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It is hard to fathom...I was diagnosed October 2000 and am 6 months shy of being clear of ovarian cancer for almost 9 years....after being diagnosed with stage 3c...and being brca1+...and having a huge family hx of deaths from ovca...I am grateful...I am shocked...I am wanting to do more...I honor each and every one of you...why was I spared??? all I can do is pay each day...do what I can to help another woman...
hugs
K
hi K
I think Spunky is an excellent name for you. Thank you for reminding us that even 3c can be beaten.
I suggest the best thing you can do is to spread the word about symptoms now that there is a list of agreed symptoms. I know lots of ppl don't have any symptoms which are noticeable . Mine were very minor until the last minute but if I had been aware there were a few earlier ones I might have spotted.
Put up posters in OVACA awareness month. I put them up at my gym and there was lots of talking about gynae matters.
janP
Spunky, thank you for posting. Your story gives so many of us hope. Have you done anything differently ...diet, exercise, supplements, that you think may have contributed to your long period in remission?
It's people like you that give the rest of us hope. I am so happy for you. You are an inspiration to all of us.
You were spared because that is what you life is meant to be. I warmly congratulate you on this special time. I'm IIIC and had a remission of over 6 years after my initial surgery and I asked myself the same question. Ours is not to question but to accept and give thanks.
Helping and encouraging others is a way to keep you strong and to show your gratefulness. You are an inspiration, especially to the newly diagnosed, so do what you can to spread the word.
I hope you are blessed with a life of remission and can feel good about what you have done to help. Sincere congratulations.
Oh it is SO good to hear a story like yours! It gives hope and inspiration to those of us still in the trenches. I hope things continue to go well for you and that you live a life fill of continued blessings.
I am extremely happy to hear of an actual long term survival. I was DX in 2004 with OC, had a recurrence in 2007, a second surgery could not get all of the cancer, and just found out a couple of days ago that the OC cells have spread into my liver and it has grown to about the size of a lemon. In spite all that, my life has been good, and whatever I have left in this world is also going to be good! I don't know why some of us are spared, and some not, except that it's a part of the big plan! :) I am grateful for family, and really have learned not to judge others based simply on the outside appearance. There's no way we can know what is going on in the life of another simply by looking at the outside. Spunky, get the word out about OC! It really is a silent killer and sooooo many women don't know enough about it. Ironically, I am the only woman in my family to ever have OC. I did everything that is considered a "preventative" (tubal, had children, etc) so no one can say for sure that OC won't affect them. Continued great health and many blessings! :)
Hello Spunky,
I was so impressed with your blog after reading of your 9 years in remission. I think everyone would appreciate it if you would follow up your original blog with the treatment (s) that you have had, and any other special things you may have taken, or done to help you odds to achieve this. All of us who have had multiple reoccurances and have been on many different chemo treatments may gain some knowledge by you doing this. Just a thought. Congrats from energygirl!
Hi Spunky -
You know, when I was first diag. 10 years ago with Stage IIIC I looked everywhere to find Stage III's who had survived more then 5 years (which at the time I was given 20% chance of making it 5 years).........I found so many Stage I and II who were out there and of course I was glad they were but I NEEDED hope from other Stage III's. So that is what you are doing right now, someone just found out they have Stage III and are home recuperating and searching for hope and you have just given them that! That is HUGE in my book.
I had not had what you have had, but I have had periods of remissions and I just think someone out there is working on something better for us.....well off to #5 of Gemzar tomorrow. The new FDA patch for nausea that I had such high hopes for only seemed to work for me for two chemo sessions....then back to throwing up as soon as I'm in the treatment room until they knock me out.......I don't really understand why I am not thinner!
I am so thrilled to hear of someone who has been a survivor for 9 years! It gives me hope, That little voice in the back of your mind always says why am I so lucky? Well you are here to inspire the rest! Keep up the good work, take excellent care of yourself and keep getting the word out! We need to make sure there are more of you!
Yours is a wonderful story and I am so glad you shared it! I am also stage 3c and would love to be on this site in 9 years to share the same news! HOPE is a precious gift and you've shared that with many of us today.
Wishing you continued health!
Kristin
Spunky, thank you for sharing your story. It is the story that we all look for when we login on this site. I am also BRCA1 positive with history of cancer in my family. I was happy to be able to save my identical twin sister (who had preventive surgery last December) and her 24 years old daugther, all BRCA1 positive.
Please keep us updated on how you are doing. Best wishes to you!
I am so happy for you.. I am 14yrs but have had
two recurrences. once 5 yrs and another
last august. But I am still grateful to be here
If I have to do this for the rest of my life then
so be it.
I will not give up. I put my trust in God and will
accept what ever his plan is for me.
Blessings.
Anita
I, too, am so glad to hear your wonderful story and hope you will share with all of us what you've been doing in the hopes it will help the rest of us...also, if others like favoriteaunt, twp, Anita and anyone else who is having success fighting this disease would share what they think has helped them, we would all be so appreciative.
We don't know really what is going to help us...we just do what we think may help...like I follow the Budwig protocol daily...I drink mangosteen juice first thing in the mornings, I juice daily, take supplements, and use near infrared treatments, I've cut out sugar and eat alot of organic fruits & vegs...all in the hopes it will help me survive longer :)
So, I for one, as well as others would LOVE to hear from you!
Blessings and hugs!!
Hi again -
I would love to say I am the perfect poster person for doing all the right things....but I have to tell the truth, I'm sitting at work with a small bag of chips.
Over the years I have done many different things - after my first 9 treatments with taxol/carbo 10 years ago, I went to a naturalpath and had him rebuild my body with supplements and vitamins and I worked out.......that all lasted for about 2 years and I fell off the bandwagon. I do pretty much only eat organics - milk, fruit, veggies (my husband has a big garden) and try to limit my meat consumption. I don't smoke, have a glass of wine here and there but don't drink heavy and I don't use any chemicials in my house or on my property. My weaknesses are diet coke (which I have really cut back on, and now only have full strengh soda if at all) and chocolate (try to do dark)....also I don't drink coffee.
There is a good list of fruits, veggies and also fish that have the most chemical content....think you could google it. Good to have with you when you shop.
My best survival tool has been my family (husband of 22 years), two daughters who when I feel like I can't do this anymore are my reminder why I can do it, no choice! And I am very stubborn, and I have also learned to listen to my gut - sometimes I have said "no" to my doctor and we respect each other. I kid him sometimes that I will see him retire. Also goals are huge for me.......right now my next goal is to see my 14 year old graduate from high school. Wish I had the magic combination that has kept me here so I could tell everyone and they would do it and they would be here in ten years, boy I wish it worked that way.
Spunky and TWP,
You'll never know how much you've helped me with your postings!
Thank you.
Blessings.
Thank you for posting...it is so encouraging to hear stories like yours...thanks for sharing.
Teresa
twp,
Thanks for writing back! It's good to hear what you've been doing...how you've been eating...the dark chocolate sounds good (my favorite) altho I haven't had any for quite awhile....yet :) .....no chemicals at all? I haven't gone that route completely yet, either....sounds like you have a good plan, tho ....
I think I'm on the right track from your post...thanks!
It helps to know others are trying to do something themselves to try to help to fight this disease and sharing your thoughts really helps the rest of us!
Blessings and hugs!!!
Hi Spunky,
I'm so happy for you! Keep fighting. It gives me hope I didn't think I'd be here today.Did you do anything different like diet or anything? Jean
Thanks for your post!!
I wonder, do you "forget" for periods of time that you have been thru this or is it always there in the back of your mind?
I finished my carbo/taxol and am waiting for scans and it is on my mind more now than three months ago and I wonder if not only will I get a remission but if I will get "peace" in my mind for a time.
Meanwhile you celebrate and I am so happy for your good fortune!!
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