Hi, I’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer this week. The waiting is just awful. I’m not dealing with it very well. It has spread up other areas . I’m thinking the worst and need reassurance that I can deal with this!
Hi Ida
Im so sorry you have this diagnosis! It’s totally understandable you are feeling the way you are, early days I came back from the hospital and drank wine!!!!
So the only thing I can say is that it’s the scariest thing to get this diagnosis but in my experience the treatment and surgery were no where near as bad as I had in my head. I had a pretty rough start with ascites and a bowel obstruction but you will get through this it just you need some time to process it all and calm down. I’ve found it a bit of a rollercoaster but I think you have to just go with it, do as much nice stuff as you can when you can and take care of yourself. Don’t think too far ahead, just literally take a day at a time, really feel for you, it’s no fun all of this but it’s amazing what we can get ourselves through!!!!
Take care
x
I thought I had a bowel condition so was totally thrown that I was sitting in gyni!! I think that’s the main problem with oc and why it’s often spread before we are diagnosed. 50 is so young, I’m 61 but had my daughter late so she was only 16 when I was diagnosed so I need to be around for as long as I can for her as much as anything.
Take care and let me know how you get in x
Hello Ida - so sorry about your diagnosis. It has taken me three months down the line before I have been able to fully accept my diagnosis (mucinous ovarian cancer). I have found this forum to be incredibly helpful though - lots of lovely ladies who are on similar horrendous journeys all sharing and supporting one another. So today, I feel able to contribute myself. I still get flashbacks to my GP phone call and my subsequent appointments where my fear of a cancer diagnosis being confirmed. I have had ups and downs - I have felt a lot of hope and then felt completely hopeless. From reading the posts of others - this seems a familiar journey. On those days of feeling hopeless, I do try to look after myself more (even the smallest of things) and I have found this forum helpful and the Ovacome forum. When you read about other ladies who are still here years down the line - it is wonderful to read and really does help me on those dark days. The other thing I often reflect on is - I have been diagnosed with cancer three months ago now and you just get through it - the treatment, the appointments, the scans etc. You do just get through it somehow! And I look back and think - right major surgery - done. First chemotherapy - done. And I am still here watching The Chase (my favourite distraction programme). Small victories is what I say. As you are quite newly diagnosed, you will be waiting to see how they are going to approach treatment but the treatments now are amazing compared to years ago - something some very knowledgeable ladies reminded me of on here. Try to avoid Dr Google if you can - I know that is really hard but a lot of the articles are well out of date and things change for the better more quickly than we realise. Please reach out for help and support as and when you need it - you will always find some lovely kind ladies on here only too willing to be a virtual shoulder to cry on and offload to. Warm hugs are sent your way.
Hi Ida. Me too. Just seen the consultant today, and have a very scary operation in front of me on 19th. Just seems surreal doesn't it. I'm trying so hard to stay positive but there are times that it all gets completely overwhelming. I WILL get through this because i have to - no other option, but all seems very daunting
x
Totally agree with your comments about not using Google, it's just depressing and like you say, not up to date. I feel much more confident now I have had my first chemo session and listened to my medical staff, not Google. Sending best wishes to Ida
Hi Ida
I am also in my 50's , I was diagnosed in March, I thought I had a problem with my bowel, so was completely knocked sideways being told I have Ovarian cancer, mine has also spread. I've now had four lots of chemo and due surgery on 23rd, I have no choice so will get through this, just like you will.
It feels like you're on a rollercoaster, you can't get off but once you start treatment you feel as if you are taking control back.
Take care of yourself Ida, enjoy the little things.
Elisa x
Hi Dee
It is surreal and totally overwhelms you at time. I hope everything goes well on 19th, my surgery is 23rd.
We can do this, we are strong.
Sending you positive thoughts
Elisa
Hi Elisa - I am not sure how extensive your op is but just to give you some hope. I had a radical hysterectomy (everything out! including the alien I was carrying which turned out to be cancerous). So a big op. It went well and I have recovered slowly and steadily (two months post op now). But I totally agree with your comment about being on a rollercoaster you can't get off. That is exactly how I felt. Sending warm hugs your way and particularly for your op on 23rd. There are many tips that I am sure others will share with you but my gamechanger was buying a bed wedge support. I cannot sleep on my back and when I came out of hospital - this was great. I piled my pillows on top of it and it replicated the bed in the hospital so I could lie back comfortable and sleep.
Hello Dee Your comments really resonated with me. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February - radical hysterectomy in March. It felt surreal but terrifyingly surreal. I am still trying to get my head around it nearly 4 months down the line. You're right though - you WILL get through it. I think Polar Dream mentioned that it is like being on a rollercoaster and you cannot get off - she is so right. Coming on here has helped me although I only started chatting about a week ago or so as I was struggling with the diagnosis and talking about it. My one really useful tip for coming out of hospital - I cannot sleep flat on my back so for home I bought a bed wedge support and piled my pillows on to it - it replicates the hospital bed so that you are able to get into a more upright position. Really helped me. I also bought some ear buds for hospital, so I could listen to podcasts at 3am in the morning when I couldn't sleep!
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