recently diagnosed clear cell ovarian cancer

[felter]

I have been recently diagnosed with stage 1a clear cell cancer of the left ovary.  I had full hysterectomy, bso and omentectomy and the cancer was confined to the substance of the ovary with no evidence of metastases beyond the left ovary.  my gyn gave me a good prognosis but in view of the clear cell nature of the cancer referred me to an oncologist.  she has suggested 6 sessions of 3 week treatments of chemo taxol/carboplatin.  I have read that clear cell cancers do not respond to platinum based chemo and wonder if anyone can give me advice/information on this.  I have yet to decide if I proceed with chemo and how much it will benefit me - quite frankly I am scared of the chemo and what it will do to my body and if in fact there is any cancer still there to treat & what would happen if I do not have chemo.  how does anyone know the right thing to do?

[felter]

Chris

Thank you for replying so honestly with your own story.  You have already gone through so much with determination and faith.  It must be hard at times to keep going but we have to have such a terrific will to live and  I know I can beat this too.

I was indeed lucky to find this at such an early stage - but only because a friend had late onset ovarian cancer diagnosed which has reached her bowel and liver.  I talked to her about what symptoms she recognised and there were so few, but some that i had and also had this feeling something wasn't quite right - so I persisted in getting checked out and elected for a full hyterectomy immediately before I knew the biopsy results.  so at least I do not need further surgery, just the chemo.  My treatment starts in 2 weeks on the 18th.

I hope they continue to keep you stable and under control.  I cannot imagine how you are dealing with all the treatments & side effects, or is your body adjusting to that now?  I feel quite humble worrying about my diagnosis with everything you have had to deal with.
best wishes
Jan

[crecco]

felter,
   I am so glad that you spoke with your Dr and that you have decided to go ahead with the treatments. Before they are over you may find yourself wishing you hadn't chose that routs, but when it is all said and done and behind you, I think you will be happy with the path you chose.

  My case is a little different than yours and that is why I felt so strongly that you think about the treatment option. I was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in Nov 2005. And started chemo on 11-28-05. My surgery had to wait as I was just too sick to make it through surgery at the time. So I had 8 rounds of carbo/taxol, finished in May of 06 had surgery in June of 06 and started back on chemo in July of 06. I have been on chemo ever since. Basically due to the fact that my cancer was so advanced and even though they were able to remove all visible caner, I was still full of microscopic cells. Which to this day continue to become active when the chemo I am on stops working. So then it is on to something else. I was told even before my surgery that I would probably be on chemo for the rest of my life and later told that I would probably never see a real remission. So far they haven't let me down. But I am dealing with it because I know that we are doing all that we can to keep it under control. And keeping it under control, from where I was, is still a huge step.
  That is why, I felt you should go ahead with the treatments. At stage I you are very lucky and there is a very large possibility that it may never bother you again.
  I am glad that I was able to help and please remember that is what we are here for. If you need anything or have any other questions, please feel free to ask and I will do what I can to help get you through this.
    Chris

[felter]

Chris
Thanks for your advice.  I have had further meeting with my Gyn/surgeon yesterday and he has reassured me on a lot of the questions and was honest enough to tell me no-one can be sure with this type of clear cell as to the response/results.  i have decided to go ahead with treatment & have just got to sort out my 1st treatment date which will be in the next few weeks I guess.  He also said like you - if you do not give it your best shot then you will always regret it & it is harder to trace if it recurs.

have you had treatment too, what type did you have and how long since you finished yours & are you now clear?

[crecco]

felter,
   If your Dr has suggested chemo then that is what you should do. He is only trying to do what is best for you. And by suggesting chemo he wants to make sure that there are no cells left in your body.
  You are very lucky that you were diagnosed at such an early stage and the chemo is like a precaution. I think if I were you that I would go ahead with it. Yes the thought of chemo is very scary. The fear of the unknown is always the worst kind of fear. If there does happen to be any cells left and you do not have chemo, that gives those cells an opportunity to eventually start growing again and you might not find it so soon the next time.
  Chemo can be rough on you, but if you go only the 6 rounds, then your body will bounce back. You may have lingering fatigue for awhile and you will lose your hair. But all of that is worth it to know that you could be saving your own life.
   None of us are always sure what the right thing to do is, so we listen to our Drs. Basically we put our lives in their hands. But they are trained for this so that is why having a Dr that you trust is a very good thing to have. Talk this over with him and have him explain it all to you.
  I wish you the best of luck no matter what decision you make.
     Chris