I am 24 years old and I have been battling Ovarian cancer since feb of 2005. I got married in oct 2003 and then pregnant soon after with my daughter in jan 2004. They found a large lump in my lower abdomen while I was still in my first trimester. They luckily thought it was a fibroid so I was able to continue with my pregnancy. My daughter was born in oct 2004. when she as only 3 months old they took me in for surgery to remove my softball sized "fibroid." It ended up being ovarian cancer. I had a complete hyterectomy a few days later. I lost all of my hair with the first chemo drug. They tried a few different drugs until sep 2005 when none had worked and I was hospitalized with a complete bowel obstruction and almost in septic shock. They had to give me a colostomy then. They tried a few more drugs and then they told me I should get my "affairs in order". I had more cancer return so this summer they tried radiation. It has actually helped as of now but I will be starting a new chemo drug right after christmas.

I guess I amlooking for someone who has been in my shoes before or is in then now. I would especially love to hear from anyone who is younger like I am, but I would be interested in hearing from anyone.

I have a friend who said her doctor has told her that they look at some cases of ovarian cancer as a "cronic disease" now. Alot of the time people can live for years. They have to go back for treatment every couple of years when it "flairs up", but the chemo knocks it back down for awhile.
You didn't say how they staged your cancer. Did they tell you what stage yours is? Have they tried the type of chemo that is injected into your abdomen? I know in some cases that wouldn't work, but you might ask them.

Thanks for your input. I have heard of the abdominal infusion but haven't tried it. It has always sounded kinda scary to me for some reason but maybe I'll have to take another look at it. I have stage 3C ovarian cancer. There is cancer on my colon and bladder and what is left of my internal vagina. Luckily it hasn't spread to any of my lymph nodes.

I'm Praying for you! My sister, whowill have her 5th yr. anniversary OVCA FREE was diagnosed with stage 1-a OVCA. She also had to go through the ROUGH Carboplatnu and Taxol ( I'm not sure how to spell these ) Luckily, she lives in Houston and was treated (staged and all biopsies and lymphnodes removed and checked by a wonderful gyno/oncologist from MD Anderson) The stage was pretty much as good as it gets for her to be unfortunate enough to have Ovarian Cancer, But her grade was the most pooly differentiated. A grade 3. The most aggressive type. Thankfully, it was totally confined to the ovary. She, as a matter of fact, just had her 6mo. CA-125 test and it was a 5. I get sort of angry that there sin't enough OVARIAN CANCER awareness out there. I HAVE sen a few commercials lately on lifetime about it though. GOOD LUCK to you and I'm so very very happpy that you got to have a precious baby!!

thanks mimiof3 it is uplifting to hear such insperational success stories. If I make it to my 5 years then I will personally be able to take my little girl to the 1st grade.

SuziQ,

I think there are many things you can do that certainly won't hurt. Eating lots of dark skinned veggies and fruit is one. Blueberries and red grapes are 2 things I eat daily. These help boost your immune system, which fights free radicals (which cause cancer cells to grow).

Not taking the hormone pills, I think, was a good move on your part. The worst part about that is the vaginal dryness. Replens and Astoglide will help that some.

My ovarian cancer was different from yours. Mine was a germ cell tumor. It was accually the same kind of cancer as testicular cancer is for a man. I have been cancer free for 4 years. My doctor is going to release me after next year (as long as nothing happens in the next year).

Talk to you later.

I can't remember a lot of details from when I first got diagnosed so I was talking to my mom about that the other day. (She has been very involved with my recovery and treatments.) She said that the doctor had told her that my cancer looked benign under the microscope but it didn't act that way. That doesn't make any sense to me. Any ideas?:confused: