My journey started in 2010 with Stage 3C ovarian cancer. I had a radical hysterectomy etc. The cancer became metastatic in 2014. I’ve had chemotherapy both those years as well as 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024/5. The cancer became resistant to taxol in 2021, to the point that it increased in size while I was on chemotherapy. The doctor suggested surgery, however the doctor couldn’t remove a cancer growing in a lymph node on my pancreas. It was growing through the wall of my duodenum as well. After much discussion, and a constriction in the small intestine, I had a Whipples procedure which basically rearranges your digestive system and removes most of the pancreas.
I have been on Caelyx/carboplatin since 2022. Every time 6 cycles have dealt with the cancer. However, when the cancer returned in August 2024, after 6 cycles it still persisted. I have had 9 cycles this time, the last one was April 2025. I have a PET CT scan today to see if I am clear, or if I keep going with the chemotherapy. I find out the results next week.
My ca125 levels have not indicated anything for many years. I presume that my body registers cancer cells as “normal” because it has returned so often. I have had 51 cycles of chemotherapy in total. I tell people I’m doing better than the Australian cricket team, I’ve got a half century and I’m not out! (I’m from Sydney, Australia.) I’ve had about 35 CT scans and 13 PET scans so far. It’s the only way to tell if I still have cancer. Despite all this, I look healthy. My doctors are always amazed, my oncologist calls me his Champion!