Hi ladies

I just want to wish you all a Happy and as Healthy a New Year as possible - bring on 2012.

Its good to drop in and see what others are up to - scan and more treatment (fingers crossed!) in January for me.

Best wishes

Sue x

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

Best wishes, Hazel. X

Hi John & Mary,

It is all right about the message you sent John, I know your probably so stressed with working and worrying about Mary... I knew it was intended for me and not Dot...I will see what the wigs are like at my hospital, you never know they may be ok. As I have said in the past though  having no hair  isn't a problem for me and a wig would make me really hot.

I am feeling a bit better today, I thought for a few minutes today how great it is feel in good health ( something we all take for granted ) I decided last week to start having asparagus everyday as I know it's not going to do me any harm and it is so good for you. I am not sure if you read the article about it being good for cancer sufferers. I have read it can lower the CA125 and reduce tumours so I figure it's worth a try.

Anyway John love to Mary hope you have a lovely weekend.

Love always Eileen. xx

Hi John, glad I gave you a bit of a laugh!  It's OK now, I've ordered some scarves which came today and they are much better.  I'll delay the wig until I can fit it properly on my hairless bonce!

Glad Mary had a nice(r) day having her hair done and seeing the new baby, hope she still feels a bit better.

Love to both, Hazel xxx

Hi, Eileen, my hospital is Queens in Romford, which hasn't had very good press I'm afraid, but all the departments I've attended so far have been OK.  I think most of the problems have been in maternity, unfortunately.  Too many patients and not enough midwives, I think.

As I've told John, I've now bought some scarves and they are really nice, so have just ordered some more.

I'm still praying that you can have your new treatment, Eileen, and was so glad you said you were feeling a bit better - long may it last!

Love Hazel xxx

Hi Eileen,

Thank you for your understanding and I'm pleased you had a better day also yesterday, hope you're still good today, maybe it's the asparagus! Yes we do take our good health for granted sometimes.

Could you tell us more about the asparagus article as I did not see that? Where did you read it? Of course, searching the internet you can find all sorts of things that claim to have cancer fighting properties, and it can be difficult to seperate the quackery from the facts sometimes. I did find a 2009 article on asparagus and cancer that makes a lot of claims, but I won't put up a link as the moderators do not like that sort of thing as it may give people false hope if it is inaccurate.

I wonder sometimes if there will ever be a cure, as the drug companies would lose too much money if they ever found one, if they haven't already. A cynical view maybe but it makes you wonder how interested they would be in curing everyone.

Re wigs, Mary preferred bandanas once she got comfortable with losing her hair, she only really wore her wig if we were going out somewhere special, and I think it was more about making other people feel more comfortable than doing it for herself. She didn't bother wearing anything on her head in the house and garden, but it does take a little while to come to terms with that, it's a big deal for a woman to lose her hair I think.

Enjoy your weekend, best wishes,

John

Thanks Hazel,

Yes, Mary is still feeling a bit better today, we had a wander around the shops in St.Albans today which she enjoyed. Just trying to decide what to have for dinner tonight.

See my reply to Eileen re wigs, hope you're feeling ok too.

Best wishes,

John

Hi John,

Not sure if they will let me send this but will try.

www.goodhealthwellnessblog.com/210/asparagus-cures-cancer  

Love Eileen xxxxxxx

Hi Eileen,

This is exactly the same article that I found on my google search but on a different website. On further investigation I found an analysis of the article which questions the existence of Richard R.Vensal D.D.S. as a cancer expert.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/asparagus_cancer_2.htm

The article concludes with the statement:

So I'm thinking this is a bit of internet quackery, I have asked about this type of thing with our oncology team in the past, and the advice is you should just make sure you have a healthy diet. If there is a miracle cure out there you will soon hear about it from more mainstream trusted sources.

Best wishes,

John

Good morning John,

I tried to send you the article but they wouldn't let me  ...  I know what your saying but for me at this stage with my tumours not shrinking then if they told me to eat house bricks I would do. ( prob not good for the old teeth  though ha ha ) It also has so many vitamins in it and I do love it. ( apart from smelly urine ) I eat really good and do eat my other veggies as well.

Hope Mary is still feeling ok.

Love as always Eileen xxxx

Hi Eileen,

Yes, I got the link to the article before the Mods deleted it. Nothing wrong at all with eating asparagus and no doubt it is good for you, but I got the impression that the article was written by an asparagus grower with a vested interest in the sale of his product. As there are other veggies that have similar if not better properties, I thought you may want a variety incase you got sick of the sight of asparagus. I would not recommend eating bricks however, they do not count as one of your five a day LOL!

I am just as bad though, I have got Mary back on the Liquid Iron Formula as I'm convinced it did her some good last time. I remember looking up all of the ingredients in the formula on the internet and guess what? For just about every ingredient, you can find an article claiming how good it's cancer fighting properties are. Again like you, I thought well it can't do any harm so it's worth persuing, trouble is Mary hates the stuff!! so I feel bad giving it to her, but because she responded so well to treatment last time, I wonder if the formula had anything to do with it, probably not but you don't know for sure.

Anyway, Mary had a good day today, we went to visit friends for a coffee and stopped off at the pub on the way back for lunch. Only a diet coke, she hasn't had a glass of wine since Christmas and that's very unusual for her. She has just popped into town with my daughter, probably overdoing it and I expect I will be heating up the wheat bag for her tummy again when she gets in.

I was concerned you may take my post the wrong way, I'm so glad you didn't as I was trying to be helpful. Hope you are feeling ok and that all goes well for you and Mary on Thursday.

Best wishes,

John

Hi Sharon,

Not heard from you for a while are you ok ? Have you got your scan appointment yet ?

Anyway you are always in my thoughts. Dot and Jackie and Tony.. xxxxxxx

Hi Sharon,

Not heard from you for a while are you ok ? Have you got your scan appointment yet ?

Anyway you are always in my thoughts. Dot and Jackie and Tony.. xxxxxxx

Hi Eileen, how you doing im not to bad still got real problem with feet though!

dont know what to do with them doctor as upd my medication for them but not

much inprovement.yeah ive had my scan date 13th march so glad its not friday!!.

its the results im not looking foward to. take care lots of love sharon xxxxx

Hi to everyone else hope your ok always in my thoughts x

Hi All

Have new internet provider so I'm back, can actually load the reply page now

Everyone sounds like there having a hard time at the mo! I to am heading towards chemo, have onc appointment Fri and assume chemo next week. Actually quite looking forward to it as actually not feeling great which is unusual for me . Lots of gut ache, back hip ache and no appetite, this is the women who eat her way through chemo putting on over a stone lol

There has been so many posts recently I can't remember them all but hope all is heading in the right direction for everyone.

Judy the feet are a total pain, mine went but it took about a year, there fine now. They never were bad enough for treatment - what has the gp given you?

John the only thing i would add to the reply of the others is be careful with the strong act, it can stop others telling you how they feel and if they know you well enough they will know its an act, and therefore not want to put more pressure on you (if you see what i mean). you and your immediate family (kids) are all in the same boat and regardless of there ages they will need the same support as you, I also feel supporting each other makes 'family members' feel they have a function or a bit of control which is important when illness so often takes all control away. As for Mary tell her to ignore anything she does not feel lol they have being telling me for over 2 years that mine is treatable but not curable, that the second lot of chemo probably wouldn't work etc I now listen but only take on board what fits with how I feel! I know I'm dying but my body tells me its not gonna be that soon thanks!

Eileen is it thurs for PICC line then Fri you go for treatment? if so good luck tomorrow

Nice to be back

lots of love of all

Jackie

Hi Jackie,

Just wanted to say welcome back, glad you've got a good connection again. Thanks for the advice, will take it on board.

I've said enough for now, chemo starts for Mary tomorrow so will let you know how it goes.

Best wishes to you all,

John

Jackie it's so good to have you back with us.....

Thanks for your e-mail today and sorry I didn't reply until now but I have been in bed all day very sleepy..I didn't get up until 6pm and I am back in bed again.

I am the same as you with my treatment which is Friday your right. I have the picc line fitted tomor then bloods, then Dr, but I have a funny feeling my bloods are low as I feel faint most of the time and nausea. I am dreading the chemo because it is one I have never heard of ( Rotterdam ) and I have to stay in overnight for it as it takes 13 hours, I am going to be taking tablets as well. But because I like you feel crap I want it to reduce whatever is lurking in me...It is really catch 22 isn't it ? feel crap with chemo and crap without.

I do hope your not going anywhere just yet as you always boost me up with your wise words....

Hope the house is back to normal and may be you can have your Christmas now that you missed..

Love always Eileen. xxxx

Ah, Eileen,

Glad you have your mate Jackie back, hope she perks you up.  So sorry you're feeling rough, and hope all goes well today and tomorrow. 

Lots of love, Hazel xxx

John,

Wishing Mary good luck today!

And you take care of yourself,too!

Love, Hazel xxx

Jackie,

Good to see you back, Eileen has really missed you!  Sorry you aren't feeling too well -  I'm right at the start of everything but I know how you feel because I have the same symptoms and like you I am looking forward to having treatment next week. 

Love, Hazel xxx

Eileen hope everything goes ok with the picc line and that you can go ahead with the new chemo, you sound exhausted and that is awful for you hugss.......... sorry I haven't posted much doesn't mean I don't think about you all, I have had one cold after another and can't shake them off but I am fine, didn't want to whinge on about it as you and the others are going through the mill at the moment.

I have had my bloods done and see the consultant on the 6th I try to think positive but like everyone else I detest waiting for the results.

Love and hugs to everyone xxxxxxxxxx

Hi all

poor Eileen can't think of much worse than being stuck in bed, i don't have a lot of stamina but not really tired yet! Now time to be positive about this chemo, each one is different, just because its strong and takes a long time to give don't mean it will make you feel like your previous ones did!!! the PICC line will make it so much easier for you - jealous as I want one but they won't do one cos of my clotting

No the house is not finished!!! I have told them I want them out by Fri as can't cope this it anymore, I think the only thing that won't be finished is the painting and the garden and driveway. we can do the painting ourselves (probably a lot quicker than the bloke that has supposedly being doing it for the last 2 months lol) and the garden just needs tuft (can't seed cos of dogs lol) the driveway will get done when I feel a bit better! I like my own company and it has really drained me having plp around for the last 6 months plus I haven't been able to escape on the Internet to de-stress for about a month!!!

Haze good luck for Friday, it seems to be the day its all happening for all of us!

John thanks and wishing Mary the best for Friday, fingers crossed as usual. I'm about to undertake course 3 and got nearly 16 months from the second one (only 8 from the first gold standard one) so playing around with the chemo is worth it.

Dot! great to hear your still doing good (except colds) I can remember the first check up and being terrified, have actually found it easier since I know its not cured! odd as it sounds when you know its not gone but merely dormant the routine consults aren't so scary cos you know it will be back.

take care all

lots of love

Jackie

I'm sure you can all relate to this story.

I had almost forgotten what a humbling experience it is visiting the Chemo suite at the hospital. The nurses are just wonderful, caring, professional and friendly all at the same time. There is a feeling of a bonding between you and some of the other patients, we smile at each other and are polite and courteous. We are all on a similar journey, having had to come to terms with a diagnosis that we thought would never happen to us, and all of the distress that it causes. Our specialist oncology nurse Kath seems more like a good friend that we've known for years, it feels like she is just there for Mary, but of course she isn't.

We visited the Lynda Jackson MacMillan Centre on the hospital site to get some info on travel insurance, the ladies in there are lovely too, they will make you a coffee and sit and chat with you for as long as you need.

As Mary was about to go in for treatment, the nurse asked me if I would mind getting some water as she needed to take some tablets. A lady opposite had just got herself some water but gave it to Mary to save us the trouble. When we left, a gentleman patient in reception smiled and said "goodbye, have a nice evening". As we left the car park, we gave our pay and display ticket to a gentleman at the pay station to save him money (a practice that many of the fellow patients all do). Just a handful of examples of all those little things that all together make a big difference. These people are complete strangers and yet we seem to know each other.

If we want to draw on some positives, I feel that the biggest one is how our experiences have helped to bring out our best qualities, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the human kindness displayed by people, and that includes the people on this site who are there for each other, and the moderators who make it all possible.

Mary is exhausted after a long day, so an early night with two hot wheat bags and a couple of Domperidones! Hopefully the chemo is doing it's work and she will feel brighter tomorrow.

Thank you all for listening and supporting,

Best wishes,

John