Aa
what are the stats??
Hey fellow disease ridden angels....
I am stage 4 O. cancer and into my 4th week of chemo (2nd session comes the 6th) and lovely (being facitious) with what little hair I have left... I cut it really short but my part... is about 2 inches wide!! LOL! Oh well. You have all been there. And my head/hair does feel a little painful... like I have had a tight pony tail and just taken it out.
My question to you is what ar ethe statistics on survival of stage 4.
I live in So Florida where the average age of the people in my chemo room are around 80... no kidding. And I figure, based on statistics.. that since I am relatively younger, and always been in excellent health... that maybe my chances of survival were a bit better than what I read. I have a feeling I will get the truth from you guys. I can take it.....
Thanks for this site. Thanks for being there.
I am stage 4 O. cancer and into my 4th week of chemo (2nd session comes the 6th) and lovely (being facitious) with what little hair I have left... I cut it really short but my part... is about 2 inches wide!! LOL! Oh well. You have all been there. And my head/hair does feel a little painful... like I have had a tight pony tail and just taken it out.
My question to you is what ar ethe statistics on survival of stage 4.
I live in So Florida where the average age of the people in my chemo room are around 80... no kidding. And I figure, based on statistics.. that since I am relatively younger, and always been in excellent health... that maybe my chances of survival were a bit better than what I read. I have a feeling I will get the truth from you guys. I can take it.....
Thanks for this site. Thanks for being there.
this is a wonderful site of info and uplift and there is always someone to help,whether its with serious info or some humor to help u threw the day,,i was so grateful to finding these ladies they have helped me so much and it enable me to get feedback otherwise i might not get...and laughs along the way..in our family we always have good humor in its right place AND WE THANK GOD HE GAVE US HUMOR CAUSE SOMETIMES its such a great release just like crying only different emotions...and one thing i told everyone fam ily and friends from the beginning lets not let the elephant i n the room if you have a question ask no matter how it seems, if its important to you its important to them and us...sweet dreams and praying good progress for us all night all gabby55
I have met a stage 3 and is doing well after 11 years, and a very good friend at stage 4 given a few months to live and is in her 6th year and feels better than ever!!! Don't make yourself a statistic--let's make NEW statisics!! This site is great with treasured friendships! You are in my thoughts
Hi Billie,
I'm staged 4B after my debulking surgery in 2007 and my oncologist said at that time, that he expected me to reach the 5 year mark. I asked him and that was his honest reply 3 years ago.
I'm on my 4th chemo drug now, I've had carbo/taxol, Topotecan, Gemzar and now Doxil. I'm finding Doxil's side effects to be the worst of any other chemo drug.
Of course I lost my hair with the first drugs, but I shampooed and conditioned every day, just to give the stragglers a fighting chance!
I tucked the 5 year stat away in my mind, and don't plan on anything long term, but I also don't sit and brood over my bad fate. Somethings just can't be controlled and we have to accept that.
My husband and I have honest talks and over time he's opened up and been talking to me about his future. We've been married 47 years and it's going to be horrible for him when he's alone.
I've been teaching him how to do laundry, and he's become a pretty good cook too.
I'm too fatigued to shop so that's his job now, and he's really become a good shopper with the detailed list and coupons I send him with. Thank goodness for cell phones!
I understand what you're saying about the age of the ladies in your chemo room, It's such a shame that this is what their "golden years" have become.
We tried Florida for 4 years and couldn't take the heat, and going through 3 hurricanes Francis, Jeanne and Wilma. That wasn't in our plan so we moved back to NJ and that's when I was diagnosed with OVCA.
What's that expression, "man makes plans and God laughs", how fitting.
Anyway I'm glad you found us, please keep in touch and good luck to you!
Jane
I'm staged 4B after my debulking surgery in 2007 and my oncologist said at that time, that he expected me to reach the 5 year mark. I asked him and that was his honest reply 3 years ago.
I'm on my 4th chemo drug now, I've had carbo/taxol, Topotecan, Gemzar and now Doxil. I'm finding Doxil's side effects to be the worst of any other chemo drug.
Of course I lost my hair with the first drugs, but I shampooed and conditioned every day, just to give the stragglers a fighting chance!
I tucked the 5 year stat away in my mind, and don't plan on anything long term, but I also don't sit and brood over my bad fate. Somethings just can't be controlled and we have to accept that.
My husband and I have honest talks and over time he's opened up and been talking to me about his future. We've been married 47 years and it's going to be horrible for him when he's alone.
I've been teaching him how to do laundry, and he's become a pretty good cook too.
I'm too fatigued to shop so that's his job now, and he's really become a good shopper with the detailed list and coupons I send him with. Thank goodness for cell phones!
I understand what you're saying about the age of the ladies in your chemo room, It's such a shame that this is what their "golden years" have become.
We tried Florida for 4 years and couldn't take the heat, and going through 3 hurricanes Francis, Jeanne and Wilma. That wasn't in our plan so we moved back to NJ and that's when I was diagnosed with OVCA.
What's that expression, "man makes plans and God laughs", how fitting.
Anyway I'm glad you found us, please keep in touch and good luck to you!
Jane
Welcome Billie....stats are just numbers....and someone has to be on the winning side of those numbers.....and who is to say it is not you!!!!! Keep positive, and keep living!!!! I had a good friend who was stage 4, she was on femera long term, and fought the disease living a great quality of live for 8.5 years.
Concentrate on the positives in life.
Best of luck to you,
Pam
Concentrate on the positives in life.
Best of luck to you,
Pam
Yes, stats don't count how the grandbabies keep us going. I can feel sick as a dog and Callie can just touch my arm with her healing lovey hand and I am better. No doubt the fight in us to stay with the kids adds time to our lives. Marie
There are as many answers to your question, as there are stars in the heavens. I felt the same way when I was first dx. I am a Stage II with a recurrence. The recurrence puts me in a 3-5 year column according to my Oncologist. This was after my truly backing him into a corner for him to give me an honest answer based on "HIS" experience at a very large, prestigious cancer practice in Nashville, TN. (Vanderbilt)
Now I will tell you that I plan to live much longer than that! I have a new Grandbaby coming in October and I plan to get to know him.
Now I will tell you that I plan to live much longer than that! I have a new Grandbaby coming in October and I plan to get to know him.
I am two years out this sept. If it wasn't for my sense of humor and the ladies on this forum, I don't think I would have made it this far. Every day I tell myself that I am going to beet this disease. Make sure you ask any questions you need to. No such thing as a dumb one. The stats are just that. I think they are there to just scare us sometimes. Someday the hair will grow back, the crappy feeling will go away and all the other lovely side effects of chemo, will slowly diminish. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes one has to fight for it. We are here for you, so don't forget it
A dear friend of mine is past 8 years in her battle and going strong. Still on a maintenance type chemo to manage things but I so admire her zest for life. (Love you Miriam.)
My favorite cousin's name is Billie Kay. Love the name. Love your attitude. You keep on "kickin some butt" and I will do the same.
Statistics tend to lump all patients together, not accounting for age, heath, and ability to fight like crazy. When I first looked up the stats on my particular cancer, it looked pretty grim. 5 to 15 months???? Nope. Not me. I am over 3 years from diagnosis and am still here taking care of the grandbabies.
After I was home from the hospital I searched the internet for survival stories. I found a woman alive and well 17 years after being diagnosed with stage 4 ovca. That gave me alot of hope.
Find out all you can about your particular type of ovca. Cell type, grade and histology all make a difference in how you should be treated and how you will respond. My cancer is very different, but my first oncologist did not consider that. I am now being treated as if my cancer is colorectal cancer, because that is how my type of ovca behaves.
I wish you the best, Marie
Statistics tend to lump all patients together, not accounting for age, heath, and ability to fight like crazy. When I first looked up the stats on my particular cancer, it looked pretty grim. 5 to 15 months???? Nope. Not me. I am over 3 years from diagnosis and am still here taking care of the grandbabies.
After I was home from the hospital I searched the internet for survival stories. I found a woman alive and well 17 years after being diagnosed with stage 4 ovca. That gave me alot of hope.
Find out all you can about your particular type of ovca. Cell type, grade and histology all make a difference in how you should be treated and how you will respond. My cancer is very different, but my first oncologist did not consider that. I am now being treated as if my cancer is colorectal cancer, because that is how my type of ovca behaves.
I wish you the best, Marie
Dear Gail,
And yep... my name is Billie. I am from a cotton patch in Arkansas and that is the my given name. : )
Thank you for your poignant response. Your words are just what I needed. I understand that stats are just stats... but I think I also wanted to hear from someone in the know what I need to get myself braced for. I have two great docs and feel like I am in good hands but they can gently side step a bit. I am early on in this journey and find myself in sort of a dichotomy. I feel I need to accept if its my time to go and I feel I need to kick some butt to keep from going. (make any sense?)
I am so glad I stumbled upon this site.
Thank you again for your response and I will definitely do my best to keep my sense of humor!
Sending hugs to you...
Billie
And yep... my name is Billie. I am from a cotton patch in Arkansas and that is the my given name. : )
Thank you for your poignant response. Your words are just what I needed. I understand that stats are just stats... but I think I also wanted to hear from someone in the know what I need to get myself braced for. I have two great docs and feel like I am in good hands but they can gently side step a bit. I am early on in this journey and find myself in sort of a dichotomy. I feel I need to accept if its my time to go and I feel I need to kick some butt to keep from going. (make any sense?)
I am so glad I stumbled upon this site.
Thank you again for your response and I will definitely do my best to keep my sense of humor!
Sending hugs to you...
Billie
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Billie (I'm taking for granted your name is Billie),
First let me say welcome to our forum and we're glad you found us. I can tell by your post you have a sense of humor, and that will serve you well as you continue this journey. I can think of about a billion things I'd rather do than sit through another chemo treatment, but if you have to do it, might as well do it with a smile on your face!
I really hate statistics because although useful for research purposes, I believe all of us respond differently and are more than just a number in a "win" or "lose" column. But, as much as I hate them, they do help us understand what the consequences of this disease can be. I'm sure there are more specific stats about stage IV, but in many cases, the stats refer to ovarian cancer in general. Of all women with ovarian cancer, the 5 year survival rate is about 46%. But when you get more specific with higher stages (3 and 4 only), that number decreases to about 40%. While that number can seem a bit daunting, keep in mind that it's possible you'll be in that 40%. My surgeon told me that with good debulking, it's relatively easy to get an ovarian cancer patient into remission. The problem is that it's pretty likely it will come back, so you have to keep treating it like a chronic disease.
You are right that younger women who are in better health will do better. I'll hit my 5 year mark in August, and I credit that to the fact I was 35 when diagnosed, and I had no other real health problems.
Best wishes to you, and I hope you don't concentrate too hard on those statistics. There are those who will always beat the odds. Keep posting and asking questions. This is a group who will always support you and we'll do our best to answer your questions.
Gail
First let me say welcome to our forum and we're glad you found us. I can tell by your post you have a sense of humor, and that will serve you well as you continue this journey. I can think of about a billion things I'd rather do than sit through another chemo treatment, but if you have to do it, might as well do it with a smile on your face!
I really hate statistics because although useful for research purposes, I believe all of us respond differently and are more than just a number in a "win" or "lose" column. But, as much as I hate them, they do help us understand what the consequences of this disease can be. I'm sure there are more specific stats about stage IV, but in many cases, the stats refer to ovarian cancer in general. Of all women with ovarian cancer, the 5 year survival rate is about 46%. But when you get more specific with higher stages (3 and 4 only), that number decreases to about 40%. While that number can seem a bit daunting, keep in mind that it's possible you'll be in that 40%. My surgeon told me that with good debulking, it's relatively easy to get an ovarian cancer patient into remission. The problem is that it's pretty likely it will come back, so you have to keep treating it like a chronic disease.
You are right that younger women who are in better health will do better. I'll hit my 5 year mark in August, and I credit that to the fact I was 35 when diagnosed, and I had no other real health problems.
Best wishes to you, and I hope you don't concentrate too hard on those statistics. There are those who will always beat the odds. Keep posting and asking questions. This is a group who will always support you and we'll do our best to answer your questions.
Gail
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