Hello

Hi Aleanna and a very warm welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to read that you've just been diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. I had a different type of cancer but I know what a worrying time this will be for you.

I think that chemotherapy has come on a lot in the thirty years since your mum had it so hopefully you won't have as rough a time.

It would be great if you could pop something about your journey so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

x

Hi Aleanna  I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and can understand how shocked and anxious you must be.  Chemotherapy affects everyone differently.   Your nurses are experts in helping you out and coping with whatever side effects you may have.  Ask for help and advice from them.  It need not be as bad as you fear.  Good luck and let us know how you get on.  We're all rooting for you  

Thanks for getting back to me, I'll go and look at my profile page and add some info. Glad to see from your profile that things seem OK with you at the moment, x

Thanks for replying, I guess it's the not knowing and trying to find out info without scaring yourself too much. May need a laparoscopy at the end of the month so chemo is on hold for the time being. x

I don't like to tempt fate Aleanna but yes, things are good at the moment

I was diagnosed last June with stage 3 and like you had never heard of it. Today 10 months later I am at the moment cancer free. Have been through 8 rounds of chemo and a major hysterectomy and now taking maintenance medication to hopefully keep it from returning. It's tough but you can do it you are stronger than you think. Good luck with your journey xx

Thanks for getting in touch Tezza, glad to hear that you are currently cancer free, though it sounds as if you have had a very tough year.

I've no idea yet of the stage I'm at, from what I've read when they find it, it's usually stage 3 or 4. However I've been told that mine is only affecting the peritoneal lining so far, no evidence from the ultrasound or CT scan that it's on any organs. I guess I'll learn more once they have the biopsy or laparoscopy results.

Wishing you all the best for the future, xx

You've been through a lot in those 10 months with so many changes to your life I'm guessing.  It's fab that you can look forward to now to getting back to a more normal life   May I ask are you on Avastin? 

I think your reply to me is spot on.  I remember someone on this site saying " trust your oncologist: they're the experts" .  So I try to get my information from them and always have my list of questions in my hand as I speak to him or my lovely patient Cancer Nurse Specialist.  I've tried not to look up things like prognoses:  I say to myself that it can't help, and although I know that the outlook is generally poor for older people like myself with a late diagnosis, things change, I was fitter than the average and it's better to stay realistic but hopeful and positive.  Your diagnosis is bound to have caused all kinds of worry, but it really is good that they have found it early on. Thinking of you

Hi Newbie, thanks for your kind thoughts. It'll be good to get some actual results and have a meeting with someone to discuss things. Take care, xx