Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It is, and it's a life changing event. I never thought it would happen to me (as so many people point out in the face of natural disasters and illnesses). Being faced with possible premature death, possibly a lot of pain, certainly a lot of financial worries and concerns about life events; this is not easy.
The bioposy is not available yet but will be when I see the doctor next week. What I'm wondering is, is there any history of someone having a 30 cm tumor removed from the ovaries (along with a complete hysterectomy), and then not having cancer and living a normal life. That's what I want to know.
It is important that you do your own research and make your own assessments and decisions about your care. You have in front of you the most powerful tool known to man (the internet) to educate yourself about this situation and learn what options are available to you. There are many, many, MANY other paths to choose besides the standard chemo and radiation. Conventional medical practitioners will not share this information with you because it will not serve their bottom line to do so. But the information is out there for the taking if you are determined to learn about this matter and take the best, and most appropriate steps to regain your health and stay that way.
>> There are many, many, MANY other paths to choose besides the standard chemo and radiation. Conventional medical practitioners will not share this information with you because it will not serve their bottom line to do so.
That is my opinion, also. My doctor's a good surgeon but he's (east) Indian, and a devout Catholic (odd combination, I know); he's also a teacher at this teaching hospital I went to, associated with my university. This does not mesh with my own views of the world, which are based on Native American philosophy, veganism/animal rights and atheism.
It is ironic that this has happened to me, as I've always stated that I would not give myself over to white doctors, who only want to "operate and medicate." But while the operation was clearly a necessity, I'm very conflicted about the treatments, should they be recommended to me.
Since there were no discernable signs of cancer in the pap smear, lung x-ray or mammogram, i feel that the reason these were clear might having something to do with my veganism.
Before I left the hospital a medical student came into my room with some documents to sign which authorized them to study my tumor, "in order to cure cancer." My blood pressure shot up and I thought, "here it is, they're telling me I have cancer." But she insisted it "was not a diagnosis." Sure.
I'm sorry you are going through this. I was diagnosed with cancer in January and the waiting was awful, and the first week after diagnosis was...dark.
I hope you don't have cancer, but if you do, I hope you don't feel like standard treatment ruins your life. I am going through chemo now...I will be done around Memorial day. I'll have to have another surgery, radiation, and probably hormone replacement therapy for several years after. But I am still pretty much living a "normal life." I have days where I definitely don't feel well, but I am still working full time, and going to grad school part time. I just finished cleaning my house. Treatment has definitely affected every aspect of life, but it's not the end. The treatments I have to take after chemo will be a cakewalk compared to what I am doing now. And eventually, eventually...it will pass, and I will be done.
I'm not trying to push standard treatments on you...do what feels right to you, if you end up in that situation. I just don't want you to think that the treatment itself somehow permanently ruins your life.
By "normal life" I mean, one can go on and live out one's life without chemo or radiation, and being constantly ill. Will not get the biopsy result until the 28th. And all tests have come back normal: pap, mammogram, lung x-ray.
He hinted that there might have been some cancer cells in the removed tumor, but I decided yesterday to move to a state with med. mj; I'm not going to do radiation or chemo. I'm just not. He said we would "discuss cancer treatment" on the 28th.
My son had leukemia at the age of 13. Now, thanks to chemo and radiation, he is 36 and the father of a little girl. He was on chemo for over four years.
We went through the nausea and the hair loss. He went to school all through it. Yes, it was hard, but without it he would be dead.
Radiation is not usually a front line treatment for ovarian cancer.
The chemo for ovarian cancer can be stiff, but it is usually given over about six months. You can make it through that, taking it one day at a time. Nausea and other side effects can be treated, and hair grows back.
The Pap and mammogram have nothing to do with ovarian cancer. It is good that the chest xray is normal.
I would strongly discourage you from considering alternative medicine treatment for ovarian cancer. Had Steve Jobs not gone that route for his pancreatic cancer, he might be alive now.
The way you are feeling now is absolutely normal. A good oncologist, if you do actually need one, will have a team that will address all your needs, from nutrition to psychological support. They should have women for you to talk with who have been through it and will be able to help you get through it, too.
I don't have ovaries any more; they gave me a complete hysterectomy when they took the tumor out. The first paperwork said the tumor was "worrisom" for cancer, but they didn't rush the bioposy; it's not available until the 28th, as I mentioned.
The incision's okay; it kind of hurts on the inside, as if things are rearranging themselves after the removal of the ovaries and womb. I didn't need those things anyway, and went through menopause over 10 years ago.
I also have some numbness in my right thigh. I don't think it's directly related to the surgery, but rather, the fact that the night of the surgery I insisted on sleeping on my right side, as I always do, because I can't sleep on my back, it hurts to sleep on my back.
Overall, it really hasn't been too bad. I just feel sad, you know; if the party goes on without me, I can accept it, but I won't get to do the things that I'd planned on doing, like finishing my doctorate and teaching. I do have a book published. Everyone in my life that I've been close to has died: husband, dad, mom, my last cat. I have another cat, however; I've made arrangments for everything if I die soon, but no one is going to love him like I do. He's this huge black & white, and just sweet as he can be. Sweet, gentle, loving, affectionate cat -- just like my last girl.
I appreciate people writing about this; guess I'll have to do as the doc recommends, then. Not looking forward to it.
>> I'm sorry you are going through this. I was diagnosed with cancer in January and the waiting was awful, and the first week after diagnosis was...dark.
@Christina: That's very supportive, thank you. You're an inspiration.
>> I would strongly discourage you from considering alternative medicine treatment for ovarian cancer. Had Steve Jobs not gone that route for his pancreatic cancer, he might be alive now.
@SuzyQ: Yes, I read the book about Steve Jobs. He made a bad decision. I won't do the same. At the initial interview the doc wanted to show me pictures of the kind of tumor I had. I told him I'd rather not. I have a very active imagination and photos would have freaked me out. Everyone says, do research. But I can't. I just can't, not right now.
>> I would strongly discourage you from considering alternative medicine treatment for ovarian cancer. Had Steve Jobs not gone that route for his pancreatic cancer, he might be alive now.
@SuzyQ: Yes, I read the book about Steve Jobs. He made a bad decision. I won't do the same. At the initial interview the doc wanted to show me pictures of the kind of tumor I had. I told him I'd rather not. I have a very active imagination and photos would have freaked me out. Everyone says, do research. But I can't. I just can't, not right now.
That response is perfectly normal. There will be a lot of information thrown your way in the next few weeks. It is hard to take it all in. It would be difficult even if you yourself were a physician.
One thing to consider is asking a friend to go with you for your appointments, especially at first. That person can take notes, so you do not have to try to listen and do so at the same time.
You're a writer. Start a journal. It will help.
By the way, the numbness in your right thigh is probably due to pressure on a nerve during the surgery. It is not uncommon and will get better. The tumor was large; it had to take some maneuvering to get it out. Do let your surgeon know about it.
I believe those studies were for the lungs. Medical marijuana is not a treatment. I wish it was, but it hasn't cured my leukemia.
You sound depressed. I'm sure that is normal after the surgery you had. Please don't discount treatment. It may not be as intense as you think.
I pray the biopsy results are good news for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charolastra00
All cancers are different, as are treatments. For many, with chemo and radiation, you DO go on to live a normal life. I have 50 or 60 years of living past my cancer- I would have had 6 months without chemo.
Medical marijuana does not cure or treat, it just helps with symptoms. You would be hard pressed to find a doctor who will prescribe it to you if you are actively choosing to not pursue treatment, unless treatment is not a viable medical option.
I agree. Cannabinoids show great potential. However, it is the recreational users who I tend to think of as public nuisances...
Quote:
Originally Posted by mvintar
Thank you. I guess I am depressed.
That is common. There is a lot to absorb. The initial get with it treatment which was three surgeries and then chemo a couple month later. For me took about a year or more to come to terms with cancer and mainly chemo. The surgeries not so much. Chemo racked my brain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PippySkiddles
why would you not have a normal life?
You can and will. I call it a new normal. But looking at me 7 years later you would not know I had cancer unless I showed you my scars and told you.
It is okay to explore alternative treatments. However many are not proven and many many more have been shown to be false or they cause harm.
Take the example of Steve Jobs. He opted for alternative treatments. As things progressed he regretted that decision and wishes he would have taken a different route.
When you can show repeatable results and those results can be verified by others then yes, it might be worth looking into. Someone who is selling snake oil and it is shown to not be helpful stay away.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
