certainly can't imagine having to watch her turn down the medical treatment plan devised by her doctors!  you're young and have the ability to bounce back much better than some of the women taking these treatments.  you can do it with the help of your care team and family.  please listen to your doctors and family!
Helpful - 0
143952 tn?1237864541
i'm sorry to read that someone as young as you is going through this odeal.  but, if your doctor recommended three treatments, i can't imagine doing anything LESS than three treatments.  you have to trust your doctors to know what they're doing!  coming up with your own "treatment plan" sounds like a monumentally bad idea.  i've got to tell you, there must be so many women reading your post and shaking their heads in wonderment, especially those who are in the midst of a recurrence.  please discuss your concerns with your doctors and family members, and see if there is something they can do to help you get through this last treatment.  please think of your family and your future!
Helpful - 0
155056 tn?1333638688
DON'T STOP.....There is a reason why your doctor is recommending you take chemo.  I was just saying that I did not have too.  Every doctor as every patient is different.  Chemo becomes standard protocol for Stage 1C as there is medical evidence that chemo improves the rate of survival at this stage.  There are many doctors that suggest chemo for stages lower then 1C...finish what you have started, hopefully, it is insurance that will buy you a long healthy life.  The side effects with time shall pass.  You are closer to the end of treatment then further!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You are being rediculous....you are 19 years old and know you should finish the recommended treatment....those of us who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer didn't want to take chemo either.  You are not the only person who is vested in your outcome...your parents, the rest of your family...anyone who has taken the time to love, nourish and guide you have a vested interest in your future....It is clearly time for you to grow up and consider people other than yourself...this kind of foolishness angers me.  You will get over  those side effects....those who love you would never get over a recurrrence causing them to loose you. Finish your treatments and be grateful it was found at this early stage.
Peace.
dian
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please don't stop!  You're half way there, and you can do it!  I say that because I was diagnosed at Stage 1C, 4 years ago.  I took 6 rounds of taxol/carbo and had been cancer free for 4 years. The words "it's back" are harder to hear than; "you're cancer free" - believe me.  Do yourself a favor and tough it out; you won't be sorry!  You're young, with your whole life ahead of you.  I still remain as positive today as I was four years ago.  It's not a walk in the park; but stay with it, and you'll be home free!  Just yell, if you need encouragement; we're all here for you.  You're in my prayers.  God Bless!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
so it is not really recommended until it is a 1C.  Like I said the doc said I had nothing in me so I think I just might go ahead and pull a stop to this whole chemo deal...
Helpful - 0
155056 tn?1333638688
I was diagnosised as Stage 1A, initial was borderline later re-staged to 1A.  I did not have to go thru chemo.  Chemo seems to be the standard line once someone is staged at 1C.  

I am so sorry to hear that you are experiencing side effects.  All I can say is that I have many friends with OvCa of all stages (I belong to a support group)...and everyone will say that the chemo is doable.  You are almost done, hang tough....before you know it, it will all be behind you.
Helpful - 0
160503 tn?1248951442
I have ("had" according to my oncologist) Stage 1 ovarian cancer in 2004 and the suggestion was 3-6 rounds of chemo.  I opted for 6 because my mother died at age 57 in 1975 of the same thing.  At about round 3, I wanted to quit, but gritted my teeth and got through it.  No, it wasn't easy, but now, 2 years later and cancer-free, I am very glad I did.  So, hang in there.  You've got a wonderful opportunity to beat this thing entirely.  Best of luck.
Helpful - 0
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