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New diagnosis. Terrible???

Mitch168
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My mum aged 70 has been diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer with multiple sites of disease as per CT scan. Liver & spleen disease have been confirmed along with ascites.  She had an omental biopsy a week last Thursday with diagnosis indicating a large "omental cake". CA 125 levels of 4484 are recorded and she has significant bloating, some bruising in various areas, pain, constipation and no appetite.

Consultant indicated surgery isn't an option and we have a further appointment to discuss results of the biopsy, a further CT scan and further blood tests she had at the same time 

I am devastated by the news although she seems to be in a state of denial and believes we will be going back to talk about treatment. She doesn't want to know the prognosis but I am the sort of person who doesn't cope well when I don't know what I'm facing & it is already significantly affecting me emotionally. 

I believe the prognosis is probably only a few months given all the above but will not be able to discuss this when we go back to Consultant given she doesn't want to know

Any help/support would be gratefully appreciated

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    Hello Mitch,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum’s recent diagnosis. This must be very upsetting for you. Has she got a date to return for her test results? Waiting for results is always a scary time, especially when you already know that surgery is not an option.

    I lost my Mum to metastases from breast cancer many years ago. She survived for 12 years and it was only in her final year that she was diagnosed with metastases in liver, lungs, brain and bones. She deteriorated very quickly at the end and it was heart-breaking to watch.

    It is difficult for her consultant to discuss her prognosis with you due to Data Protection Legislation. However, you might get around this by asking your Mum to give the consultant permission to talk to you about her case.

    I hope that her prognosis is better than you are expecting once you get her test results.

    Please keep us in the loop and remember, that there is always someone here for you whenever you feel like talking.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Thank you for your support. Diagnosis is Stage 3c with tumours on both ovaries and cancer cells on the surface of the liver, spleen, greater omentum and the abdominal fluid contains cancer cells. The Consultant has recommended 3 cycles of chemo to try to shrink the tumours and then a further CT scan to determine whether or not they think surgery is an option. She has an appointment on Tuesday to discuss the chemo in more detail.

    I guess we have a little relief for 9 or 10 weeks & then see where we go from there. 

    Again thank you

    Mitch

     

  • Offline in reply to Mitch168

     

    Hi Mitch,

    Although I know that you expected a poor diagnosis, you must still find this difficult to come to terms with. I sincerely hope that the chemo proves effective in shrinking the cancer and that they can maybe consider surgery after that.

    Did you brooch the possibility of her giving consent to the consultant to discuss her prognosis with you?

    I hope that all goes well on Tuesday.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine

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