Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Hi.....and welcome to the group. There are many of us here all in various stages of OVCA and some going through treatment now, some in remission and some even going through recurrences. You will find a lot of very helpful advice here.

I understand how scary the thought of chemo will seem to you.....everyone handles it differently. personally I am half way through treatment with Carboplatin and Taxol...having had 3 out of 6.

I am not having any major side effects...a bit of tiredness and thats all. I am still in work and I only have a day off for my treatment. Now...not everyone will feel able to work but I can honestly say it has helped me, as it gives me something else to focus on.

I certainly dont have any abdominal pain or kidney issues. All the way through your chemo you will be carefully monitored, having blood tests before each treatment, as well as a chat with your oncologist when you can discuss any issues you are having.

Drinking water often is to help you flush the toxins out of your system and it also helps prevent any constipation, which is possible while on treatment.. Its not excessive amounts....just make sure and drink 8 or so glasses a day...thats what is recommended for anyone...not just cancer patients.

Be careful about reading about cancer and its treatments on the internet...sometimes it can put a lot of fear on your mind for NO reason. Stick to the trusted sites....like here and Cancer research etc.

Good luck with whatever it is you decide....and keep us all informed how you are getting on.

Hugs
x

There are many options that we found for chemo when my mother was diagnosed. You should talk to your doctors and find out which one is better for you. They have had great success with Carboplatin and Taxotere, but it has not worked on some. When it is ineffective, the wonder drug appears to be Avastin, but not all insurance companies will approve it. Also, if you have high blood pressure, Avastin is not an option in some cases.

During your treatment be sure that you drink plenty of fluid as "Abfab" recommended, but also drink protein milk shakes in the morning and at night. You can purchase protein powder at the health food store, but purchase the one that is "meal" replacement It has everything that you need. The brand we use for my mother is MET-RX. It has amazing results and will give you energy! XOX Susan Wales

Hi. Thank you all. My doctor is recommending cycplatinum and Taxol which requires constant drinking of water, abdominal pain, and possible kidney failure. Carboplatin is the next choice. My sister-in-law is an oco.nurse.She has spoken to her doctor and due to my age, he said Carboplatin and Taxol.So I have 2 doctors with different opinions. I appreciate all your input on how you feel. It all helps.I'm having to wait for my abdominal incision to heal.sending a wave of love your ways. Toni

My advice is listen to the doctors and make your own decisions. It is, after all, your body. Most people do go through the regimen your Doc has mentioned...some with problems, other's less so.
Remember, if there are any serious complications your Doc can always stop the process and try a different drug.
Reading all the possible side effects, etc., every drug sounds extremely frightening. Most of us have never had to take anything like this before, in our entire lives.
I was originally diagnosed 5 years ago. I am dealing with recurrence now...but had many good years after that initial treatment.
It takes a great deal of courage to get to the other side of this. You can turn to the Sisters here on this website and find a wealth of information, as abfab states and also much needed support.
hugs and good luck, lindamae

You have to drink plenty of water with all the chemo options to flush out your kidneys and liver.. Kidney failure is a very rare side effect of many of these drugs and not anything to be overly concerned about as your blood tests prior to each dose will be monitoring these things.. Carboplatin is usually offered before any other platin-type drug.. I once had two different doctors opinions on what drugs to take... so I got a third. xxx

i too am going thru chemo with my second treatment this friday...my dr and chemo nurse monitored me very closly to insure i would not have issues,,,even stopped my treatment when i complained of headache to be safe. i take carbo and taxol.....just remember to not read too much on the internet,,,it can be scary..this website has been the very best for me. we care about u and hope you share what you find out.
hugs always. deb

I just want to say thank you for the information on chemo. I get overwhelmed at times and leak a few tears. Having to wait while my abdomen heals is trying at times. Thank you all for your support. Sometimes I'm limited with words and can only say thank you. You all show me your courage. Toni

Hi again,
I wonder when they will have your chemo schedule ready. Knowing when things are coming up and planning a few "treats" for yourself seems to work for me. I always need to have some sort of "carrot" out on the stick to keep moving forward.
Mostly, I wanted to say hello and hope you are recovering from the surgery without a hitch.
hugs, lindamae

Toni, One thing you can always ask is why the doctor recommends this particular treatment for you. In my doctor's group they say they always decide individually what is the best option for a woman. I did not have Taxol during my first round of chemo because my surgical complications were so severe. You can also ask about other treatments and why or why not they recommend against them. I think it is important to be as informed as possible but sometimes it is okay to relax and let the doctor you are trusting with your life help you make the decisions. Best wishes and many hugs, Janet

Thank you, Janet. Like you I need information to make decisions. I think the problem is that we don't always know all the questions to ask.But I'm going for the aggressive treatment and pray the doctors stop anything that gets out of hand. I still trying to figure the site and could only find here to reply. Thank you all again and I pray you are all doing well. Toni