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Surgery found Ovarian Cancer
I am 58 years old, I had a complete hystorectomy on June 3rd. An C.T scan found a mass on one ovary and a cyst on the other. They removed everything that looked like cancer, also the lympnodes. They found that I have cancer in the lympnodes around my heart. My doctor didn't even tell me about the cancer, just his P.A. and they didn't answer any questions. We are going in tomorrow and get some answers. The P.A. did say that in two weeks they would call with an Oncallisgest name, and I would start Chemo. I want to know what the stats are for this cancer? Also is radiation better than Chemo? and will the cancer doctor tell me what is best? I have a great attitude, and want to eat right, which we do now, and also exercise again when I am over the surgery. Is this cancer treatable? I am sure the cancer doctor can answer these questions. Yet I seen this forum and wanted some answers. The P.A told us to go on line to get stats, we are not paying the web for these answers. And I am not a number, but I thought you may be able to shed a little light on this?
Thank you,
Sandy
Thank you,
Sandy
Thank you everyone! What great help and encouragement you have given me!
I have found an oncologist, and I really like him. He answered all my quistions I had written down and he was really great. My husband likes him a lot to, He really has been helpful. I go to him this coming Mon. to get the plan in place. I have to wait tell the surgeon gives me the go a head, but it should be about 3 1/2 more weeks. He said it would be about 6 months of Chemo, or 18 weeks altogether. We will see.
Thank you for telling me about checking out the tumor, I am sure they can do that. The oncologist said he was going to check with pathology. I will ask him about that to, on Monday. So even though the cancer is in the lymp nodes, it would be helpful to check on the tumor?
This site has already become a very great comfort and knowlege for me.
Thanks again,
Sandy
Sandy
I have found an oncologist, and I really like him. He answered all my quistions I had written down and he was really great. My husband likes him a lot to, He really has been helpful. I go to him this coming Mon. to get the plan in place. I have to wait tell the surgeon gives me the go a head, but it should be about 3 1/2 more weeks. He said it would be about 6 months of Chemo, or 18 weeks altogether. We will see.
Thank you for telling me about checking out the tumor, I am sure they can do that. The oncologist said he was going to check with pathology. I will ask him about that to, on Monday. So even though the cancer is in the lymp nodes, it would be helpful to check on the tumor?
This site has already become a very great comfort and knowlege for me.
Thanks again,
Sandy
Sandy
Awww . . . I'm sorry to hear that you're facing a scary time. At least you know you can come here and get sympathy and hugs when you need them . . . and you will! I'm a year out of chemo (16 months out of surgery), and I still have moments when I hate the whole "C" word thing. But mostly I'm happy as a clam at high tide because I'm still here and doing the things I love to do. You'll be there before you know it.
Talk to the oncologist. It doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. He'll tell you what he thinks will work for your situation. If you're not happy with his plan, talk to another oncologist. Find the best one in your area. I was happy with the one my surgeon recommended. He was willing to really push me to the max while still maintaining a kind heart and an open door. That's what I needed. Cutting-edge treatment and the occasional reassurance.
I absolutely agree with Kimchi. Get a notebook with pockets so you can take notes, write down questions as they occur to you, and keep all your blood test results and the like. The one thing I learned about chemo is that it can make your brain kind of airy. LOL Having everything in front of me helped a lot when I needed to talk to the doctor (or to family members or nosy neighbors).
The shock and anger will pass if you let them. No, you're not a number. The only number that's important is which round of chemo you're on. Maybe you'll get addicted to your CA125 results like I did. *G* Othewise, statistics are always iffy. They only give a middle-range. There's always a high and low that remain invisible. And they change as new developments come along.
Keep a good thought! Positive energy is your friend. I'll be pulling for you.
Talk to the oncologist. It doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. He'll tell you what he thinks will work for your situation. If you're not happy with his plan, talk to another oncologist. Find the best one in your area. I was happy with the one my surgeon recommended. He was willing to really push me to the max while still maintaining a kind heart and an open door. That's what I needed. Cutting-edge treatment and the occasional reassurance.
I absolutely agree with Kimchi. Get a notebook with pockets so you can take notes, write down questions as they occur to you, and keep all your blood test results and the like. The one thing I learned about chemo is that it can make your brain kind of airy. LOL Having everything in front of me helped a lot when I needed to talk to the doctor (or to family members or nosy neighbors).
The shock and anger will pass if you let them. No, you're not a number. The only number that's important is which round of chemo you're on. Maybe you'll get addicted to your CA125 results like I did. *G* Othewise, statistics are always iffy. They only give a middle-range. There's always a high and low that remain invisible. And they change as new developments come along.
Keep a good thought! Positive energy is your friend. I'll be pulling for you.
On thiing to bring up if they have some of yoour tumor to have it sent in to see how the different chemo drugs work. Because my docotr did that we use taxatere not taxol because taxol was iineffectivve. I was 3b and now m 20 months free of cancer. Tuumor testing really can help if I had taxol the standarrd i might not be hhealthy to day. I also had cisplatin IP interrperitoneal it is harder on the body but in some cases harder on the cancer. good luck
You need to see an oncologist right away -- forget about statistics -- there is so much variance that while there may be an average life expectancy the standard deviation is so high that it almost doesn't mean anything -- just remember you don't have an expiration date stamped on your foot.......
It is unlikely that you will have radiation -- it is not often used for ovarian cancer because of the risk of damage to unaffected organs and it would have to be full area radiation because of free floating cells.
Usually they start chemo with the "gold standard" which is carboplatin and taxol -- you can look all those up. A good easy website to understand is WebMD --- also MD Anderson Cancer center has a good website -- you don't have to pay for any of this info -- if you don't have web access, call you local library and see if they can pull it up for you and just charge you to print the info and then mail it to you.
I've had ovarian cancer for 5 years and am still fighting. Don't look for a life expectancy -- hope for the best and assume you'll be around a while -- eat healthy, don't over do fatty foods, take multivitamins and stay hydrated -- and if you start crying all the time or anything, see a psychiatrist and get something for the anxiety and depression if you start feeling depressed.
I'm no doctor so my advice is just based on my own and my sister's experiences (she had it too) -- Also, Kimchi's advice about it great advice -- this sight is really great and you can even ask doctor's questions on it
Try to get in to the onc right away -- chemo should really be started within two weeks of surgery if possible.
Good luck for a speedy recovery from the surgery and a manageable battle against the cancer.
It is unlikely that you will have radiation -- it is not often used for ovarian cancer because of the risk of damage to unaffected organs and it would have to be full area radiation because of free floating cells.
Usually they start chemo with the "gold standard" which is carboplatin and taxol -- you can look all those up. A good easy website to understand is WebMD --- also MD Anderson Cancer center has a good website -- you don't have to pay for any of this info -- if you don't have web access, call you local library and see if they can pull it up for you and just charge you to print the info and then mail it to you.
I've had ovarian cancer for 5 years and am still fighting. Don't look for a life expectancy -- hope for the best and assume you'll be around a while -- eat healthy, don't over do fatty foods, take multivitamins and stay hydrated -- and if you start crying all the time or anything, see a psychiatrist and get something for the anxiety and depression if you start feeling depressed.
I'm no doctor so my advice is just based on my own and my sister's experiences (she had it too) -- Also, Kimchi's advice about it great advice -- this sight is really great and you can even ask doctor's questions on it
Try to get in to the onc right away -- chemo should really be started within two weeks of surgery if possible.
Good luck for a speedy recovery from the surgery and a manageable battle against the cancer.
Sandy,
Sorry to hear about your dx. Sounds like your doctor lacks beside manners. Was there an oncologist present when you had your hystorectomy? I would insist on seing an oncologist asap and get as much information ie stage, type of chemo, dosage, frequency, need for radiation. In the meantime, if you do have Ovarian cancer, I would do alot of research. This site has a wealth of information. Look in the archives as well, make a list of questions as you go along. I find that having my paper and pen handy when I meet with my Onc helps a lot. I can read off my question, write down answers and then go home and try to absorb what was said.
In the meantime, try to reschedule asap and keep doing what you are doing, eat well and rest (excercise should not happen for at least 4-6 months).
Keep us informed
Sorry to hear about your dx. Sounds like your doctor lacks beside manners. Was there an oncologist present when you had your hystorectomy? I would insist on seing an oncologist asap and get as much information ie stage, type of chemo, dosage, frequency, need for radiation. In the meantime, if you do have Ovarian cancer, I would do alot of research. This site has a wealth of information. Look in the archives as well, make a list of questions as you go along. I find that having my paper and pen handy when I meet with my Onc helps a lot. I can read off my question, write down answers and then go home and try to absorb what was said.
In the meantime, try to reschedule asap and keep doing what you are doing, eat well and rest (excercise should not happen for at least 4-6 months).
Keep us informed
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