Newly diagnosed ovarian cancer at 40 yrs

Hello aurora5,

sorry you've had to join this group after your news but a warm welcome. So sorry to hear you are uncomfortable with pain. Do call the oncology department or your nurse to get appropriate pain relief sorted. It is really important to feel fit enough for the chemo treatment. You may need someone to check your tummy as liquid (ascites) can build up and cause pain. The good news is that this is sort-able. I have been given Gabapentin to control my nerve pain and it has literally stopped the pain altogether. This may not be an appropriate drug for you but you could mention to your Onco team.

Your story sounds very similar to mine with exactly the same treatment. I had carbo/taxol when I was first diagnosed August 18 and again when the cancer returned last autumn and this time they have put me on the same chemo drugs but also Avastin.

The side effects of all 3 drugs are a very similar long list of symptoms most of which you hopefully won't experience. All 3 drugs can give you neuropathy (numb fingers/feet) and breathlessness.

The chemo drugs affect your taste, nausea and possibly your appetite although I've not found this I still eat as normal lol.  With the chemo drugs your hair will fall out but you can reduce the amount if you have a cold cap when you are receiving your treatment. Ask the chemo nurse before treatment. I did find I had a sore mouth in the first month but that went after a while. You also become incredibly dipsy with brain fog so keep note of things you want to remember. I've found using the calendar and reminder settings on my phone really helpful.

What I have found is that as I am on a 3 week cycle of drugs is that the first week is the worst and then it gets progressively better so by the 3rd week you start to feel back to yourself again.

As the side effects are similar with all the drugs its hard to say which ones have caused my symptoms. As last year I had the same symptoms without Avastin I would say that the addition of that drug hasn't made much difference to me but others may have different experience.

Good luck with your treatment. I hope it goes really well. Worrying and being scared is perfectly normal but we are all here if you need to vent.

x