Hello-

I have been wandering through your board a bit. I am noramlly down in thyroid disease (I suffer from Graves Disease) but due to some recent news I am wondering up here.

My Mom was diagnosed with 3rd stage ovarian cancer (7 year ann. in october). She originally was given 3-5 years from time of diagnosis. We have been lucky to have her here for as long as we have so I know she is on borrowed time. When her cancer was caught she had only had symptoms for a couple of months. The Dr.s told her there was nothing she could have done different....This cancer is just very aggressive.

When the original cancer was found she had surgery (hysterectomy and surrounding tissue) followed by several rounds of chemo. She has been fine until october 2006 (1 week before 6th ann.). A spot was found on one of the walls of the pelvis. They took a different approach with it and decided to implant radiation seeds (I know there is a formal name for this procedure just don't remember). Anyway it was a success...other then it literally burned her insides (she has been having bowel issues since) she was doing great. Last week her ca 125 count went to 37 (35 being range) and a spot was found on her liver. Her cancer dr. is very possitive because it has been caught early again. He is insisting it is not "in" the liver but on the outside.

So she went through 2nd chemo treatment yesterday (they started her immediatly last week when spot was found). She is going every thursday. The 1st round she had 2 drugs, this week she had one and next week she takes a break and just blood drawn. So the chemo this time is only once a week, starting out strong and then tapering down...She will do this until at least oct./ november......

I wanted to share this experience with everyone who is suffering from ovarain cancer (I know it helps us on the thyroid board) and have you who have suffered share your experiences with me. I am concerned that "another" 3rd spot has been found so soon after the 2nd. And it is on the liver now. I am scared that this is truely the beginning of the end. That the "spots" will keep coming back. She also hadn't fully recovered from the radiation surgery. I amscared she will not handle the chemo so well this time. Is this how this cancer works when it reoccurs????

I have made my mind up to not flip out as I normally would but instead put that energy toward spending extra time with her and having her spend extra time with my kids. I just don't have a possitive vibe this time. I wish I did but I don't.

Thank you for reading this post.

Nikki

Hi Nikki
I'm sorry about your mom. Unfortunately, i don't know anything about ovarian cancer so i cant help you there.

But i do know what is like to have a mom have cancer. My mom was dx with a very rare cancer called Leimyosarcoma in 1998. It's a uterine cancer which has been associated with fibroids. Leimyosarcoma is a particularly nasty cancer and only 1 in 500,000 are dx with it. She lost her fight in 1999. It was the most horrible time in my life. My mom was a fighter, just like your mom.

You are doing everything that you can to help her and she is doing all the things that she needs to fight this. Try not to panic, i know its hard, but take it one step at a time, thats all you can really do. Try not to over think and worry before you have to. Some on this board said don't waste a good worry. I like that and I'm trying to live by it.

Take care
~Lisa

Hi Nikki,
Sorry to hear about your mom. My boss's mom was diagnosed in Feb with Stage 3 ovarian cancer. The doctor only gave her a few weeks to live and they got a 2nd opinion, got into a better hospital and she's had probably 4 or 5 chemo treatments and it's tough, she gets tired, but it's getting the cancer. She's already been dealing with it for 6 months. Every time she tests her ca125 is getting better. she also has spots on her liver and they say that's ok as long as it's not in the liver, so her situation sounds similar to your moms. I'm glad to hear your mom is a fighter and has hung in there. She's done well so far, and it seems that everything is being watched proactively, so hopefully things will be ok. I'm praying for her.
:angel:

Thank you both for your responses.

Lisa- Thank you for such kind words.


Hey Rose-

How the heck are you??? I have kinda laid off the boards. I really had to make some tough decisions of my own and I wanted to do it without alot of influence. I am having my thyroid removed probably sooner rather then later....I will being seeing my endo and my PCP in the next few weeks to find a surgeon and a date. Just have had enough of Graves.....



My Mom dropped the cancer bomb for the 3rd time a few days ago. She was actually supposed to go on vacation with us to the beach last week. I could sense something was wrong but she actually didn't tell me until wedsnesday. I guess she just needed time for it to all sink in.

Her Dr. said the same about the liver. It just scares me with it moving on to the liver. This is a new territory and a new spot not even a year after the last spot occured. The second spot did not increase the ca 125 count as this one did. This one has just been different all the way around.

Nikki

Hi Nikki,
I'm ok. I had a thyroid US in March just for precautions, and now they found nodules on the remaining right side, but they're gonna wait and watch for now......it's always something, huh? The thyroid is functioning and it seems to be a multinodular goiter again....:(

Hey Rose-

That is what my thyroid has officially turned into.....I am so done with fighting it. It is always something. I feel like the past 2 years of my life has been nothing but tragedy's and sickness.....I am so done with all of it. Just want life back to normal. My hubby is always saying "well hun we are at the age where things are going to start happening with our parents and friends"....I guess it is just a part of life.


I am sorry did you have a partial TT??? I don't remember. The last time we chatted I was in such ridiculous depression and Brain Fog from the Graves... Well I am not there any more just ready to remove the "entity" now.

Nikki

hi Nikki,
Yes I had the left side and the ithmus removed 5/2005 due to hurthle cells in the fna.....now the right side has nodules.....they weren't there 2 years ago.
my ent isn't too worried, he says it's a multinodular goiter....I said, I know, but what about the hurthle cells last time? we didn't do a fna on this one.....we're waiting and watching....

I have been battling stage 3C Ovarian Cancer for 2 1/2 years. I have done almost every chemo that is out there and also radiation. Every situation is so different but here is what I found that worked for me. I found that taking hormone replacement therapy caused my cancer to grow much more rapidly. Actually when I quite taking any HRT my cancer completely quit growing. I have also started taking extra vitamin D and another vitamin called melatonin. But one of the things that I did that also significantly turned my cancer araound was drinking this home brewed ginger root tea. I can literally tell when i have had the tea and when I haven't. Plus even if it didnt help with the cancer specifically ginger works wonders on stomach issues and nausea, which often are associated with chemo and radiation. If you are interested I can tell you how I brew/cook it.

Good luck to you and your mom

Rose-

You may be o.k. with the goiter. Mine has grown to 3 times the size I started with but it took time to get as large as it has. Hopefully yours won't get as big.

Suzi-

You seem to be handling this cancer well. I know she is not taking hormeone replacement. She has already told me how bad it is. I will ask her about the vitamins. I know she does take D and the melatonin I am not sure. She was actually the one who started me on vitamin supplements and flaxseed oil. I know she will open to this tea. I am interested. The one nausea drug she was given is $800 her cost and that is after insurance covers it. CRAZY!!!!

Again hats off to you with how well you are doing. I see what this cancer has put her through. I know it is nasty.

Thanks Again- Nikki

sorry it has taken me so long to reply.

For the Ginger root tea: Buy some fresh ginger root at the grocery store, you may need to go to a health food store. cut about 10 little piece, about 1/2 inch thick, off the main root. Stew/simmer the pieces in about 8 cups of water. let it stew for about 1/2 hour. strain out chunks. I put the rest of the water/ginger mixture into a plastic juice pitcher. Then Once a day I pour some into a coffee mug, warm up the ginger water then I stir in a packet of apple cider to help with the flavor. this should be enough for 7 days at 1 cup per day.

other things that help me with nausea are a cold/ice pack on your chest or a cool wet wash cloth on your forehead. also smelling those little alcohol strips for a few seconds helps too ( you know the ones the nurses use right before they put your IV in). Also pepermint pills help. I also found that the best medication for my nausea was Ativan. it is usually for anxiety type issues but it can be used for nausea as well.

Good luck to you and your mom

Nikki - how is your mom doing? She's in my prayers and I believe she is going to beat this. I know she's going thru a rough time now, as I hear from my boss that her mom is really really tired, but that's the chemo working. She has 2 more treatments to go, and hopefully she will regain some strength after that. My boss's mom was losing clumps of hair so she bought her a bunch of bandana's. She bought her a camophlage one and told her to "wear it because you're a fighter!" Keep giving your mom support (I know you are), and I really have a good feeling that she will pull thru this.
:angel:

Hi Rose-

Sorry it took me a while to get back on. My 6 year old starts 1st grade tomorrow. Big Day;) !!!

So my Mom is ok. right now. Unfortunitely this cancer is terminal. It will get her....the big question is when?? Her dr.s are fantastic and they are doing all they can. Her platelet count had dropped to nothing after only 2 treatments so she had ome sort of shot to build it up again. She was feeling better after this. How are things with you???

Suzi-

I will copy these directions and give this too her. Thank you for taking the time to post them.

Thank you ladies-

Nikki

I know your are hurting I have been there and understand your pain. :angel: May you find the courage an strenght to get throught this. Is your mom doing pretty good now an taking some treatments or is she not taking any treatments at all. My caner battle is lasted two months in the hospital. I have been dealing with it for 11 years.