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

Just wanted to drop in and say hello to everyone again, and welcome to the new ladies, so sorry to hear that most of you, and me, are on the journey once again. Seems strange to be thankful for something (chemo!) that makes us feel so bad as we hope it will all be worth it in the end.

I've had one round of my 3rd cycle of chemo - gem/carbo this time - went for the second lot today but they wouldn't give it as neutraphylls too low. Has that happened to anyone else? They are going to reduce my dose too which I'm not happy about.

SO nice to have people to share this with that do understand.

Best wishes to all

Sue x

Hi Dot,

That's great news! Many of the ladies are having a tough time at the moment so it gives us all hope when we hear good news, enjoy the next three months and hopefully much more

Jackie, thanks for the info on abdo tap, I will discuss it with the onc team also at next clinic.

Eileen, I do hope you're feeling better soon, I am so thankful that you started this thread, I bet you never imagined it would attract so many nice people and be as popular as it is. I know that Jackie was the first to respond to you and has helped you a lot on your journey.

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News: Mary had a call from the hospital bed manager today, and they have arranged for her to have her port fitted on 23rd March, hopefully that will go well and she can avoid a lot of distress from attempted canulas.

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Hi Sue,

Welcome back, so sorry to hear that you're also are back on the journey again. Mary is on Gem/Carbo too but her onc is prescribing both doses spread equally across the 2 weeks (he always has to do things differently) , only good news is you don't lose your hair!  She had her chemo postponed once last time around because of low neutrophils, yes it is a bit frustrating if you're making good progress but they have to put your safety first. I agree that it is good to be among people who understand and can compare notes and support  each other.

Good luck and best wishes to everyone,

John

Hi Sue

Eileen is the expert on low blood counts! My dose was reduced last time round and it didn't seem to work any less, your body has got to cope with it and if it takes a smaller dose to do that then I suppose its for the better. I got 16 months out of my last lot despite the reduced dose so try not to worry!

Dot, great news!!! no more colds for the next 3 months please lol

Haze, yes I do give him a hard time but its his own fault!!!!

Take care all

Jackie xxx

Hello, Sue,

Thanks for your welcome.

Isn't this site brilliant - you only have to mention a worry and everyone is there trying to reassure you!  I hope Jackie's and John's responses have helped put your mind at rest, and that your treatment is soon under way again, it's so disappointing when things get delayed, I know.

Love, Hazel xxx 

Thanks for the reassurance Jackie. So your dose was reduced too? I know what you mean about your body having to cope with it but I think I'd prefer to soldier on if it was for the greater good, if you know what I mean. I was wondering whether to challenge the doctor about this next week when I go and I quite like the idea of having equal doses over both weeks like Mary does rather than more the first week so I might mention that too.

I dream of getting 16 months - only got 8 months first time, then 6 months so feeling pretty despondent about the whole thing at the moment. Just hope this different chemo works better. Delaying it has really thrown me, and I thought I was coping well - guess we're all nearer to the edge than we realise, or care to admit!

Thanks for the messages of support and love and hugs to you all.

Sue x

Thanks John and it's a lovely picture of you and your wife - you both look so happy!

Thanks Hazel, hope you are keeping well and battling thru

Hi all

Sue, I think that's the point! there is no point soldering on if it means you have to keep delaying each treatment, which is worse: a) chemo reduces bloods and you have to delay treatment or b) chemo reduced and you get treatment on regular basis? don't know the answer but my reduced dose worked well for me and I think I'm starting at the reduced dose again this time. Ask you onc along with your question regarding spreading the dose more frequently. Know what you mean about it not keeping you going, I only got 6-8months the first time so was delighted when I went 14 months this time (however have been symptomatic for 12 months lol), think I left it a bit late this time as have never been so symptomatic and CA125 up 200 in 6 weeks higher now than at any other time!

Just heard from onc department and have cancellation for tom at 10.30! sorry for the other person but wow do I feel I need it!!!

am worried that I'm expecting to much from this chemo! itch, skin and stomach sorted within a week????? too much to ask???

Hope Eileen is recovering and everyone else is coping!

Take care

Love jackie xxx

Hi everyone and thanks for all the good wishes.

Hi Sue,

Jackie pointed out that Eileen was the one to chat too as she has always had problems with her neutraphylls, she is going through a hard time at the moment, she does seem to struggle with her treatments and I am sure once she is up to it she will respond.

I was put on weekly chemo as I had lots of side effects, I was told it would be better with a lower dosage which would be better for me, but I don't think it is the same thing as you are going through.

I just want to say that I was given a bad prognosis, a year to live as I had an aggressive form of cancer, it spread from ovaries to liver and lungs......yet here I am, proof that things can rapidly change, my CA125 is down to 10 and hopefully it will continue that way. I am always aware that it can come back at any time but force myself to look at the positive side and take things day by day. It is sad for me to watch everyone struggle, this is no easy thing to deal with.

I always worry that I might say the wrong thing and cause distress to someone, it is so hard knowing what to say to everyone going down this difficult road, I just want to say that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers

Love to all Dot xxxxxxxxx

Hi Hazel,

Well I completed my third round of chemo,. Unfortunately I was not feling well 4 days after, but now I feel great.  My next one is Marh 20.  How is everything with you.  Talk to you soon

Love,

Laura

Hi Hazel,

Well I completed my third round of chemo,. Unfortunately I was not feling well 4 days after, but now I feel great.  My next one is Marh 20.  How is everything with you.  Talk to you soon

Love,

Laura

Hi, Laura,

So sorry missed your chemo on 20/03, hope you weren't too bad afterwards?  Your next will be on 10/04, is that right, then only one more after that?  So, nearly finished!  I have a long, long way to go yet, and can't say I'm looking forward to any of it, but needs must, I guess.

Thinking of you,

Love Hazel xxx

Hello, Laura, 

Hope you are doing OK - only one more to go after today, am I right?  Hope so!

Keep going, thinking if you!

Love Hazel xxx

Hi Ladies,

Hope all is well. Just wanted to wish those having chemo tomorrow (Thursday) the best of luck. I can't remember who is having what and when now, perhaps we need a spreadsheet LOL.

Mary has clinic tomorrow and hopefully starts cycle 3 of her Gem/Carbo all being well. She has been feeling good for a week now so hopefully should be ok. I have a few questions for the Prof tomorrow so hoping the answers will be favourable - will let you know how it goes.

Best wishes,

John

x

Hi, John,

Good luck to Mary for today, hope all goes well. x

I'm beginning to lose track as well, but to everyone having anything done over the next few days, good luck, and to anyone recovering, I wish you better!

I'm thinking of you all - my turn next week!

Lots of love to all,

Hazel xxx

Hi Ladies,

A good day at the hospital today.