In remission only 4 mos

• By FavoriteAunt
• Posted October 27, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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Don't get depressed and keep your chin up. My doctor always says it depends on how your react to the chemo. I know they say the longer the remission, the better reaction you get from future treatments, but you never know.

I had a 10 month remission from my first recurrence and now It will be a year in Nov. that I'm being treated for my second recurrence. I was Doxil for 8 months but it stopped worked after about 6 months. Then I was on Topotecan for 2 months, but it didn't work at all for me. I know it has worked for some others on this site. It's not too bad - the worst thing was the schedule I was on - I had to go every week for 3 weeks in a row and then got 1 week off. Because of that, I got a port put in because my veins were shot. I didn't lose my hair and nothing major to deal with. My doctor said I could get diahhrea and the ladies on the site said many had constipation - I got neither, so you never know.

There is no reason to think you won't be here for Christimas. You start your new treatment and if it's not right, they will give you something else. Keep the faith and stay positive and be a fighter. You can do it!

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• By zircons
• Posted October 27, 2009 at 2:54 pm
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You have to be positive. I have my sights on different occasions that I want to be here for. My grandson will graduate high school in five years and I intend to be here for it. Am just finishing chemo for my first recurrence. Was in remission for three years. Just keep going and planning.

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• By Jennali
• Posted October 27, 2009 at 4:05 pm
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Don't you even think you aren't going to be here for Christmas! You certainly will, and hopefully for many more.

Topotecan works for some women, not for others. Unfortunately the only way to know is to try it. I took 4 cycles, but it didn't work for me. My worst side effects were fatigue and constipation. But it could be your silver bullet.

My recurrence is also in my lymph nodes. We are still trying to find the drug that will either keep my disease stable or put me back into remission. But I've been plugging away at this damned recurrence for almost a year. And I intend to keep doing that, one day at a time.

Meanwhile, start making those Christmas lists and enjoy the time with your children and grandchildren. You can have a great Christmas! You really can.

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• By lifeisgrand
• Posted October 27, 2009 at 6:22 pm
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I'm sorry to hear you have a recurrence so soon. Please don't give up. The next drug may be the one that works. Has your doctor recommended looking into any clinical trials?

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• By Dot
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 5:38 pm
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Try to think more positively! I know - it's hard to do sometimes. I started chemo in July of 2006. In December, I had no evidence of disease. In April of 2007, I officially had my first recurrence. And I am still here! I am still living a very blessed life and mostly do what I want to without OvCa getting in my way. As someone else suggested, start planning for Christmas, and do with great delight. If possible, plan something special that you might not ordinarly do.

Blessings!

Joan

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• By Shearaw
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:30 pm
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You WILL be here this Christmas, and certainly the next! It seems that a great many of us have recurrence in lymph nodes. And, as Jenn wrote in a different post, the scans today pick up the recurrences much better than they did years ago!. Your medical team will keep trying the many arrows in their quiver while they stabilize and turn back your disease. In addition to traditional chemos, there are also clinical trials that combine new therapies with standard treatments. You have a lotta living still to do!

Please look forward to all of your upcoming events.

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• By pegart
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 8:08 pm
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enjoy this christmas and many more

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• By quacker
• Posted October 28, 2009 at 11:41 pm
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I had a recurrence after 4 months, did not respond to topotecan but did very well with Gemzar and carboplatin. There are so many other agents that I am sure at least one of them will work for you. The main thing is to plan for Christmas because you will still be here. If you have not changed your diet, do it now. Cut out all sugar, white carbs, red meat, most wheat and dairy. Eat lots of veggies, and juice them too. Get a good book like "Anti-Cancer" or "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" and follow the advice. You will beat the odds.

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