Hi

I have posted on here many times, I too have advanced ovarian cancer, stage 4. I was diagnosed in September 2016 and it was the biggest shock ever.

If you read my posts, you will see that I have been through a lot of treatment, various ups and downs, but nearly 2 years on, I'm doing ok and feeling well.

I would like to reassure you that the treatment available is amazing, with many options, with new drugs being developed all the time. 

As I have said previously, be careful where you do your research. Stick to Macmillan website,Target Ovarian is another good source if information.

If you want to message me with any questions, I'll do my best to help as much as I can.

Take care

Jan

Hi

I thought I’d add my welcome to the forum. Sorry that you are here but want you to know you’re amongst friends who know what you’re going through and care.

I'm mid treatment for womb cancer. I had a complete hysterectomy including ovaries and tubes in May. I’m in hospital again on Monday for more surgery to remove pelvic lymph nodes to be tested. When they are tested I’ll know what further treatment I might need. 

Im afraid it’s all a waiting game. For results, surgery and treatment, it is scary but I’ve found that by keeping busy I can cope. Also I don’t think too far ahead...just to the next step, moving through one day at a time. The last four months have seemed a very long time but when I look back they’ve passed in a flash. Keep as strong as you can and when you can’t come back and talk to the lovely, supportive people on here. They’ve certainly helped me keep my sanity in difficult moments.if you want to talk more perhaps more privately, send me a friend request and I will reply.  .

Im sending a virtiual squeeze from my hand to yours.

Sundial

Thank you Jan that’s very reassuring and it’s good that there are places like this for people to draw encouragement and help from each other! I will have loads of questions but right now my head is spinning and I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I’m still in shock. I knew something was wrong but I’d had a clear scan in March and told I’d had a ruptured cyst nothing serious and I put down discomfort over the last few months to that. It’s taken a lot of doctors trips to get someone to take me seriously but I should now feel reassured that we know what it is and yes there’s treatment out there so in this day and age we’re very lucky really. Yes I’m not googling anything I’m just going to concentrate on myself and take things one step at a time. 

Thank you for the welcome!

Yes I’m already guessing that they’ll be lot of waiting and I’ve been doing that all week while they did the tests. I would say at least I know but I was hoping for a bad case of endometriosis! Thank you I’m doing my best to be strong. I think once I’m over this shock stage and I get my sleep I’ll settle back to some kind of normality albeit with lots of hospital visits but I am determined to plough on. Good luck with your surgery. I think my first step is chemo to shrink it and I never thought I’d be saying that I’d be looking forward to chemo....I just want the ball forward to start rolling now! Thank you for the welcome xx

Your very welcone

Re your holiday. Did you have travel insurance? I had to cancel our holiday at the beginning of July and managed to claim the money back through the insurance. It was pretty straight forward...just needed confirmation of booking and cancellation and a letter from my surgeon. He was more than happy to provide one. We received all the money apart from £100 excess which is the norm,. This is by no means made the cancellation and lack if holiday we were all looking forward to any better but at least I could put it in the bank and save it for when a holiday is possible.

Hooe your day is less stressful as the shock begins to wear off.

Sundial

Thank you Sundail. Yes my husband sorted it and as I blurted out during the diagnosis chat that we were supposed to be going on holiday, the consultant said he’d sort a letter to confirm that I can’t travel. I know it’s the least of our problems it’s just the total contrast isn’t it....instead of getting on that plane and jetting off for a nice family holiday, you’re starting gruelling cancer treatment but the kids didn’t bat an eyelid and just want me to get better and I’m hoping that if I’m well enough imbetween treatments that we might get out and about maybe on an odd day trip. I’m still numb. Does it ever sink in? It’s funny because for the last days before diagnosis I felt very well but since yesterday I’ve had pain (not bad more uncomfortable ) and been tired , very tired but I didn’t sleep and the stress- I can feel my heart going ten to the dozen. Bizarrely I think I’ll feel better next week when I’ve been to hospital again either for an appointment or biopsy. I want to get the ball rolling and it might sink in! Xx

Yes it does eventually sink in. The way you’re feeling is exactly as I did. I’m usually a very strong person but I just went to pieces, I’d had a very difficult eight months which I won’t go into. Eventually on the insistence of my family I went to my GP. After much persuasion I came away with diazepam, He promised just short term and it was. It was a godsend. Just took the edge off and allowed me to relax and more importantly sleep. I took the very minimum dose up until my diagnosis. The doctor wanted me to go on to more permanent anti depressants but I refused and I’ve managed since.  I found once I had my op date I went into sort of detached mode as if it was happening to someone else. I’m told by others that this is quite a common coping strategy.  Unfortunately after op they upgraded cancer from stage 1 grade 1 to stage 1 grade 3, I went to pieces again but eventually coped without meds, I’ve moved into detached mode again now. Op number 2 is on Monday. Who knows where I’ll go from there. People on this site have helped tremendously. I know you don’t want to be here but now that you are you can rely on support from people who care but more importantly know what you’re going through.

Hugs

Sundial

Thanks Sundail this all helps. This site and visiting the hospital makes me realise just how many people are going through this. I’ve had many family members suffer and my dad died of liver cancer 8 years ago  and since then I’ve feared cancer although I always felt I’d be effected at some point. Nothing prepares you for that diagnosis though does it? My husband, kids, mum, friends are great but then most of them can go home and get on with their lives and we’re the ones awake in the night terrified by what is ahead. My diagnosis is stage 3 so that terrified me and angered me as I had a clear scan in March so it looks like it was missed then, not that dwelling on that will do me any good at all. I don’t know the grade till the biopsy and part of me wants to stick my fingers in my ears and not know! To be fair people talk stage and grade but I know plenty of people with high grade and stage live longer or are still alive so maybe we shouldn’t dwell on this ( easier said than done). Having had no sleep last night I’m hoping to get some tonight. I’m struggling...one minute I’m terrified and thinking I’m going to die imminently and the next I’m either detached or really strong and positive. Struggling but it’s roller coaster ride isn’t it! Wishing you luck for your op! I’m looking forward to some treatment just so I know I’m moving forward! Thank you for the support xx

Hi

How are you now? X 

Anne x

Hello 

I'm sorry to hear your news! 
 

can I ask what your symptoms were? 
 

xx