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Has your doctor been straightforward about your survival?
Hi all. I’m so glad this forum is here. I was diagnosed with papillary serous ovarian cancer, stage IIIc, three-and-a-half years ago. I just finished my third course of chemo. My doctors will not be very frank when I ask “What are my chances of long-term survival?” They say things like, “Every patient is different” “I don’t like to put a number on it” and, believe it or not, “You could be hit by a bus tomorrow!”
I’d very much like to know what other patients’ doctors have told them regarding their chances. Have they been straightforward with you? Or are they vague and uncomfortable discussing odds of survival?
Thank you.
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I have posted before about having Stage 3b ovarian cancer. It’s been 18 months since hysterectomy/debulking surgery and 1 year since I finished 6 rounds of chemotherapy. My scans from a few days ago showed 3 new nodules on the abdominal wall that are probably metastatic. I see my oncologist on Friday but have been doing some reading ahead of time. Looks like HIPEC could be a next step. Has anyone had this procedure?
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3 ReactionsI have been stage 4 for over 3-1/2 years and most likely in my last months of life. I have had good quality of life up until the past 6 weeks. I share this in the hope that this awful disease does not steal your daily joy, that days can go by where the thought of cancer never enters your mind. I have had doctors that gave me hope and some that took it away. I do what is in my control, (eating healthy, exercise, positive attitude) and leave the rest to God, trusting his plan is far better than mine! I pray my words give you rest.
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11 ReactionsThank you for your lovely response. You’re a little ahead of me in this journey but I’ll be there sooner or later. I’m trying to do exactly as you say…focus on what I can control and look for joy in the present moment. I wish you a peaceful last leg of this existence. I’ll be holding you in my thoughts ❤️.
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3 ReactionsI forgot to mention that my journey started on 12/27/06 with triple negative breast cancer and ovarian in January of 2008. There have been many many blessings and sweet memories since then!
A friend of mine drew this of my husband and me! He has been my biggest blessing!
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2 Reactions@jean1957 This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this drawing.
What a lovely drawing!! I’m so encouraged that you’ve had 17 years since your initial diagnosis!!
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1 ReactionThat’s right imo be positive and for me I trust God is in control of my health no matter what the doctors say
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2 ReactionsLove your comment thank you I needed to read that😊
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1 ReactionI don’t remember my cancer doctor telling me the life expectancy but I’ve read stuff on google when I first found out but you can’t listen to that either but they did tell me the risk is high for recurrence with the type of cancer I had and that targeted therapy works with the type of tumors I had. I’ve also heard that every case is different and every patient is different which I know is very true. But I don’t believe anyone can really say how long you have because only God knows our time and I’m thankful every day for another day that God has kept me here , no matter what a doctor may say I believe our life is in His Hands! And it’s true just because you have or had cancer doesn’t mean you’ll die from it coz people can die from other things. God bless you .
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2 ReactionsWhich targeted therapy did you take if you don’t mind me asking? I’m on Zejula but had to stop awhile back because my wbc got too low than got back on it with a lower dose of 100. I was on 200 . Thank you n