I was diagnosed with early ovarian cancer four weeks ago following a total hysterectomy, there were tumours on both ovaries, I have an appointment for a kidney function test and another ct scan next Friday, if everything is ok I start taxolcarbo chemotherapy after that. I was told there will be six sessions with 3 weeks rest in between.

I do hope I am posting this in the right place, I am concerned about the chemo and hope to learn more through this forum

Dot

Hi Dot

Welcome to the site although it would be nice if you did not have to be here.

The waiting is always the worst part.Once you have your plan and things are underway it is easier to understand.I had breast cancer so can not advise you about your treatment but would like to wish you the very best of luck.Do keep coming on here for us to support you .good luck

Rose xxx

Hi Dot, Thank You for email and I am glad I have cheered you up. I would like to know about the hysterectomy as I have to go through that in Sept. Do you have to stay in Hospital long ? Also is it easy when you get home. I know your not supposed to do anything which I will find hard and I expect all the ladies who have had one will feel the same, having to depend on people to do things for you. Also Jackie, Kathym, also this is for you ladies. xxxxxx

Hi Ladies!

Dot, worry away about the hair its far easier to worry about something you know about than the other, probably more important, things which all seem very abstract. Once the hair is gone you'll be fine 

Eileen, I had my hysterectomy and bits and debulking of tumour on a Thursday, they warned my friends that I would look grey and ill (we're all nurses so aware that major surgery leaves people looking like that!). I got back to the ward at 12ish and my mate wanted to know if I'd been cancelled! I looked and felt fine, the ward orderly obviously didn't realise either as she gave me lunch! being me I ate it and fortunately was fine! I had visitors on and off till 7pm when I got out of bed to a wheelchair and went for a ciggy (naughty I know but ain't going to make any difference now ! :devil:) . Friend came back in a 8 the next morning so I could go out again, managed to wash myself (but I'm used to tubes and things). Had the drain, catheter and epidural out at some point, went home Sat lunchtime. Sister came to look after me, went to the pub for dinner (easier than cooking and figured I had been in a car to get home!). Managed not to lift to much for the first week but decided it was rediculous not being able to make a cup of coffee so ignored that. Was glad when sister went as could just chill and not worry about entertaining (strange as wouldn't normally have worried about it!). Threw off one of my arterial blood clots 3 weeks post op and in all the excitement which followed totally forgot about the restrictions and went back to normal on discharge . Had a few problems with the wound healing not unexpected as on steroids for auto-immune disease. Otherwise not a problem. You will feel tired and that helps to wile away the time without misbehaving.

Everyone is different so you may be in for longer and please remember I am a nurse surrounded by nurses, so getting home early did not mean I was left without supervision and we knew what problems we were looking for (and how to deal with them!). Unlike Dot I got my taste back for a couple of days post surgery and after 3 doses of chemo where everything tasted sweet it was great, didn't last but it got slowly better until the chemo started again.

Hope that helps

Any questions or moans must be given into, if we can't do it here where can we do it?

Take care ladies

Jackie xxx

Hi Jackie,

our experiences were different, I was in hospital for seven days, but was told that it could be seven to ten, that seemed the norm for the hospital I was in. I was in critical care unit for two days then back onto the ward. Tiredness is a huge part of this for me, considering I am usually an insomniac, but I am enjoying it lol.

I loved the description of looking grey as everyone who had the op looked like that for the first day, but perked up after that.

You made me laugh about having a ciggie, I am a smoker, but there was nowhere on the grounds to have one and I haven't had one since but I really would love one lol.

I look back at my op and think of how concerned I was about it and now it is all over. There is no real choice but to get on with these things and looking back it wasn't as bad as I feared, pity I can't take a lesson from that for the chemo, but of course I will deal with it and I will look back on that too as I am my op.........I hope haha.

Eileen, I wrote to your email, I hope you got it

Jackie it is good to air our fears, much better when we share with others

take care all

Dot xxx

Hi REDLIZZIE,

I hope you are feeling ok. I had my op on the 22nd March 2010. I was really nervous about it , worrying mostly about the post op pain. I had a morphine pump and it was fantastic! I didn't feel any pain at all. The only thing that was uncomfortable was when they sat me in a chair the following morning, I managed about ten minutes then got back on my bed but after that was fine. I managed to have a shower and walk round the ward on the third day. On the fourth day I was discharged and went home in the late afternoon.

At home I was careful not to lift anything, (not even the kettle as my information booklet stated!). My partner helped by doing the ironing, vacuming, and shopping for the first two or three weeks. My wound healed perfectly with no problems ( I had a wound from 2 inches above my naval to the top of my pubic area.) I think as long as you take it easy everything will be fine, although you do feel guilty not doing anything. You are aloud to do certain things after a while such as dusting and even vacuming as long as you don't over do it.

When you sent me your phone number it appeared as three x's, I'm not sure what you meant.

I saw the consultant yesterday regarding my alergic reaction to the taxol. He says he is going to try me on just the carboplatin and see how I get on. I have had good results with carboplatin I had on the one occasion, and so he thinks it may work without the taxol.

I want to say hi to Dot, sorry it's a bit late and welcom to our little group. Hello to Plaxie too.:grin:

With regards and best wishes to you all.

Kathym

Hi to all the Ladies, Well I have just got back form my 4th Chemo & I have had some very good news. My Tumour has shrunk from 6cm in April to under 1cm last week. So the dilema now is do they still operate or carry on with last two and then operate or not do it. I know I should be over the moon with the news & Family & friends are dancing for joy, but & you know this Jackie I am still aware that it can still come back.. They are having a MDT meeting tomor and going to decide then and my Dr will phone me. He thinks better to leave it alone and carry on with treatment but its not all up to him.. I would love to hear what my new friends think if it were you ??? Kathym I did put my number but got an email from the cruk team saying you can't give numbers out so if you check my email out from a few day's ago and send me a message I will send it to you..... Anyway girls look forward to your replies.. Love as always Eileen. xxxxxxx

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the welcome Kathym, I am so glad to be part of this group. I hope everything works out with the carboplatin.

Eileen, I am pleased about your news. I was told my tumours had to be removed, no other options were offered, so I have no idea about shrinking tumours etc, I am sure the best decision will be made for you. I understand the worry of it coming back.

I just think it is wonderful that the tumour has shrunk so much!!

Love to all Dot xxx

Hi Ladies

Looks like things are all going well! Kathy with the carbo, on the american sites they seem to use each of the drugs on there own at times with just as good results, Eileen, yes I know what mean but I don't think physically removing the tumour is any more effective than destroying it with chemo so I would leave it to the experts, the MDT is good because a different range of onc and surgeons 'argue' what they think is the best way to go, this means there are less 'bad' judgements and on the odd occassion somebody will spot something that the others haven't seen. Very impressed at the shrinkage and I think this is what will stand you in good stead as your tumour is obviously very sensitive to the chemo which I think is the best possible news (surely its got to equate with it staying away longer??? and if not it should respond well again if needed).

Everybody sounding up-beat, so keep up the good fight and make time for fun.

Let us know what the news from the MDT is

Love to all

Jackie xxxx

Hi Ladie's,

I have some more news for you, I had a phone call yesterday morning to say that I am having surgery and I will get a letter in about 2 weeks. Anyway I had a phone call this morning to say I have an appointment for 13th July ( Tuesday ) to go and see the surgeon. So things are moving fast for me. I am having my operation at Singleton which is in Swansea, the reason I am having it at a different Hospital is because when I moved down to Wales in March I had all my medical records transfered and that was the Hopsital that I was given. However because I needed to start the chemo quickly I was sent to Bronglais ( I love it there I think I said before ) Anyway Singleton is a larger and a bit more modern than Bronglais and my Dr suggested the op there.

I would like to know though Ladie's what the surgeon does when you go and see him ( I hope no internals ) but I want to know if it is so I can sort my ibs out ( Dot you know what I mean ha ha )

I am thinking of you all now esp you Jackie & Dot as your chemo is soon.....

Keep messaging as its great to have you all to offload to.... xxxxxxxx:blush:

Welcome to Singleton !!!I had my op in Llanelli but have all other treatment in Singleton.Let me know if you want any info as to getting there etc.Have you someone going with you ?Cant help with the details as mine is BC.Shopping afterwards in Swansea i hope .

Rose xxxx

Hi Eileen,

it is good things are moving quickly for you!!!

I had to have an internal but don't forget I had op before the chemo so you may not follow my experience. I know exactly what you mean about the IBS it is the bane of my life. I just warned them that I had little control over my bowel and on their heads be it lol.

The rest of the consultation was discussing what they were going to do, depending on what they found during the op.....it was a case of+ we may have to do this if we find that.+ So I didn't find out until it was all done and dusted lol

I have a kidney function test and another ct scan tomorrow and I will be at the hospital all day, so I will be in a state with my IBS lol it is never ending with me. The IBS bothers me over everything else.

All will be fine... it will I say......lol

Hi Rose good to see you again

Take care all xxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Eileen,

it is good things are moving quickly for you!!!

I had to have an internal but don't forget I had op before the chemo so you may not follow my experience. I know exactly what you mean about the IBS it is the bane of my life. I just warned them that I had little control over my bowel and on their heads be it lol.

The rest of the consultation was discussing what they were going to do, depending on what they found during the op.....it was a case of+ we may have to do this if we find that.+ So I didn't find out until it was all done and dusted lol

I have a kidney function test and another ct scan tomorrow and I will be at the hospital all day, so I will be in a state with my IBS lol it is never ending with me. The IBS bothers me over everything else.

All will be fine... it will I say......lol

Hi Rose good to see you again

Take care all xxxxxxxxxxx

Hope tomorrow goes well Dot.You really are going through the mill I wish I knew of something to ease your IBS,a friend of mine has it and is always stressed when we are out.If hugs could cure it you would be OK.

Rose xxx

Hi Dot,

I prob have missed you now but if you get this before you good luck, and if you read when you get back your prob enjoying a nice cup of tea. Hope everything is ok anyway.. Good morning Jackie, Kathym, & Rose hope you are all keeping healthy and happy. I look forward to messages later on from you all. Love Eileen. xxxx

Hi Eileen,

everything went well, even though it was a long day. I had the injection and had to wait 2 hours, then they took blood every hour (for 3 hours) but told me to check with CT desk to see if they could fit me in between blood samples, I was down to the CT area three times but it was so busy, I eventually got the cannula put in on the third visit and on the fourth visit I had the CT scan, actually going to and fro made the time pass quicker. The idea was that I might get the CT scan done sooner but it was done on my appointment time lol. The girls behind the desk were laughing when I finally came back with the cannula in lol.

I came home had a short rest then went down to my daughter's for a bbq, it was my grandson's 13th birthday, we had a lovely time, nice ending to the day!

Another hurdle crossed!!

Love to all Dot xxxxxx

Hi Dot,

I feel for you having to have spent that long at the Hospital, Its a very long day but as you say it makes it pass quicker. Glad you got the Scan at last and lets hope its very good news for you. When will you know the results ? I am not doing to good as the side effects have kicked in with the sore legs and joints so will have to see what Monday brings. ( Its normally when I end up in Hospital ) I am thinking I may be in as when I had the Chemo blood count was 1.6 and if it had been 1.5 then they wouldn't have done it, so I scraped through this time. Not sure why it keeps happening but at least its working so I can put up with it. I will chat soon take care . Love Eileen xxxxxx

Hi Eileen,

I am so sorry to hear about the side effects, it is awful that you feel so poorly, I do hope you don't have to go into hospital. They do say it affects people in different ways, just hard for you to go through it. You are being positive about it all and that is the best way to be, I will be thinking of you!!!

I have no idea when I will find out about the tests, but they said chemo would start shortly after that. Can't say I am in a hurry for it lol.

I really do feel for you, fingers crossed that you get through it without a hospital stay

big big hugsssssss

Love Dot xxxxx

x

Hi Ladies

We seem to be forming quite a community! Welcome to the new ones but also sorry you have ended up here. Hope your doing OK Eileen and have avoided being admitted. The appoinment on Tues may not involve an internal as they already know what they are dealing with thanks to the CT scans, its more likely to involve details of what they will do and when they will do it (usually leave it about a month post chemo) so fingers crossed for you.

Have been busy and therefore left it to long to log on and now can't remember what everyone has said! Have my sister over till wed then will have more time to keep up and get all the threads straight in my head (hopefully :) ).

Things sound like they are all moving in the right direction so hang in there everyone.

Fingers crossed for all as this is a busy week for most of us!

Love

Jackie xxxx

Hi Eileen Jackie and Rose, hope you are all doing good.

Hi Jayne,

Welcome to the group, I am sorry things didn't go as planned for you, I totally understand how you are feeling. I will keep you in my thoughts tomorrow.

I didn't find out until after my op that I had cancer although they did say it was very likely it would be, I am waiting for chemo, which should be some time this week. I had another CT scan last week and I met this lovely lady in her forties, she didn't find out she had cancer until it was very advanced but it was three years since her diagnosis and she was still very positive and made me feel a lot better. She looked really good and it has made me feel more optimistic.

Welcome to you too Hilary, Awful that you have to go through it all again, as you said being positive is the only way to deal with all of this, you have been going through this longer than me so I can only be here to support and not advise.

Love to all Dot xxx

Message was edited by: Dot

Hello everybody

I hope all goes well for you all this week. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Keep positive.

Hilary

Hope everything goes well tomorrow.One step nearer the end of the tunnel.Good luck

Rose xxx