I was diagonsed in January - Had gone to my Doctor for over a year with EVERY classic symptom of the disease....she did not listen..I told her I could not breathe...one listen to my back and she diagnosed me with emphysema, ehich my Dad had died of a few weeks before, (so that was March 09) - Put me on inhalers - did nothing - I gained over 40 lbs...I lost that and about 10 more - she told me I was lucky...I went back for more weight gain.....FINALLY when I looked about 11 months pregnant and had 3.5 litres of fluid on my chest she gave me an internal exam and DAMN I had STAGE 3 CANCER...Had full hysterectomy and 3 tumors plus removed in February 2010 - they were not able to get 2 small lobes of cancer as were on my diaphragm so that stayed - I have had chemo every 3 weeks since March and just finished 3 weeks ago - Will have a cat scan next week to see whether the cancer is gone, back, there, somewhere else....I also have problems with my feet - this has gotten worse..I did fall and sprained my ankle, badly, so have been in physical therapy for that but I mean HURT - by bedtime I cannot stand the burning of my feet that goes all the way up my leg, to my upper legs, and rubbing ang rubbing does no good...for my sprained ankle I have found that doing my excercises under the bathtub tap, starting with coolish water and going to COLD feels great....because it numbs everything - I now do it to both feet and upper legs right before bed..I also have the heater on in my bed, even ehen it is 80 degrees outside!! and since it only covers 1/2 the bed I can move to warmth and cool all night....I have been VERY positive since the beginning of this whole mess....I had told my sister, years ago, that by the time I was 32 I would have this cancer, so I kind of feel like I have always had it.....strange but true, so my reaction, when my DR. told me was, "I'm not surprised....I have learned that ALL I NEED TO DO is get dressed and show up..the get dressed part ONLY VALID if leaving the house, otherwise, I just need to "show up" That helps your mind alot, I think..I have 2 daughters and a hubby, My hubby has shut down on me and I am very much alone in this whole thing...to get him to help I literally have to be in tears..very frustrating and very sad...although his work pressures are many, I was #1 when I first came home and now I am barely on his list of priorities, or sure feels that way...feel free to connect with me - ANYTIME!!! Hugs to you, I understand......Believe me - Oh, BTW I live in the USA in Vermont - a little teeny state in the northern part of the US....Hugs....

Hi Ladies

Dot- I can understand where your coming from with friends for me however I'm single and therefore my freinds are all nurses and while they found it difficult, not one walked away! As I say they each have there own strengths some can't cope with the dying subject some can, some want to wrap me in cotton wool while others have me out exploring for exercise - I need each of them! The most difficult one is my friend that I share a house with, she has been a total godsend but is not the best talker, having supported me through everything she went down big time and ended up with depression. We have ended up in a difficult position as she needs to talk about it but I'm probably not the best person for her to talk to but she's not good at talking to the others. Vicious circle, but we'll get there.

Kathym - Yep no problems at the time and still have fingers loosely crossed about the clots. This was only my first (but 2nd time round) so in big trouble if clots kick in this quick, been very naughty have increased my Asperin for the last few days as my injection sites haven't been bruising lol. Decided the odds were much higher with me clotting than bleeding. Help or hinder, buth I think it helps when things get complicated and you have to 'remind' Drs and think ahead for yourself but it hinders when the thought process is distrubted by chemo and the Drs don't realise it! My Drs have a habit of forgetting I'm a patient and at times a lot of what they say goes over my head as this is not my field of nursing. I don't get any aches or pains either, am coming to the conclusion that as others are not complaining bitterely about the taste that my smoking my have a lot to do with it! No fluid on my lungs.........yet!

Eileen - yes it was just like the way people treat pregnant ladies! Think you need to speak to your nurse or someone - why would you need a colostomy if there is no sign of the tumour (not only on scan but nothing on rectal either)? What is upper pelvis (mine was throughout the abdo which I think is outside the pelvic area therefore had spread further than the pelvis, it didn't stop them operating). My Surgeon left a small tumour on the bowel which he said the 3 remaining doses of chemo would sort (interestinly that one ain't come back!). I think you need to press a bit - if they say they can't really say, ask them what further information they need to be able to say. Don't get me wrong they cannot guarentee anything but they usually give advice on which way is best to go (often helped by, if it was you what would you do!) You don't have to take the advice but it should give you some options to consider.

Hi VermontMum, welcome to our group. My first 6 doses of chemo caused on end of problems with my feet, over the last 8 months it has slowly improved and now I just have a little numbness in the toes on the left foot. On Doxil/carbo this time and so far no numbness in feet or hands!

Take care all.

Jackie xxx

Hi All. I came out of hospital thursday ready to start my chemo this tuesday. However, I have felt awful and am now back in again for investigations. I desparately want to get my chemo started but need to be well. I have so much abdo pain, diarrhoea, loss of appitite, nausea, and lower back pain. I have no energy what so ever. Up until 2 weeks ago, I was a normal, happy go lucky, energetic lady who was always full of beans. Its hard to smile and stay positve when yon feel so sh*t.

With love to you all Jayne xxxx

Dear Jayne

So sorry to hear thinks are still being difficult for you. Hopefully the chemo will rapidly deal with the problem causing you problems, so fingers crossed they investigate quickly and sort you out so you can get started. Its miserable when you feel ill so hardly suprising your struggling to feel positive. Did they manage to get the stent in? Is the diarrhoea due to the amount of laxatives you had trying to sort the inital problems out? I'm sure your in good hands so just try and hang in there.

Thinking of you

Jackie xxx

Hi Jayne,

it is good to hear from you but I am sad that you are having such a rough time of it. I do hope this will be sorted out quickly for you. The only way to look at all of this, is none of us would have stayed those happy people before our op if we didn't have treatment, it isn't really a good answer and I know you just want to get over all of this, fingers crossed for you. My heart goes out to you.

I take it you have asked for some pain relief/anti nause medication, seems silly asking you that, but I know someone who wouldn't ask for relief.

I will keep you in my thoughts and hope you heal quickly xx

Hi everyone else,

I don't wish to tempt fate... but no obvious side effects yet, in fact I craved cream cakes lol and my husband kindly went out to get some. Stay strong everyone, baby steps for us all

Love Dot xxxxxxxx

HI Jackie

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I had the stent put in last wednesday and WOW!! ..... My bowels finally opened after 12 days !! I was disharged the following day. However, I didnt feel 'right' when I got home and was re-admitted yesterday evening. The doctors werent exactly sure what was causing me to feel so unwell so I went to theatre this morning. Apparently they found fluid in the abdominal area and drained off just over two litres. Im a bit 'dumb' about everything thats going on, so not sure how this fluid got there or why. I shall have to ask the docs tomorrow.

Dot - Thanks for your reply too. I have been having endless pain killers. Including regular oral and IM morphine. The oral morphine makes me hallucinate !!! The other night @ 4.15am, I was trying to pick up all my blankets, as I thought they were a tray of roast potatoes - and I was trying to put them in the oven !!! At least it made me giggle when I realised what I was doing !!! A few nights ago, I saw two huge, jet black furry spiders ( the size of space-hoppers) hanging from the ceiling above my bed - good job Im not scared of creepy crawlies !!!

I'm still hoping to start my chemo on tuesday. Fingers crossed.

Love & Hugs to everyone from my hospital bed !! xxxxx

Hi Jayne

Nice to hear you sounding better! The fluid is called ascities and is part of ovarian cancer, it is normally one of the presenting symptoms though I've never had any! Bet you feel much more comfortable now its been drained and assuming thats what was making you feel so bad, it sounds like chemo as planned on Tues :) . Smiley face cos chemo is what you need to sort the underlying problem which is leading to all the others!

Keep enjoying the hallucinations!

Love Jackie xxx

Hi Jayne,

Sorry to hear you have been so poorly but hopefully back on the mend. I am glad you can still send messages from your Hospital bed as well as its a long day & night in those places and you need contact with the outside world. I will be thinking about you and hope your soon home and feeling better. Take Care Love Eileen. xxx

Hi Jayne,

Sorry to hear you have been so poorly but hopefully back on the mend. I am glad you can still send messages from your Hospital bed as well as its a long day & night in those places and you need contact with the outside world. I will be thinking about you and hope your soon home and feeling better. Take Care Love Eileen. xxx