Time taken for recovery from Ovarian Cancer surgery

My mother is 86 years old. She is a 4th stage Ovarian Cancer patient ( right ovary affected and nodules in the surrounding areas and in the umbilical area as well). Had her first Chemo ten days ago and handled it  very well. Her doctor says if she responds well to the next two Chemos, then he will be able to do the surgery to remove her ovary. I am wodering how much time she will need for recovery from the surgery. Will there be more Chemos to deal with the nodules? I am her only son and my job takes me away on long trips - 6-8 weeks. I am wodering if she has her surgery done around the first week of May, will I be able to travel after being with her for two more weeks. My wife who is not in excellent health will be able to take care of her - mom lives with us - and I am thinking Mom may need real help only during the first two weeks after the surgery. OR  after her third Chemo - lets say the cancer is under control by then - can we wait 6 weeks to get the surgery done?  

[shewrites]

If the doctor is ready to do the surgery, I think you want to do that on his/her schedule.  You'll want to talk this over with him.  Perhaps he could go ahead with the fourth chemo before the surgery???  

Also, please be sure the surgeon is a gyn/oncologist.  This is very important.  The gyn/onc has additional training and more experience --  and is likely to get better results.  

I'm assumiing that she will have a complete hysterectomy, removal of the omentum and even the apprendix if she still has one.  That seems to be standard.  So you're talking major surgery here.  

Typically, it takes six weeks to recover from major surgery.  I was not back to driving or doing heavy lifting after two weeks, but I was walking stairs, sitting at my desk, and doing normal activites by then.  At her age, it could take longer, but she might also be eligible to have some home health care to relieve the strain on your wife.  I'd talk that over with the doctor, too.  

I'm sorry that your mother has to go through this.  Please remember to listen to her and let her make her own decisions.  She's already lost control of her health and she needs to be able to exercise her own wishes.  

Good luck and God bless you all

[shewrites]

If the doctor is ready to do the surgery, I think you want to do that on his/her schedule.  You'll want to talk this over with him.  Perhaps he could go ahead with the fourth chemo before the surgery???  

Also, please be sure the surgeon is a gyn/oncologist.  This is very important.  The gyn/onc has additional training and more experience --  and is likely to get better results.  

I'm assumiing that she will have a complete hysterectomy, removal of the omentum and even the apprendix if she still has one.  That seems to be standard.  So you're talking major surgery here.  

Typically, it takes six weeks to recover from major surgery.  I was not back to driving or doing heavy lifting after two weeks, but I was walking stairs, sitting at my desk, and doing normal activites by then.  At her age, it could take longer, but she might also be eligible to have some home health care to relieve the strain on your wife.  I'd talk that over with the doctor, too.  

I'm sorry that your mother has to go through this.  Please remember to listen to her and let her make her own decisions.  She's already lost control of her health and she needs to be able to exercise her own wishes.  

Good luck and God bless you all

[ebey_sim]

I am grateful to God for the kind of support we are receiving through MedHelp. Thanks for the response which I believe is very timely. My mother believes in God like I do and so she is confident that divine healing will precede healing through any other means. Last time she went to see the doctor ( this Onc works closely with the best Gynecologist in that hospital) the doctor was qiuite happy about her attitude towards her situation. The other docs, top surgeons themselves, in that hospital who are all believers also said Mom's attitude - they actually mean faith - is helping her more than anything else. BIG THANKS.

[ebey_sim]

Will be grateful for some advice on the nutrition support we can give to my Mom. She takes a multi vitamin besides yogurt and fruit. Eats normally as ever. Good appetite so far