Hi Redlizzie

I to have ovarian cancer diagnosed in Jan 2009. I had 3 lots of chemo, operation, and another 3 lots of chemo.

The main problems I had with the chemo were gross taste in mouth and nothing tasted like it should, neuropathy of fingers and feet, these got worse with each chemo, but taste improved after about 6 weeks, fingers and feet improved but I still have neuropathy in my left foot (and right but only when I walk!). Hair loss - very slow to grow back and now have corkscrew curls! Tiredness but only realised how bad once I returned to work!

Most of the complications I had with chemo have been rare ones but then I only got diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to a rare autoimmune disease! I developed arterial bloods clots (aortic settling in left Femeral artery) just before my 4th dose, had daily blood thining injections but still developed another clot 5 days after the 6th dose! The onchologist/haematologist aren't sure if its cancer or chemo related and they don't seem to have personally come across it before so please don't worry about it!

I would be interested in hearing about plans for followup when you get that far.

Best of luck

Jackie

Jackie,

I am worried about you as I have not heard anything from you and the other Ladies..xxxx

HI Cubdear,

I am glad you decided to join us, it does help having the support from this group.

I too had numbness and tiredness, my fingers and feet are fine now, all of my side effects have gone apart from the tiredness, I am beginning to think it might be laziness now lol.

Hopefully your down feeling will go soon, it isn't unusual to feel like that at times.

hugggggs

Dot xxxxxxxx

Eileen it is so good to hear from you and that you are doing good!!

Yes I remember worrying about my hair lol. Mine started to come back pure white but turning to a grey now lol, the back and sides are really thick but the top is a lot thinner, I could become Friar Dot lol.

hugss

Dot xxxxxxxx

Hi Dot,

Thank you so much for your reply, it would be good to talk about the effects of Chemo as time goes on. As I said before, reading all your posts has been very helpful and it helps me to not feel so alone in all of this.

My name is Sarah & it's lovely to meet you x x

hi Sarah, welcome to the group.

The very first dose of chemo is a scary one cos you never know what to expect, from here on in its much of the same though i'm afraid to say your symptoms will get worse with each dose but bizarely you except them better!! As you may have discovered I don't like the hair loss, twice for me now, actually I don't have a problem being bald its the lead up to it I hate and thats the bit your on at the moment. It's not knowing what your going to look like, how your going to manage it, what it'll feel like etc. Just so your warned the worse bit is when you need to descide when to get rid of it, it will get to a point when there is so much hair loss it will drive you mad and you will be forced to shave the rest off, once you do this you'll be fine. Honest.

Let us know how your getting on and post any questions or concerns. We may not be on treatment at the moment but we will be able to help. Try and stay positive cos it helps loads.

Take care

Jackie

xxx

Hi Sarah,

As the other ladies have said welcome to the group. I hope we can be a little help to you on your journey, and that's what it is a journey into the unknown but it's a challenge that we can all get through and remember we are here for you for any questions you need to know and for emotional support.. I found my partner was fed up listening to me moaning all the time as we forget they are actually going through this as well and have nobody to talk to.

I sound like a councellar sorry ha ha ......

Anyway take care and lots of love Eileen xxxxxx 

Hi everyone,

I hope you don't mind me chipping in, I saw that there were 460 posts in this thread and I don't really want to read them all, but I get the feeling this may be the best place for me to post.

My wife has ovarian cancer, she had full pelvic clearance in December and started her chemo mid January. She is on TaxolCarbo also, but it is a dose-dense regimen that was trialed in Japan with good results. This means she has weekly treatments, as opposed to 3 weekly. I posted about it here but not much response as yet. I just wondered if anyone else was on this so we can compare notes.

She has just had the 2nd treatment of the 2nd cycle (so 5 of 18 treatments), and apart from the occasional upset tummy and tiredness in the evening, she has been feeling really good for the majoity of the time. I know that this may get worse the more treatments she has, certainly her upset tummy was worse after her last treatment, but then the next day she felt really good again.

Her hair has just started to thin gradually over the past few days, so this is the next thing to deal with. We already have a wig and some headwear sorted, and although I have managed to keep her positive and upbeat so far, this could be the tough part.

It has also been suggested that she has a PICC line put in, as her arms are reacting badly to the 3 weekly carbo. Because she has another 13 treatments to go, it may be a good idea, but she is ancious about having yet another procedure, does anyone here have a PICC line?

I hope we can help each other with our experiences, best wishes to you all,

John

Hi John,

Welcome to our little group.

I was on Taxol/Carbo, 3 weekly but the side effects I was experiencing gave cause for concern, severe pain in my shins, pins and needles in my fingers and toes  and tinitus among other things, they suggested I went on to weekly chemo, (nothing was mentioned about it being a Japanese regimen). I am assuming it is the same thing but I cannot be sure. The side effects were reduced drastically for me and I was told they had great success with this procedure. My chemo finished in December and apart from being a bit lethargic I feel fine.

My hair started to fall out by the second chemo, I just shaved it all off and felt great afterwards, yet that was one of my greatest concerns.

Weekly chemo take its toll on the veins and many women had a picc line, all of whom said they were glad they did. I did think about having one but eventually got through the course with out it. I found near the end it was quite difficult to actually find a decent vein to use and it could take several attempts... but they do recover. I do understand how anxious your wife must feel.... if I had to have chemo again I would opt for the picc line.

I have found that everyone reacts differently to chemo, some have little side effects others have a hard time of it.

I am sure others will reply on here who have had the picc line.

Please feel free to ask any questions.

Take care

Dot

Hi to all you wonderful ladies out there you know who you are! your words of comfort have cheered me up

so i thank you for that. just really scared about the hair thing! im normally quite a strong person but this

as got to me.my family are fine about it and really asure me it will be fine just wonder what my grandchidren

will think of nannie with no hair! [oldest one bein 6] im going to be having carbol/taxol.when does you hair start

falling out and how soon does grow back?.not sure about the wig thing either!.my daughter is going to put my

photo on over the weekend[just my best side mind!] so you can see who your speaking to!bye for now and

thanks again.and a big welcome to new members sarah and john.were always here for a chat or a moan!

sharon [julygirl58] xxxxxx

Hi Sharon,

Don't worry about the Grandchildren as my 2 boys aged 10 this year thought it was cool. Try not to make a big issue about it and they will be all right. I bought some lovely bandanas from a shop near me and have a few different colours to mach what I am wearing, I went out the other day with a red & white striped top ( very loud ) with a red & white polka dot scarf, I do like to noticed ha ha but don't try and hide away let people see how you / we are positive people with a lust for life..

Love to you and your family xxxxxxEileen xxxx

Hi John,

Welcome to the group of mad women ha ha. I think it's fantastic for you to have sent your lovely message to the site....

I haven't heard of the Japanese regimen either. I was on Carbo/Taxol and started mine last April. I had 5 all together then a full hysterectomy with de bulking in October, I was supposed to have 6 but refused the last one as I felt so ill from it. Each one you have it gets harder as everyone will tell you but we all come out the other side. I lost my hair just before the 2nd chemo but it grew slowly. I then had to have 3 more chemo which started in November so again I lost my hair. I only managed another 1 as this time it was harder. ( My Dr said that after surgery the chemo hits you harder ) Anyway my hair is growing back again and I don't see my Dr until May as it goes to a 3 month check up.

I think your wife is very lucky to have you as you sound a lovely man. If she wants to talk to us about any worries she has then we are here and I hope you continue to post your thoughts with us. ( we are very nosy you know  ) Ha Ha just watch out for Rose she is the comedian out of us all, Jackie is the wise old owl sorry about the old bit Jackie, and Dot Sharon & anyone else I forgot are the quiet refined ladies. I am the barm pot who waffles on all the time.

  Love to you and your family ....Eileen xxxxxxxx

Hi John,

Welcome to the group of mad women ha ha. I think it's fantastic for you to have sent your lovely message to the site....

I haven't heard of the Japanese regimen either. I was on Carbo/Taxol and started mine last April. I had 5 all together then a full hysterectomy with de bulking in October, I was supposed to have 6 but refused the last one as I felt so ill from it. Each one you have it gets harder as everyone will tell you but we all come out the other side. I lost my hair just before the 2nd chemo but it grew slowly. I then had to have 3 more chemo which started in November so again I lost my hair. I only managed another 1 as this time it was harder. ( My Dr said that after surgery the chemo hits you harder ) Anyway my hair is growing back again and I don't see my Dr until May as it goes to a 3 month check up.

I think your wife is very lucky to have you as you sound a lovely man. If she wants to talk to us about any worries she has then we are here and I hope you continue to post your thoughts with us. ( we are very nosy you know  ) Ha Ha just watch out for Rose she is the comedian out of us all, Jackie is the wise old owl sorry about the old bit Jackie, and Dot Sharon & anyone else I forgot are the quiet refined ladies. I am the barm pot who waffles on all the time.

  Love to you and your family ....Eileen xxxxxxxx

Quiet..... refined lol

hugssss Dot xx

Hey Dot & Ladies,

I thought it was about time we updated our pictures

As you can see I am bald again on this one but it is coming back slowly...So it will soon be back to washing and blow drying Anyway come on ladies let us see some more pictures.....

John sorry about your dreadful day. Things will get better xx

  Love as always Eileen xxxx

Mine hasn't grown that much Eileen, not got around to updating pic, I will have to make the effort!!!

Sorry to hear that your wife is having problems John, hopefully everything will go smoothly this time.

Hugs to all