Ovarian Cancer Support Group

I can relate to how you felt when your Mom was first diagnosed, I felt the same when my sister was diagnosed on Sept 07.
I'm very sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your Dad, it must have been devastating for you and all the family.
I hope the operation goes well for your Mom on Tues, I'm sure it will.
My prayers and thoughts are with her and you.
Keep us posted as to how she gets on ((((hugs))))

Our paths are so similar it is unbelievable so perhaps God put me here to encourage you. My 82 year old mother was diagnosed in January with what they guessed was Stage III, because of her swelling. We lost my father suddenly in October. Although he was 91, he was amazing and looked 70 and could do anything. He death was tragic, and we felt as though we couldn't breathe. We had finally managed to get through Christmas, and then over New Year's Eve weekend, my mother was diagnosed. Because of the fluid and the swelling, they could not operate. My sister and I did a lot of research and found the most amazing oncologists in Atlanta. My mother lived in Alabama, so she had to move to Atlanta for her treatment, but these doctors are having amazing success with the different type of chemos. My mother had a tumor the size of a grapefruit on one of her ovaries. They ordered 9 chemo treatments, and then surgery. When they did the surgery the doctor was surprised to discover Mother was Stage I and the cancer was gone. I encourage you to have your mother's doctors consult with this Atlanta group. They are making AMAZING strides in surgery and they do the robotic surgery. My mother was two days away from surgery when we found them. They postponed the surgery and my 82 year old mother is doing fantastic. She made it through the surgery, and is now on her last round of chemo! If your mother does not respond to the first chemo, there are several other options. This group knows them all! Please call them on Monday!!!! If you will send me your email I will send you their information! They are the best.

I should clarify . . . although my mother's oncology group does robotic surgery, they chose the traditional surgery for my mother to search for other tumors, etc. Also, when I say cancer free, I mean there are no tumors. Her CA125 indicates there are still some cancer cells, and that is why after surgery she is undergoing 9 treatments. However, this team of doctors are very innovative, and the women in chemo just rave about them, and even those women who have had recurrences say they were 5-15 years in remission before the cancer appeared again. You live in North Carolina, so perhaps you can get your mom to Atlanta. If not, perhaps her dcotors can consult with this group.

I hope your mothers surgery goes well on Tuesday...please keep us informed.

Cheers!

xx

What a rough time for all of you! I couldn't imagine going through all of this (I'm stage IIIC dx 11/07) and losing my husband at the same time. I'm glad your mother is getting surgery. Please be assured that I will keep you all in my prayers. It is truly times like these that challenge and grow our faith. All my best wishes, Janet

Thank you all for your replies and prayers! Susan - thank you for the information. At this point, my mom is so miserable and ready for the surgery that she won't consider going to another physician - yet. If this doesn't go well and we look at other avenues, I will certainly check into this as I have an aunt in GA. I visited with her today and she's anxious and nervous but like a pregnant woman at 40 weeks of pregnancy -- ready to get it done! She ate more today and two of her sisters are visiting so she's stayed busy. We will check her in at noon tomorrow.

The grief was harder for her than the cancer for awhile. She and my dad would have been married 40 years in April and like I said, he did everything for her after she was diagnosed. My oldest sister moved in with her but I imagine the loneliness is unbearable at times and the grief seems to completely overwhelm her when you least expect it. If you ever met my mom, she is just wonderful. She came from a hard upbringing with abusive parents but she used it as a lesson on how NOT to raise children. She's very petite and has one blue eye/one brown eye, blond hair and the kindest heart. It's hard to imagine that she won't make it through this as there are going to be so many times in my life that I'm going to need this incredible woman. So... I just don't allow myself to think that way. :o) Thank you all again for your kind words and for taking the time to pray for us. I hope you all have a blessed evening!

We will be praying for your mother as she undergoes the surgery! I hope this will bring her the healing she needs. How wonderful that she has the support of her daughters and her sisters. And please remember that there are other chemo options. If one particular chemo drug does not work, they have others they can try, and also different combinations of the drugs. One of the women on this site did not respond at all to the usual treatment and her CA 125 continued to rise, but with the second chemo drug, her CA125 plummeted to normal. Do not be discouraged, because there are many options! Your mother's doctor could consult with other oncologists if necessary, and she wouldn't necessarily have to go to another doctor. XOX

Hi everyone! I just got home from the hospital. My mom's surgery seems to have gone very well today. She had a hard time last night with the liquid enema... it was extremely uncomfortable (of course) and she had the dry heaves as well. They took her for anesthesia at 6:30 am, started surgery at 9:30 am and finished around 6:00 pm. The cancer was pushing into her heart and they had to strip her diaphram, remove her gallbladder and spleen, give her 10 units of blood, take 75% of her colon (no colostomy, though!)and they weren't able to take the breathing tube out yet due to swelling. BUT they got 95% of the cancer out! I think she did great and the surgeon was phenomenal. Please continue to pray for her healing from surgery and thank you all again for the prayers!

So thankful to hear the good report on your mom. Keeping her in our thoughts and prayers. Sounds like your mom had an extraordinary surgeon!

XOX

Susan Wales

So glad to hear they got 95% of the cancer out.
Hope your Mom continues to improve...........keeping her in my thoughts