Stage 3 c - life expectancy past the 50% chance of 5 years?

• By norwellmary
• Reply 2347495
• July 21, 2011 at 1:18 pm
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HI,

DIAGNOSED STAGE 3C, 11/25/2003. EIGHT CYCLES OF CARBOPLATN/TAXOL. THAT'S IT. COMING UP ON 8 YEARS. WILL BE 57 JUST DAYS BEFORE THAT ANNIVERSARY. I CAN REMEMBER HOPING TO LIVE 10 YEARS. I WANT MANY MORE THAN THAT. DON'T LISTEN TO THE STATS. ENJOY. FIND THAT GUY AND HAVE A BALL.

MARY

• By Ruthy55vob
• Reply 2347548
• July 21, 2011 at 1:42 pm
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I agree with Mary, I was diagnosed stage 3c July 08. I had 18 rounds of IV and IP Cisplatin, and Taxol, and my CA125 is at "9"!!! I am going to be three years out of chemo in December. I am enjoying everyday as it comes. I feel great! In my opinion,
Life is worth living. I am sorry that you lost your marriage, your home and your health the same year, that is hard, but if you can meet someone who will make you happy, go for it.!!! You are feeling well, that is wonderful..take advantage of that, and Live!!!

Ruth

• By lifeisgrand
• Reply 2347557
• July 21, 2011 at 1:45 pm
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I wouldn't wait on cancer to live my life. There are no guarantees, cancer or not. Get out there and enjoy yourself. You are beautiful and deserve the best in life. No one ever said life would be a rose garden or go on indefinately. Yes, we all want to die peacefully in our sleep of old age. You only know when you get there if you've made it!

• By brewcitybabe
• Reply 2347596
• July 21, 2011 at 2:04 pm
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Hi, there and welcome!!! I was diagnosed as a stage IIIC in August of 2005 so I will be marking 6 years "post-cancer" next month so YES, count me in as one of the "lots"... however, I have not networked with too many other ladies until just recently myself so I cannot verify anyone else's stats. I am so sorry to hear about your marriage, etc. I have been single all my life but also found the idea of trying to pursue a relationship with anyone else going forward to be a struggle. How to you talk to a potential mate about it??? Just seems like too much hassle. And I think because most men are used to being the "fixers" and because they can't "fix" you they tend not to stick around... but then again, I'm sure there are others who will tell you differently. Just my two cents...

• By vikingwoman
• Reply 2347613
• July 21, 2011 at 2:11 pm
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Great advice, I also had the Cisplatin and Taxol for 18 weeks. Intravenously and in my abdominal port.

Believe me, I know life doesn't come with or in a rose garden... it is what you make it. I am glad to hear the positive stories. I was feeling very alone, confused and disconnected. I wondered about how people get on with things. My chemo doctor told me that my life now would be more difficult in some ways than the chemo. I didn't understand what she meant or believed her. I am better most everyday and I also understand now. It's the crazy dance. Live in the moment and make immediate future plans. It's just me in my dog, I took so many infertility drugs, no living babies had. I did not have the BRACA 1 or BRACA 2 mutated gene, although ovarian cancer runs in my family. My mom and sister both have the mutated gene. I believe it was the Clomid, although there are different opinions on this topic... this one is just mine.

Thank you for responding to me.

I am so happy to have hair!

• By vikingwoman
• Reply 2347640
• July 21, 2011 at 2:24 pm
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Brewcitybabe,
I know what you mean about men. I either get the "oh, you'll be fine, you look great" or that dreaded loss of color in their faces or my favorite, they ask "what's ovarian cancer?" and follow it with "that is curable"... can they actually hear themselves? I should tape them with my iphone and make a crazy audio loop and play it for my friends!

I am trying to figure out this crazy dance. I am so happy to hear about your 6 years! Did your oncologist give you the 50% chance of 5 years speech too?

Still out there looking, got another date tonight. I cannot give up.

• By xanthic
• Reply 2347685
• July 21, 2011 at 2:43 pm
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Hi. This is xanthic's husband. All I can say is that, in April, 2010, when my wife was diagnosed, I told her we would both go through whatever was required together. As many of you know, her chemo was VERY difficult, with lots of different complications. That ended a bit over 8 months ago and she's in "clinical" (if not complete) remission. My thought is that guys, or husbands, who'd cut and run are simply callow and shallow people. After all, it's not as if she asked to get sick. Yes, it's been very hard and difficult but she's my soulmate. It would NEVER occur to me to leave her.Then again, being the type of person she is, SHE has tried to make it a bit easier for ME. We've all been told about the 50% to 5 year survival rate although her surgeon, at MSKCC, told me that their stats were "somewhat" higher. What makes no sense at all is that the generally stated 5 yr.-50% stat seemingly does not take into account the skill and experience of the surgeon or even the fact that some (many) surgeries are done by general surgeons or ob/gyn doctors. Also, no account is given to the age and underlying, excellent or terrible, health of the woman. It really wouldn't be hard to sample out for those differences but that's simply not done. Instead, everyone is lumped together in that general stat. All of you this Board have repeatedly said that nobody is a statistic. Quite true. My thought is that, in maybe 3-5 years, a vaccine and also targeted chemo therapy, will be the standard of care. The obvious thing is to do everything possible to hang on until then. We ALL worry. If in remission, we worry about a recurrance and, if not in remission, we worry about getting into it or,at least, having the monster remain stable.

• By Onthemend
• Reply 2347730
• July 21, 2011 at 3:00 pm
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I am coming up on 3 years since diagnosis. I think it is natural to think about what those stats mean but as we have gone over on numerous other threads. The stats are old (usually 10 years), they never take into new breakthroughs (which are numerous) and multiple factors mitigate where you will fall in the curve. This is a huge blow no doubt, but just 3 years ago the stats were around 30%. Have hope and reach out as much as possible but realize we can NOT expect our results will be the same as anyone else's.

Sending strength and comfort,
c

• By JoyintheJourney
• Reply 2347834
• July 21, 2011 at 3:41 pm
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Vikingwoman, I am so sorry for what you've been through!! I can only imagine having all those losses hit you at once. You must be very strong. And your hair looks great!!! :-)

I can't address the remission thing yet, but I wanted to let you know this is a wonderful group--so helpful and supportive!!!

I agree with Xanthic's husband, if a guy doesn't stick around because of the OC, you're better off without him!

In the meantime, enjoy life!!

Diann

• By lorie7
• Reply 2347931
• July 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm
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Hi You look awesome with your new hair! I am also just getting mine back and am so happy to have hair again! I just marked my 1 year cancerversary (stage 3, grade 3) and am looking forward to many more. Hope you find someone wonderful and even if you don't enjoy your life -- don't wait for anyone!

• By vikingwoman
• Reply 2348004
• July 21, 2011 at 4:51 pm
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Thank you for all your kind words. I didn't want people to think my husband left because of OC, he left because I was sickly, in bed for days (no longer the Viking woman that he so proudly called me) and all drugged up on painkillers for my wrong diagnosis... IBS. He thought I had become a druggie. Lol --- I guess it never occurred to him or anyone that I wasn't just saying, "I feel like I'm dying", I actually was dying. Luckily for me I started to spot and thought, "oh thank God, I'm finally pregnant!" puffy belly and all. Went in... Lol. Imagine my surprise.

• By youngmom
• Reply 2348111
• July 21, 2011 at 5:44 pm
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I was diagnosed stageIIIC in 2007, had a recurrence in 2010. My Ca-125 is 5, I am in complete remission, and plan on staying there. Yes, I'm only 4 years out, but I plan on being here for many, many, more years. I try to live my life like I will be around to live it. I never quit my job, didn't take a leave of absence, still socking away a lot of money in my 401K, have reservations for next year's vacation, and may even buy a shore house. Live your life!

• By Carex
• Reply 2348176
• July 21, 2011 at 6:15 pm
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3C in March 06. 2B breast cancer in April 08. Still here. On treatment again, but still here.

• By vikingwoman
• Reply 2348202
• July 21, 2011 at 6:28 pm
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Right on! So happy to hear all the "still here" news!

• By LilySue
• Reply 2348218
• July 21, 2011 at 6:32 pm
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There are a lot of us who are surviving and thriving well beyond that five-year mark. I just hit 14 years stage IIIC (one recurrence 6 years ago) and am still NED. Remember for there to be survival statistics, there have to be survivors. Just set your mind that you are one and live your life. None of us on this earth know when we will die, just that we will some day. Wouldn't it be a waste if you missed a great experience, a wonderful lifemate or some other amazing experiences because you were waiting for the other shoe to drop and then it never did? God gives you this day and none of us are promised any more than that. Sure be honest with someone you neet about the disease, but don't close a door before you walk through it. (I am so full of platitudes today :-)

• By Helenstandsforhope
• Reply 2348231
• July 21, 2011 at 6:40 pm
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I am a 24 year survivor of stage IIIc ovarian cancer. I was diagnosed when I was 41 in 1987 and I have needed no chemo for over 17 years. Someone told my husband that I had one chance in six of living two years. A doctor (not mine) told my husband to be prepared to raise our children alone. They were 9 and 14 when I was diagnosed and now they are 33 and 39.
If I could do it, you can too.
Helen

• By rozetta
• Reply 2349084
• July 22, 2011 at 4:24 am
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Love all the stories of HOPE. The statistics seem to be rising. Lately I've been reading them to be in the 40's rather than the 30's
and has stated previously they don't take into account the surgery, treatment, or physical health of the woman.

• By sibley
• Reply 2349458
• July 22, 2011 at 9:15 am
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I too was diagnosed 3c in February this year, i have just had my last Chemo last week, at the moment i feel quite unwell which automaticaly makes you feel very down but after reading the replies of survivors it certainly changes how you think, thankyou so much. I too am 52 vikingwoman, we are too young to give up. Good luck to you.

• By Marie64
• Reply 2349492
• July 22, 2011 at 9:28 am
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Go for it. Enjoy life again. Why shouldn't you? God bless and I will pray things go great for you. I am also Stage 3 C and it is two years for me. I have been off chemo for six months and so far all is well. God Bless and go enjoy yourself.

• By KateHz
• Reply 2349551
• July 22, 2011 at 9:49 am
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I think if you hit remission on Taxol/Carboplatin successfully and are not platinum resistant, you have a very good chance of long- term survival. Even with recurrence, you can successfully repeat those drugs for another long term remission. Good luck.