What happens next?

ok, so now its post surgery and mom is almost feeling like her old self.  She looks good - she sounds good.

They did a complete hysterectomy and removed her omentum.  Her liver, kidneys, etc are clear but it did spread a bit to her abdomen. He said he got 98% of the cancer out with some "specs" remaining, some at 3cm....which classifies her as Stage 3C.

The doc says that this type of cancer is VERY susceptible to the chemo.  My mom is in good spirits, has a will to live and has us all rallying around her with love and support.

The thing is - I read on the net and the long term prognosis at this stage isnt good.  I know every case is different and dependent on so many factors.  But is it possible statistics Im looking at are years old and that in the last 10 years - even in the last 5 years - significant advances have been made and the prognosis could be indeed pretty good since her major organs appear clear?  Even though he got 98% of the cancer out, it sounds like the chemo will be key to her recovery.

She will get the chemo via the IV.....they DO have it where they can inject it directly into the abdomen but the doc says they have good success with the IV AND the other way its more toxic and the side effects are more severe.

The doc can never guarantee anything and I know every case is different due to so many different variables...is the prognosis better than I think? I hear over and over again that OC is NOT necessarily a death sentence.

Thanks for letting me babble.  God Bless and best wishes to all of us.

[xrayu2]

Well at least she is feeling good now.  Statistics are just statistics as far survival rates go.  there are many women who have overcome the odds and go onto live full happy lives.  I will continue to think of you.  Thank you for posting.

[ConcernedInNY]

She was feeling great before the surgery too - if she didnt have her annual exam, she never would have known she had this damn cancer.

But the doc didnt sound grim - and I would think if the news wasnt good he would have indeed said something.

But it sounds like many women have had it at this stage, even with it spreading to the liver and have still survived many years.

[xrayu2]

There are women where I work that come in for their annual scans and when you look at previous films and reports, you wonder how they have made it thru.  I truly believe it has to do with attitude.  I have seen people with stage I cancers die in a few months and STage IV still living life years later.  It has to be an inner will and from what you have posted she has the will and the support(thru you) that will get her thru this if at all possible.

[Curls]

I posted someplace earlier...my friend's mom was diagnosed stage III with follow up chemo in her 60's or 70's.  That was 8 years ago and when I last talked with her a 2 years ago her mom was cancer free and feeling fine.  It can happen.  I don't have more details on what type of cancer or the treatments used.

In my readings there are specific (rarer) ovca's that are very aggressive and not responsive to treatment, so if your mom's doctor is optimistic, that's a good sign.  And the stats include all the types of ovcas, so they have limited predictive value for a specific situation.
Cheri