My sister

In 2019 my younger sister phoned me and said that she was at the hospital with her husband and she had just been told that she has ovarian cancer and there was a tumour on her left ovary.  

After getting her to back track she explained that she had a loss of appetite, bloating and a pain in her side and her GP thought she might her an appendicitis and sent her to hospital for a scan.

She had a hysterectomy and chemotherapy and just as she finished chemotherapy she caught glandular fever and was in hospital for 3 weeks.  

She was put on chemotherapy tablets and was in remission for 4 months.  

Since then the cancer has come back on her pelvis which they tried treating with chemotherapy but had to operate and remove.  Then it was in her spleen and she had radiotherapy.   The PET-CT scan showed the radiotherapy had got rid of it on her spleen but there was another tumour on the left side of her pelvis and left kidney.   After her oncologist had said there was nothing further that could be done they said they could try radiotherapy but it hadn't been done before on her type of cancer.  She finishes 2 weeks of radiotherapy this Wednesday then we have to wait until she has her next PET-CT scan and hope it has worked.

She has gone through so much over the last 5 years and been so brave.  I know she worries about her husband and son and of course her mum and sisters. 

She was told in the beginning that it couldn't be cured and her oncologist was aiming to get her in remission and if she was in remission for a year she would be alive for  5 years.  She was in remission for 4 months and 5 years later she's still fighting. 

 

  • Hello DonnaJane,
    Thank you for sharing your sister’s journey with us. She has been through so much over the past five years, and it’s clear how incredibly strong and determined she is.
    I can only imagine how hard it is to wait for her next PET-CT scan results. That waiting period can be such an anxious time, and I hope the radiotherapy has made a difference. It sounds like she has a wonderful support system around her, and I’m sure that brings her a lot of comfort, even if she worries about you all.
    Supporting a loved one with cancer can be overwhelming, and it’s important to take care of yourself too. You might find this page helpful, as it offers advice on how to support a family member or friend: Family, friends, carers and cancer.
    If you ever need to talk things through, our friendly team of nurses are available on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
    You’re not alone, DonnaJane, please remember we’re here for whenever you need a chat.
    All the best,
    Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator