How long can i expect to live?

[lady_T15]

Hello, I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with stage 3c serous ovarian cancer August 11,2010. I then went under for surgery one day later, they did a whole hestorectomy, removed my omentum and cut off other parts of tumors that were throughout my abdomen. I am on my 5th cycle of chemo, i have been doing ok with chemo, gets harder as time goes on. I hve one more cycle left before my dr. orders the pet scan. I am anxious to see how much the chemo has worked, but im also scared. My ca-125 was high before surgery, after surgery it was at 109, last week it was down to 24, so it has dropped alot..but i also have been reading alot of information on ovarian caner and it has scared me alot. Statistics are scary! I want to live a long life..i am finally happy and i finally have a family of my own, i don't have my own children but i have a 17 year old stepson that i became attached to and my fiance who i am very much in love with, im not ready to leave them whether it's 2,3,4,5 years from now. I cry all the time just thinking about it..i keep reading that women with ovarian cancer cought in my stage don't live past 5 years after diagnosis, how true is this..can i please get some advise on how to deal with this..and if their are any long time survivors of this terrible silent killer!
Thanks,
Theresa

[dian07]

Your note put a smile on my face....thank you Theresa!
Peace.
dian

[lady_T15]

Thank you both so much for lifting my spirits and hopes to a longer future. Being so young i have been taking it very hard at times. I love having my good days and being outside they get me thru the bad days. And Dian you are so right about the car drives..when i first started driving again after having surgery and diagnosis i would find myself in a deep thought about my cancer and i would cry for a few moments, whether it was on my way to work or to pick up my fiance or whether it was to go visit with a friend but always while i was driving alone i would get depressed..and to take it away i would look up into the sky and see how beautiful the sky looked and how beautiful just the outside world is and i would smile! At home well thats a whole new story but now i have this sight to thank for all my smiles while i am depressed. And you are the first person that made me smile and gave me a new hope to my future..Then Bron made it even better..Thank you so much Ladies for replying to my post, i feel alot better and i hope all is going so well for you guys. Im sure i will on here a lot from now on..if only i new about it when i was first diagnosed these past few months have been very hard emotionally, physically it has been ok but emotionally it's been rough..and i have put my fiance through alot which i am very thankful he is still bye myside. Bron i am so happy for you and your pregnacies..how exciting and twins..wow i have always loved twins. You go gurl! Both you ladies have made me feel so much better, i am so thankful for this sight and for your responses, wish you both the best. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

[dian07]

Hey there, kid!  So nice to hear your voice and congrats on the twins as well as your 14 month old !
It's great to hear how you have grabbed life by the tail and are really on  a ride.  
You are the perfect person for Theresa to hear from. Your voice is always nice to hear.
Peace.
dian

[OzBron]

Hi there,
I was 31 when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 serous OvCa in March 2007. I have been NED (no evidence of disease) since chemo. My CA125 dropped from over 400 to single digits following chemo and has stayed around 4-6 over the last 3 years. During my surgery they conserved my iterus and I have a 14month old daughter and am now 14weeks pregnant with twins. Life goes on after cancer and at our age we need to go for it.
I believe that statistics are useless for our age group. Remember that majority of OVCA patients in those statistics are atleast 20 years older and often have more complicated medical situations. You have to consider that there is a significant difference in getting cancer at 30 vs 60 or 70.
If you read my past posts you will see that i had the same questions as you when I was first diagnosed and I was hoping to find others on the forum that were in my situation. After many years I still haven't found anyone in 'my' situation and I have realised that everyone has a unique story and a unique response to cancer and to the treatment.
You have to believe that the statistics don't apply to you and that you are in the percent of patients that will make it well past 5years.
I have heard of people that are up to 19 years post treatment and still going strong.

I hope the last cycle goes okay for you. Celebrate the fact that it is the last. Don't do the PET Scan too quickly as I have heard from others that inflammation can make it flare and lead to unneccessary stress and a repeat scan. Let your body heal a little.
The next 6mths may be emotionally and pychologically the hardest, for the last 6mth you have been actively figting and dealing with cancer and it is hard to resume life while waiting for the reassurance of the 3mth checks.
I am sorry that you are going through this. Please come on and post as often as you need if you have questions or want to vent.
Bron

[dian07]

Hey there, kid.  You have got to ignore stats....you are an individual not a number.  You are unique and your body responds  uniquely  to your chemo.  Your state of mind can and does affect your life so learn to laugh a lot!  Find things to laugh at and about!  Even if it's stupid...laugh!
Try not to let yourself wallow if fear or dread.  When you are driving down the road and those dark thoughts start creeping in.....look at the sky ....the amazing clouds....the sunshine ....the ice on the signs or fences.....the rain and what a miracle that stuff is.....find beauty and hope around you......there is always someone worse off than you are....think of those people all around the world who can't get treatment for medical issues facing themselves or their children.  There are others worse off.  Who knows....there could be a break in treatment for ovarian cancer just around the corner!
A 17 year old stepson.....how wonderful !  You are indeed a lucky woman.  Your CA125 is looking good....another reason to be hopeful.  Your age is also on your side.  Hang in there, girl; and, you keep coming back here when you are getting down.....we are here for you.
I know this is unfair.....nothing fair about it.  All you can do is throw everything you can at it and fight as best as you can.  No it's not fair.....nobody your age should be having to deal with this and it's not possible to be happy about it...this is so unfair; but, it is what it is.  This is your life and we will do anything we can to help....please just let us know...we are here when you feel alone or want to talk or want to rant....we are here and have been where you are.  Let us help.

Peace.
dian