Stage 3a high grade cancer

Hi. 

you mention that your clinician has told you that the condition is incurable. Is she or he talking about the trace found in the lymph nodes or the ovarian cancer? 

I too was diagnosed in May 2023 with stage 3 high grade cancer and two years on am living life normally. It may be that the ovarian cancer element is treatable but the trace elements will be monitored? It is ok to go back to your consultant to ask for clarification. Have you been assigned a Macmillan nurse? If so do ask questions of him or her. It is what they are there for.
 
My husband and I found that we couldn’t take on board all that was being said to us so with agreement we recorded discussions with the consultant. 

My treatment was 3 rounds of chemo, surgery (complete hysterectomy and a colostomy bag fitted) and then 3 rounds of chemotherapy. That was followed by 18 months of immunotherapy treatment to reduce the risk of cancer returning. Two years on I am cancer free and living life normally l. 

I wish you well on your journey, you will find lots of support here if you have more questions. 

Jackie 

Hi Jackie

They have said incurable as it was found im my lymph node and being stage free. 

I have been assigned a nurse and will ask them further questions. I just felt overwhelmed at the appointment.  Thank you for pointing that out I didnt think of contacting them to discuss this. I wasn't able to take any more information on when we spoke to them separately. 

I have 6 round of chemo following a total hysterectomy along with other omentum and appendix removed.

Thank you for your support and I am pleased to here you are cancer free. I've not heard of immunotherapy before. 

I don’t know whether immunotherapy is offered to everyone, as each of us and our cancers are different. The purpose of the immunotherapy was to build my body’s resistance to any future cancer cells developing. I suggest that you don’t think I about that now, focus on what is immediately ahead of you. I wish you well. 

I was diagnosed with high grade 3 in Feb ‘24.  Found a local friend of a friend the same only 2 months ahead of me.  We are both in remission now, both having had big debulking surgery and 6 lots of chemo.  I believe the term ‘incurable’ was used for both of us but you need to ask your consultant what it means exactly.  It doesn’t mean you can’t be successfully treated.  It’s frightening thinking about what may lie ahead so try not to!  Be optimistic!   Once treatment is underway you’re in it and you just get on with it.  I believe having the BRCA gene makes treatment easier.  Someone put me right if I’m wrong!  I wasn’t offered immunotherapy.  
it’s  tough but manageable if you take it step by step and surround yourself with optimistic, happy people.  
good luck and ask for help when you need it.

I think oncologists try hard to manage expectations -  ovarian cancer is a particularly shitty one as most of us get our diagnosis at stage 3 when it’s already pretty advanced and starting to spread.
I was also told incurable (3c high grade with peritoneal disease) and that the expectation was control rather than cure but with maintenance drugs after chemo & surgery its not necessarily a short term decline. It may be more like living with a chronic illness as the maintenance drugs can sort of keep it dormant, though the length of time varies. For some women it can be years before they’d need more treatment.