My partner has pretty much all the symptoms of ovarian cancer, with the marker going up. We have been to two cancer specialists both saying “they don’t think it’s anything to worry about”

but her symptoms are getting worse and I’m really worried about her. Has anyone else had this happen? And what did you do to get the drs to do something straight away instead of taking their time. I’m worried by the time they realise they were wrong that it will have progressed too far for them to act on it. The only one that knows it’s something serious and is trying to help as much as he can is her gp

These are her symptoms so far:

2 cysts one on each ovary that are not going away and growing

constant severe pelvic and abdominal pain (her gp has her on strong slow release pain killers for pain management)

bloating, indigestion and changed bowl movement

constant nausea

hot flushes/night sweats

constant thick discharge

getting full easily and losing appetite

Any advice would be much appreciated as we are stuck for what to do from here!

I have had a recent diagnosis of a Somatic Braca 1 mutation. I started on Olaparib last week and have been asked to stay on it for two years. I am looking for other women who are on the medication too. I would love to hear how long you have been on it, any initial reactions/symptoms and also any long term changes to these reactions/symptoms.

I have 16 questions ready for my oncologist regarding the drug which I'm hoping she will be able to answer. ;-) So far, my GP, pharmacist and gynaecologist-onc surgeon have either never had anyone on it or are only mildly familiar with it. As I live in Gippsland, Victoria, I think I may be the only patient they have that is on this medication.

Looking forward to hearing from you.....

Jenn

I'm absolutely terrified my Mum has cancer. She is 62 years old.

Last week my Mum went to the ED with severe pain in her leg. They found that she had a massive blood clot and didn't know what could of caused it. She then had a CT scan which revealed a large 11cm mass on her right ovary that had spread to her belly button. They then took blood tests for tumour markers which all came back normal. The doctor said to us that they would of expected it to be very high in a malignant case but sometimes bloods can still come back normal.

She then had an ultrasound and the sonographer said that the mass was worrying but no fluid was present and the doctor said in most but not all cases fluid is usually present with malignancy. She also had an abnormal urine test but the doctor didn't discuss it.

Mum is now booked in for a biopsy tomorrow and won't know the results for two weeks. Apart from the DVT (which we have a strong family history of) Mum doesn't really have any symptoms at the moment.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?. Could it still be cancer?. I'm so terrified. I can't eat, sleep or even think right now. We have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

Thanks Sue ❤️

Your ovarian cancer nurse will be able to relay information to your medical team and gain guidance for you about the best way to support and treat you. 

To join the Teal Support Program or for further information, please contact an ovarian cancer nurse on 1300 660 334 or email care@ovariancancer.net.au.

Thank you

I am hoping that under this  thread Expressive Writing that you can post any poetry or expressions that you felt at the time of your diagnosis and afterwards. This will be a great chance for you to voice how you felt.

This is one I wrote when I was first diagnosed:

LET YOUR TEARS FALL

Don't let anyone ever tell you, do not cry

For they have never felt the pain and devastation of being diagnosed with a Cancer or disease that can take their life

Let Your Tears Fall

We all have triggers that bring the tears

The fears to the surface

We all fear what the future hold

Let Your Tears Fall

They give us the release we need

The solace we seek

Never be afraid to,

Let Your Tear Fall

I'm new to the board. Diagnosed Stage 3C High Grade Serous Epitheleal Ovarian/Peritoneal 5 months ago. Inoperable, Platinum resistant so now on Caelyx palliatively. I feel well at the moment but have had one bowel obstruction already.

I have lots of complications and issues that the doctors seem to have no clue how long I have to live. To be honest, I haven't asked him yet and I intend to on Wednesday but I'm not sure he really knows. The consensus seems to be that I might have two week, two months, two years, two decades, not a clue.

My question to you lovely ladies is this: how do you live and plan with the unknown? Do you plan for twenty years in optimism? Do you live each day like it could be your last? I find it difficult because if this really was my last day there is no way I would do the dishes. But if I have two years, well then the dishes probably need to get done. Does this make sense?

Naturally I would love some certainty (or maybe I wouldn't) but that isn't going to happen with most of us so I guess some hints on living with the uncertainty would be wonderful.

Thanks and keep on living life!

Robyn

Apart from feeling tired and  not motivated to do anything much chemo has been relatively kind to me except for weight gain ( others lose weight but not me) from the steroids I think!!

I am keen to find a drug trial. As I live in Darwin this will be an obstacle to overcome if I am successful.

If anyone has any ideas regarding  dealing with  a reluctant bone marrow or potential drug trials I would be most appreciative of your advice. Best wishes from Sunny Darwin

📞 Our Support Team is available on 1300 660 334 or support@ovariancancer.net.au

📖 For general resources, visit: https://ovariancancer.net.au/how-can-we-…/support-resources/

I am Anne and I recently had a surgery and will start chemotherapy this Thursday. I want to try to get support from you ladies who know what I am going through. It has been a tough 5 weeks for me after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 1c. I try my best to see the light in this but sometimes I feel so sad and alone and mostly scared now that treatment will start. It is nice to hear inspirational stories from all of you and I pray that my treatment will be kind to me . Appreciate any helpful tips that I can do before I start this Thursday .

Thank you. 

So, good luck Nicole!

Every dietician I ask seems to have vastly different answers (sometimes scarily so) so I'll ask here.

Does anyone who is on a low fibre diet have any tips and tricks for maintaining their nutrition while on a low fibre diet? And their sanity with such a restricted range of foods? grin

Thanks!

Robyn

I'm Allan and my 26 year old daughter has been fighting Ovarian Cancer for three years. Sadly we are running out of hope as all treatments have been unsuccessful. She has started working with the palliative care team and this is very confronting.

I am not sure if there are many men in this group or fathers but thought I would explore what support I can get. My decision is made more difficult by the fact I am divorced from my daughters mother and they ( mother and maybe daughter) are making it clear they don't want me closely involved in this process. Even visits are discouraged. I have a strong support network but this situation is so so hard.

Thank you for reading

Diagnosed 12 March - First chemo 15 March

Feeling ok so far

Now that I have started my recovery journey I am ready to start finding out more

There must be so much to know

I was so grateful someone let me know - she was instrumental in my early cancer life - I loved this lady like I had known her in person all of my life - her words were golden to me.

God Bless and Keep You Helen - your wings are soaring while I am selfish in my grief.

I want to re read her posts - where are they?

Much love,

Sandra - ovarian/peritoneum 10/13/2016

Dear Cancer,

I write to you in disbelief and a level of denial that my life has crossed paths with you. Like most people who have met you, your presence was never welcome nor enjoyed but the life-changing lessons you left behind were amazing. It is for this reason I want to say thank you for teaching me....

The true meaning of life;

That my children are my life's most rewarding blessing;

That my husband and I are true soulmates and how blessed we are to be together

That no matter what family is the biggest gift we are all given

That our achievements are own but the impact they have on others are our true legacy

How to immerse myself in each moment, giving it my full attention and care;

To be resilient in the toughest of times no matter how weak I feel

That I possess an inner strength ready to fight any challenge

Fear is a waste of precious energy and time and giving me new perspective and ability to not sweat the small stuff;<

To celebrate the smallest of wins and graciously take ownership for them because I deserve to;

To find pleasure in the simplest of beauties in life and to bask in the most glorious of them all

To re-connect with me and live my own truth

I am enough just as I am;

I have survived your ferocity and pray that others who meet you are as fortunate I In the meantime passing forward my lessons, I hope will show, that you have nothing on the human spirit and matter how hard you try that spirit will overcome you!  Sirin

Putting my learnings in words directed to that very challenge was a very empowering experience. Prior to writing this letter, I had trouble using the words 'I' and 'Cancer in the same sentence, now 10 months into remission I call my safe a Cancer Survivor and do so with great pride and gratefully. I invite your comments or even better your own letter to Cancer so that we can pay forward our learnings with others in similar circumstances.

Just wondering if anyone here has had HIPEC Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy - hot chemo in the abdominal cavity) for OC that's spread?  I'll be having cytoreduction surgery and HIPEC at the Peter Mac sometime before the end of the year, and am wondering if anyone has tips for getting through it better, and for recovery?

Take care

Lucy

1) If my cancer had not been found in what was thought to be a healthy ovary at such an early stage my outcome would not have been as positive.  I feel blessed to have had extended time with my family.

2) I no longer work due to fatigue from chemo etc but find I am busier than ever.  It might take me 3 times as long to do something but I feel great when I have managed a task.

3) Although there are some confronting discussions that have had to be had, I don't dwell on the future too much as I find worrying about the future robs me of pleasure in the present. Equally I am not stressing about things I cannot change from the past.

4) I am not perfect -far from it and every now and again I have a pyjama day but mostly I try to make sure that each day I have at least one thing that gives me a reason to I get out of bed, get dressed and face the world.  It is too easy to give into the negative path or thoughts can take us.  I also put news of cancer breakthoughs etc in prominent places to remind me that I just need to stay healthy and contain the tumours until the breakthrough in Ovarian Cancer gives me another positive option.

So that's a little about me, I hope I haven't waffled too much

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer in August, 2014. I had a radical hysterectomy and omentum removed. This was followed by 6 cycles of chemo and Avastin. I had a recurrence in May 2016 and had another round of chemo. I became allergic to carboplatin so went on to cisplatin. Treatment was successful. I've had another couple of rounds of chemo since then.

I am now currently on an oral chemo called Cycloblastin and keeping fingers crossed that it has a positive effect.

Life is still good with this nasty disease. One of my daughters got married in Feb 17 and my other two daughters are getting married, one in May and the other in June. I've got my dancing shoes ready! But I'm hating the impact this is having on my beautiful family and friends. Hard lessons to learn.