I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
My name is Laura and I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December. I am up to my 3rd chemo on Feb 28, A Little nervous because I will probably lose the rest of my hair. My second treatment I was tired for 3 days and was not able to sleep, probably because I was taking nausea medicine. Now I am feeling just great.
I too lost my hair the first time around as I was on carbo/taxol, it didn't bother me though. It does now as I had lovely red hair and it grew back grey and curly, my curls have gone now as I have my hair cut every 4 weeks so it is now straight. I miss my hair though..
It is the steriods that keep you awake after the chemo which is such a pain.
Are you having the 6 cycles and are they going to operate ?
Yes I am having six cycles and they did operate with a fulll hysterectomy, and got 95% of it out. The rest they are getting with the chemo. I am on taxon and carboplnum. supposed to be very good. I hope my next treatment will go well. Thank you so much for writing me. This is such a wonerful site. I am glad I joined. Talk to you soon.
Yes I am having six cycles and they did operate with a fulll hysterectomy, and got 95% of it out. The rest they are getting with the chemo. I am on taxon and carboplnum. supposed to be very good. I hope my next treatment will go well. Thank you so much for writing me. This is such a wonerful site. I am glad I joined. Talk to you soon.
I should have had 6 two years ago but I could only stand 5 as it made me so ill. The plan was 3 cycles, scan and full hysterectomy with a further 3 to follow. When they did the scan half way through they decided that they couldn't operate so I finished the chemo and asked again to see the surgeon. He said he was wary about the op as it was so close to the bowel but eventually agreed. They got it all and I had a further 2 chemo's ( should have been 3 but again I couldn't take anymore ) Unfortunately it came back in July I think it was this year ( I have chemo brain & can't remember anything ) ha ha ..It has grown back were it started well where the ovaries was, in the pelvis and a few cells dotted about, I have it wrapped around the vein in the top of my right leg. Anyway I get my scan results tomor so hopefully they will do something about this cystic mass I have as it seems to be obstructing my bowel and for the past 7 weeks I have put up with it so I am going to tell them tomor enough is enough and I want it draining.
Sorry to have gone on a bit ha ha but it's good to let others know yourstory and you can compare notes....
Well everyone I had my results and they weren't very good. The chemo hasn't worked so they have stopped it. They are changing it to another one which starts on the 1st March . My Dr I saw today is Chinese so I found him quite hard to understand. I asked him for the name of the chemo I will be having but I didn't hear too well. All I know is that I will have it 1 day a week and stay overnight in hospital for it. Plus tablets to take as well, it's a 6 week cycle. I will lose my hair again but I don't mind that as you know..
I have also asked for a picc line to be put in as my vein's are knackered and I dread the needle ( something that never bothered me 2 years ago )
All in all I am ok and hopefully this chemo will work. I knew that last one wasn't doing anything.
Darling, so sorry to read your news, makes me so cross that we have to wait to get things done. But Eileen, if anyone can do it, you can, you've done it before!
Eileen I am so sorry that you have to try yet another chemo, you haven't done well on the others so hopefully this one will be better for you. I thought about you yesterday wondering why they hadn't given you a picc line, I know when they offered me one I said no, then regretted it by the end of treatment. I just hope that all goes well with you.
Sorry to hear you couldn't understand the doctor, it is frustrating not knowing what is being said to you, I am sure you will get the chance to ask all the questions you need with your next appointment. Do you have your own nurse? I used to ring mine if I was concerned or needed to know something.
Just wanted to wish you well for your next chemo tomorrow! (I'm doing it now as I can never remember the time difference between UK & US - ignoramus that I am!)
Sorry Ladies it's me again back to vent because there is nowhere else I can do this. I have to be strong for Mary and for our family and friends, trying to keep things as normal as possible, because I will just crumble from too much fuss and kindness from friends.
We had a pretty good weekend but I guessed it would all come crashing down at some point! Mary was not feeling great this morning and had a planned visit from the Hospice nurse this afternoon, lovely lady, she has been a few times before but I'm not sure if it's good for Mary or not. I thought maybe it gives her a chance to get stuff off her chest that she may not want to speak to us about, but I'm not so sure now.
Well, Mary let her read her letter from the hospital to the doctor (which we get copied on), and although she was really nice, Mary thought her expression showed concern that her condition was far more serious than Mary originally thought, although she didn't say that. Too much technical jargon in the letter for us to understand, and not sure we want to know, just get on with treatment and hope for the best. The Oncology team seemed quite relaxed about it all at the hospital, of course cancer is always serious but you always have to believe and trust that you may have a chance of being cured.
So we had a lot of tears this evening, I cancelled my planned squash game so I could stay at home to support her. She say's the nurse is coming again next week and I feel like calling her and telling her not to bother, as she will probably just upset her again somehow.
I am finding this really tough at the moment, I know you have all had your share of low points too, and I know there are plenty of people who are worse off, just wanted to get it off of my chest. I know my (grown up) kids are worried too, we are all trying to put on a brave face and keep things normal, sometimes you feel like you need a shoulder but you don't want to burden anyone with your troubles.
We have a big family holiday planned in June, flights booked to Florida, now I'm wondering if it's going to happen!
I really hope this Chemo on Thursday makes her feel better, otherwise I dread to think what will happen next!
Anyway, thanks if you have read this and I hope you are all feeling as well as you can do under the circumstances.
