Cancer at 28

[Holly222]

I am new here. I just wanted to read your stories about OV CA .I am so devastated I was diagnosed just last week.
I need all help I can get.

[Knotmeg]

Holly and John,

I hope surgery went okay for you yesterday and come back and keep us posted.

Meg

[Sunes]

Holly you are in my prayers. I know everything will be OK..you are going to be so sore for a while but I know John will take care of you . I will see you soon.Hang in there.Sunes.

[Sunes]

Both of you are in my PRAYERS. Keep reading about Ovarian Cancer  and stay focused and healthy for your wife. Thank you for asking about my treatments and sending me reply to my private message.There are few women here who do give great advise, but you have to make up your own mind...because some of these women are going through very tough time with their treatments  .Talk to your Oncologist and find a good Naturopathic doctor who will support you and your wife through conventional  treatments(if you choose this path) and give you plenty of information why supplements and good diet is important in cancer fighting!
Talk to you here in June. I am going away. You have my private email so please  if you need to find out MORE what I do please do not hasitate to write. I will be able to get your messages through my blacberry. Big Hugs and Kisses to Holly and you.
Take care, Sunes.

[lucymullis]

I certainly understand that you feel like your world has crashed.  My only suggestion is not to read too much on the internet right now.  Just focus on her surgery and allow her (and you) to experience all the emotions you feel and talk about your fears together.  A very wise person told me that I would not always feel the despair that I felt when I was first diagnosed.   I found that hard to believe but held on to it.  She was right.
I hate to repeat what has already been said; however, it is imperative that Holly have a GYN Oncologist do her surgery.  This is really the only thing I would suggest you focus on today.
You will both be in my prayers.

[Holly222]

Thank you so much for you help.I will keep writing, after the surgery we will know more. Yes, we have Oncologist to do surgery.Wish you all the best.John

[Jan214]

John, I am so very sorry that you have to go through this. I think that is too long to wait for surgery.  I am trying to get this straight.  Did a general surgeon do the laparoscopy or was it done by a gynonc?  Did they just decide it was to much to do that way once they were in there?  I don't understand why they wouldn't do an MRI. Was it them, your insurance or do you live in Canada or something?  Nothing against Canada, I just know some of our Canadian friends have a few problems we don't have in the states.  

I had a TVUS, an MRI and a CT.  That is how my onc knew I had advanced cancer even before he opened me up.  I think that is irresponsible on their part to go in there blind and than put her through another surgery.  Even my mechanic wouldn't work on my car without running the proper diagnostic procedures.  I know you just want to concentrate on helping Holly, and to that end you should make sure that you have a gynecological oncologist do the surgery.  Who is the surgeon, not his name, that would give away where you live, just is he an oncologist?  Did she have a transvaginal ultrasound or anything before the laparoscopy?

My husband pops on here occasionally and a lot of the ladies know him.  Honey, this site is for anyone touched by ovarian cancer (and quite a few who just had the scare of it)and we have a lot of men on here. So don't worry about being yourself.  I will have Cory come on later and give you a little husband perspective.  In the mean time, deep breaths, and remember this is NOT a death sentence no matter what is rattling around in your mind.   It was for my mom in 1964, but things are so very different now.

Keep posting and let us know what happens okay?
Kindest Regards
Jan

[turtledovemom]

So sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.  Please do your best to take care of yourself, as well as your wife.  Sometimes I think its more difficult to be the caregiver than the patient.  

All of the comments from the other women have been great.  Just remember that you're both feeling such intense emotions right now, including panic.  The tendency is to want procedures to be done quickly so that we get the damned disease out of us...like last week!  The recommendation to have a gyn/oncologist do the surgery is an extremely valid one.  If you don't already have one lined up, it's not too late to find one.  If you need help with that, please let us know.  I'm sure there are plenty of women here who could help you locate one near you.  Don't forget that you can be as proactive about this as you want to be...in regard to who is going to be taking care of the next step for your wife.  As Dian has often said (her words stay with me), you have one chance to have this done the right way, so find a gyn/onc.  We're here for you both, so please let us know how things progress...don't be afraid to ask questions here.  This is an amazingly knowledgeable and supportive group.
peace,
Anne

[marie3B]

I am sorry she has to wait so long for surgery. That seems like such a long time to delay the surgery.  I only had to wait a day and a half before my surgery.  Waiting that much was hard for me, so I know I would have been a wreck if I had to wait as long as your wife.  What part of the country are you from?  Do you have a gyne/oncologist scheduled to do the surgery?  I highly recommend one for the surgery. I wish you both the best. Marie

[Holly222]

I don't really understand all the terminology but...her biopsis were taken by laparoscopy and staging was done at the same time...I guess doctos could see extensiveness of her cancer inside.Surgey will reveil if there are spreads anywhere else.We were asking for MRI and they said that she does not fit medical profile for MRI I don't get it.
Thank you so much for all your help.I am so lost... John

[SimplyStar]

Biopsy can detect cancer and type  but staging can only be done  during surgery.  Be sure that an onocologist does the surgery. From where were the biopsys taken?

[msjazz]

There a 3 main types, then many subtypes. I wish I could be more helpful.. Is a gynecologist/oncologist doing her surgery? That is the most important thing right now. They know how to identify and remove the cancer. After that, she will probably have to do 6 rds. of chemo. If all cancer is removed except microscopic she will be a candidate for peritonial ( I.P.) chemo if you decide to do it. After her surgery it will be easier to know what chemo and how many treatments.   Best Wishes

[Holly222]

Holy is scheduled for surgery is May26.Thank you for all your help.

[marie3B]

Is she still in the hospital from the surgery? If we had more information we could help you more. Marie

[Holly222]

Holly had two biopsis done and when pathology came back doctor only said type in general and scheduled a surgery for May26..Is adenocrcinoma mucinous or serous? we don't know. John

[msjazz]

Do you know if it was a mucinous, serous papillary, or what type cell. Some are more aggressive? There are ladies here with several different types.

[Sunes]

Welcome to Ovarian Cancer forum JOHN..
Do not worry about apologizing to anyone for trying to help your wife. My husband helped me a lot when I could not lift a finger to do anything. I was numb for the first few months.
Did Holly have a biopsy? or surgery ...how do you know what stage she is in ?
Sunes.

[Holly222]

I asked my wife and she said it was adenocarcinoma stage 3A

[Holly222]

so I will be as John if you don't mind writing back to me.

[Holly222]

We did all the tests but I don't know much because we do not have any paper work yet.
Staging was 3A if I am not mistaking.and adenocarcinoids,John

[msjazz]

How were you diagnosed? Have you had surgery and staging yet. Do you know the cell type. These would help us as these things matter in the outcome of treatment