Nee to group - new diagnosis - very scared!

Being in the group will help I am also new and sharing how you feel is ok and this platform has shown me that the waiting is so so hard. For sure all our lives will be different and you can’t just make your self positive like a switch it doesn’t work that way but I , similar to you am getting through each day , one by one . 

Yes it is one day at a time isn’t it mornings are worse for me

Hi tr77,

It's such a scary time and the waiting for more information is the worst. It really does help when you have a treatment plan in place. I was diagnosed in 2012, age 40, with Stage 3c and I'm still here and cancer-free! I just want to give you some hope because things are improving all the time in terms of treatment options and prognosis. In many cases, it has become a condition that you learn to live with, as there are different options for treatment. The chemo was also not as bad as I expected- yes, there are some bad days where you feel washed out and exhausted, but there are days where you can get on with some normality. There is lots of support available, especially from Macmillan, who are there if you have any questions. Don't Google it because you'll make yourself sick with worry.

I found it helped me to try to think positively, but of course you'll have many days and nights where you need a good cry, and that's normal! I did find it helped to talk about it when friends and family wanted to know what was happening, but there will be people who don't know what to say. That's why this site is so good because there's always someone who knows what you're going through. So, I know you're at a very scary place right now but it will get easier once you know your plan, and then please come back on here as you go through your journey when you have more questions. 

Natalie x

Natalie thank you so much. I am so pleased to hear positive stories and they give me so much hope. I am so pleased you have come through your journey and it makes me feel like I can come through mine. 
can I ask if you changed your diet or did anything which boosted your recovery? And what you continue to do to stay well? Thank you so much to reaching out to me, it means the world at the moment xx

Hi tr77,

sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis, and just to say, my own experience completely reinforces everything Chicago25 and MattyP123 have said already about the waiting and uncertainty being the scariest time, and about keeping a positive focus on all the great treatment options now available to all of us living with OC, and improving all the time.

Picking up on your question about diet, etc, I thought I’d just share a few things that helped me get through the weeks leading up to my surgery ( when I was suffering badly with bloating and general discomfort) and my post-op recovery. I found that cutting out gluten and dairy (both notoriously hard to digest) and eating little and often really helped with the bloating. Also, keeping as active as symptoms allowed made me feel better both physically and mentally, and really helped with my pre-op assessment and post-op recovery.

Wishing you all the best on your journey - and try to keep taking it one day at a time,

Bxx

Thank you so much. This group is amazing and I can how supportive it is going to be for me. I appreciate you all taking the time to talk to me and help reassure me. 
Thanks again x

HI,

Just to say hello and as the other very wise ladies have said the waiting for your treatment plan is very difficult ...from my first symptoms to my hysterectomy was 8 weeks and at that point it wasn’t so clear what was wrong with me apart from a constant bleed and a mass that was large, 17 cm x 9 cm above my right ovary. 

Waited another 3 weeks and histology came back with ovarian cancer graded at 1C, that meant chemo was recommended to mop up any rogue loose cells. I am having 6 cycles of chemo ,every 21 days and chemo 2 is on Wednesday. It has been a steep learning curve ... early on when you attend your appts, try taking someone with you, my consultants never minded and encouraged it... even if your letter says not to. It’s an extra pair of ears and note taker..write out your questions and if you don’t understand any words there using, ask them to explain... to allow yourself time to digest what they are telling you ....repeat it back to them in lay mans terms... I used to say something like “ can I just check that I have this right .....”

you should be allocated a CNS, Cancer Nurse specialist, mine always was there while I was in with consultants/surgeon and then after spent time going through what the plan was so we all understand what was going to happen.

I think the main points already said by others  is don’t google all the while, it’s exhausting , often old and inaccurate. Until you know your treatment plan, which but the way will make you feel so much better concentrate on being the most healthy positive you.  So eat as well as you can, and what you fancy. 

Someone on here said it’s like your spinning, I think that’s a very accurate description, there’s so much to take on board, emotionally and information wise. I found that after I knew my medical plan it was easier to cope with emotionally, knowing dates etc.

I became so much calmer and determined to win, but it took a while for me to get to that point, don’t expect to much of yourself..

I send you a big hug, 

Sue

Thanks Sue that is so helpful. I had a chat with a nurse today who gave me a bit more info and I have to have a ultrasound with biopsy. She told me it looks like stage 3 and the treatment will be chemo and an op. I will see a consultant Monday. I’m still highly anxious but trying to be positive that I’m being offered treatment. I’m eating healthy and walking most days. Such a rollercoaster and worried about my scary journey ahead xx

Hi again,

The ultrasound and biopsy will give them more information and as soon as you have a proper plan you'll start to feel a bit better. It's a really anxious time and it sounds like you're doing all the right things to keep active and busy. It really is a rollercoaster. The meeting with the consultant will give you more idea of what to expect. I've just replied to someone else about chemo, saying it wasn't as bad as I expected- the anti-sickness meds are very good, and they can adjust them when they see if you have any side effects. I had 3 lots of chemo, then surgery then 3 more lots of chemo. Come back on here if you have more questions after your appointment and take a notepad because it's a lot to take in. 

Natalie xx

Hi tr77,

that’s great, that your moving forward and being the best you, eating well and being active, only natural to be anxious...try writing the main sources of angst down.... then look at each topic, decide can you have an influence on  that topic...if you can’t park it in a box and shut the lid, go on to next one topic .. can you change that one, if not put that in the box and shut the lid...

some you can do something about, so work on them, you can be the best physical you by exercising and eating well, mentally you need to find areas/hobbies which need focus/ mindfulness to distract you and keep you occupied now and post surgery.

one lady on here suggested knitting/sewing or adult colouring all good for concentrating, taking the worry out of your head for an hour or to. I found worrying totally exhausting so any thing that was a distraction was good for me.

Theres a lot going on in the next few months for you, I’ve done the op first and just had chemo session 2 yesterday so when you

have had Mondays meeting, (take a paracetamol before you go, for the biopsy) let us know your treatment plan and someone will be along to answer your queries.

I didn’t know I was going to have chemo till after surgery, but some ladies in the chemo suite, have chemo then surgery,

some were on 3 weekly, some weekly so everyone’s plan is different ... once your treatment plan is in place ,for me a sort of calmness came over me, knowing the dates , knowing the plan made it so much easier to cope with.

I’ll look out for your posts 

take care and remember to write out your questions before Monday, I always took hubby with me and they never objected, another pair of ears, note taker ... 

xx Sue