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..
Hello everybody, may I join you and introduce myself? I opened a new thread on this subject the other day in the "introduce yourself" section, but I really wanted to get onto this site. I am 67 yo and live in Essex, UK and have recently been diagnosed as having tumours on both ovaries, plus some areas on the omentum and outer bowel. However, my hospital MDT wants to ascertain whether my ovaries are the primary site or secondary to breast ca I had 15 years ago before planning my treatment, so I've just had a biopsy and await results on 22nd Feb. I found your site about a month ago and was both heartened by all your posts, and at the same time scared - not of the treatment particularly but the outcome. Some days I feel that I won't get through this, other days I think "No, you won't get me, you (expletive deleted!)"
The last post on your site was 28th Dec, I have been checking, so I hope you are all getting along OK
Hello all. Well, the"good" news is that it is not a metastasis from the breast, so my treatment has been planned and will start asap, thank goodness. It will no doubt be familiar to most of you, as it consists of 3 chemos (paclitaxel & carboplatin), CT to check progress, hysterectomy op, then 3 more chemo s - seems to be standard initial procedure.
I am so relieved to have something underway at last, though I never thought I would be pleased to be having chemo again after the last lot!
On a lighter note, the wig I've bought arrived just as I was leaving for hospital, so I had that to look forward to trying on when I got home. It isn't too bad, though it might look better once I have no thick hair of my own underneath it, at the moment it looks to me as though my head is too big ( no comments, thank you!).
Anyway, love to all, let's hope all our treatments do the job, eh?
Sometimes 'better than expected news' is almost like good news. It helps a little that you know the drill, it's easier to except than first time around.
Mary had TaxolCarbo last time around and responded very well with few side effects, although the Taxol has left her with some neuropathy but small price to pay. I hope that it goes as well for you. And I'm sure you will look lovely in your new wig
Aw Hazel that is good news. ( well you know what I mean ) It is good for the mind having a plan to go at. I think their is nothing worse than not knowing. Did they say when you are starting your treatment ? I have found out the name of mine now, I had to ring the secretary yesterday to ask her. I will be having one called Rotterdam regimen Etoposide & Cisplatin. I have never heard of this one but have read up on it. I think it's only my hospital that does it.
Hi, John, hope Mary is bearing up and feeling as well as possible.
Thanks for your reassuring comment about the wig, but sorry to say I won't look lovely in it as I have decided I hate the thing and am sending it back!
Yes, I had a call yesterday, and I have to go for pre-assessment on Mon 5th March, then all being well start first session of chemo on Thurs 8th.
What's worrying me today is that I seem to have caught a cold (probably at the hospital!) so I'm hoping it's gone by then in case it affects the tests and delays the start of treatment again.
Blooming typical, isn't it - I haven't had a cold for ages, so I get one now! I suppose I'm run-down from the cancer, but what a nuisance.
Your new stuff starts on 1st, doesn't it? Fingers crossed for you! ( Fingers seem to be permanently crossed for everyone lately!)
Well it does sound good but I am not sure if I will be up to having it. I am still having trouble with trapped wind and my bowels are all over the place. I don't seem to be improving. This is all since my last chemo on the 13 Jan when a nurse put the canula in too far and I screamed out. I have been ill since then. I am not sure if it is a coincidence or she actually did something as I have been getting this wind since then. My bloods are always low and the drs are also concerned about that. It all takes it's toll as I have only just finished 5 cycles of the gem/carbo...
Have you got a picc line in ? I have asked for one as I have no veins left for the canula. ...I go for that next Thursday..
Meant to say Hazel where do you live ? I am in Manchester.....
@Hazel, Mary felt a bit rough yesterday but a bit better today and she's going to have her hair done, hopefully will cheer her up.
I'm sorry that your wig was no good, it is very difficult to order a wig without trying some on first. Mary had her prescription sent to a specialist shop who do some NHS wigs, so she got to try a few on before deciding what she wanted. I don't know if your hospital has a list of shops like that, but it would be much better and you have a bit of fun trying them on too. We're in Hertfordshire by the way.
@Eileen, So sorry to hear you're having problems, it sounds like a coincidence to me but I'm no expert of course. Mary had a Hickman line last time because they couldn't even get a PICC line in. This time they are talking about fitting a Portocath, as the Hickman line got infected last time and she ended up in hospital for a week with neutropenic sepsis.
Eileen, I have similar problems - wind, painful bloating and dreadful bowel problems and pains, especially when I have to "go" (sorry, maybe too much info!), also I can't hold out for more than an hour or so before I need to pass water - and all this is being caused by the largest ovarian tumour pressing on the bowel and bladder. I wonder if it might be the same with you, in that the cystic mass you mentioned is doing the same to you? If so, surely the chemo can only help if it shrinks the mass, not make you feel worse - that's what I'm assured it'll do for me, anyway. (Sorry if it sounds like I'm trying to "teach my grandmother to suck eggs", I know you've been through so much more than me.) I appreciate you must be feeling worn out after the last lot of treatment - I guess you've discussed it all with your hospital team anyway, but I pray you can go ahead, Eileen.
I don't have a PICC line yet, as I am only just at the beginning, and my veins are OK at the moment. As John said, I think it must be a coincidence that your current probs started after a bad cannula experience, you poor girl. The doc who inserted mine when I had my biopsy the other week wasn't the best at it, either, and had several attempts - then it was quite painful all the time it was in.
By the way, I live in Dagenham, Essex (East London), but don't let that put you off, we're not all like the TOWIE crowd down here! (Not that I've ever watched it, but of course I've read about it in the gossip columns - doesn't seem as though I've missed much!)
John, please give Mary my best wishes and love, she is so lucky to have you.
I don't know yet whether my hospital is linked with any wig outlets, though most are, I gather. Guess I'll find out in a few weeks' time when I go bald! They do have a connection with a company selling scarves, turbans, hairpieces etc., so I may try those first. (At least you got a laugh out of choosing Mary's wig, that was a bonus!)
As you may have seen from my reply to Eileen, I live in Dagenham, East London, for my sins!
John, please give Mary my best wishes and love, she is so lucky to have you.
I don't know yet whether my hospital is linked with any wig outlets, though most are, I gather. Guess I'll find out in a few weeks' time when I go bald! They do have a connection with a company selling scarves, turbans, hairpieces etc., so I may try those first. (At least you got a laugh out of choosing Mary's wig, that was a bonus!)
As you may have seen from my reply to Eileen, I live in Dagenham, East London, for my sins!
