My Experience with Stage 1c1 Ovarian Cancer and First Chemo Cycle

Hi!! Welcome to the group. I had tingly fingers and toes too, fatigue and sharp shooting pains in abdomen day 3-6. I would feel pretty good after that. I’m stage 3c. If you don’t mind me asking, what were your symptoms at stage 1c? I wish I would have listened to my body a lot sooner. Good luck and prayers for you through this journey. the group

Hi and welcome this is a very good group to be in. Everyone is so nice and comforting. I was diagnosed with stage 3c pertineol cancer(ovarian) in March, have had 4 rounds of chemo the same ones u had.i have managed ok with the side effects nausea (good meds helped promethazine),neuropathy in my feet. Hair loss about 17days after the 1st round. Feel really tired all the time. So now im scheduled for surgery next week aug.6th to do a hysterectomy and clearing of any cancer thats left.Its been a journey im high risk for surgery due to having copd. But I think its worth the risk just to have it gone and not have to endure lots more chemo.The best thing so far is ive lost over 50lbs that I needed to lose and hoping for another 40 or so. But.just stay strong and positive and rest as much as you can. GOD bless you.

Hi, Kathy and Bonnie. Thank you so much for welcoming me to this wonderful group. Happy to answer your questions, Kathy. I would like to share my experience to provide awareness for other women. ❤️ First, thank you for sharing about the sharp shooting pains in abdomen. I’ve been having those lately and thought it was because my extensive surgery from 6/4. Second, my symptoms at stage 1C were overlapping with having a period. Let me back track for a bit. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and fibroids. The size of the endometriosis was medium, and my OBGYN then gave me a hormone pill to manage the heavy bleeding and shrink the size of my endometriosis and fibroids. My CA-125 at that time was already high (61). I took this pill for two years (with no symptoms) until early this year that I decided to stop taking it because I gained so much weight. Then the following symptoms came along: feeling full all the time, nausea and vomit, heavy bleeding, severe abdomen pain, headaches, fatigue, increased urination, back pain, gain weight, and swollen feet. In the beginning of May this year, I saw my primary care because of a very sharp pain in my back (right side) and I had nausea and vomited for a few days. I did a comprehensive bloodwork, including my CA-125. Bloodwork was normal, except for my CA-125 (119)! That’s when I had to see my new OBGYN. When she did my pelvic exam, she felt something hard on the left side of my stomach and I had a black discharge from my vagina. She immediately sent me to the MRI, and that’s when they found out that I had an enlarged pelvic mass concerning ovarian cancer that was already overtaking the left ovary. My uterus was already above the belly button and my stomach was getting bigger (looked like I was 24 weeks pregnant, according to my OBGYN). After the MRI result, I saw my surgeon (Gynecologist Oncology) and the surgery was scheduled for 6/4 (and the surgery took about 6.5 hours). Blessed my doctors because they acted super quickly. 🙏 A few days before the surgery, I had to do colonoscopy because I had blood in my stool! Also, my CA-125 was then 135!!!

Bonnie, I’ll keep you in my prayers for your upcoming surgery! That’s so great that you lost over 50 lbs. After my surgery, I lost 10 lbs, and I was super grateful for that! You can do this!!! We’re here if you need us. Hugs to you and Kathy!!

I forgot to add my ca125 was 1232 upon my diagnosis in March but in May after 3 rounds of chemo it had dropped to 22. So chemo has definitely helped.

Thanks for sharing your CA-125, Bonnie! Wow, I thought mine was worse. A few days before chemo, my CA-125 was 284, and I almost fell off my chair! But my chemo doctor assured me that the number will go down after chemo. So am looking forward to see the lower number!

Selviana, it seems you had a lot more symptoms than I did and I’m stage 3c. You are fortunate it was found so early. I had. Stabbing pains in pelvis and lots of bloating and gas. I also had acid reflux, which I did not think it would have been OC. The stabbing pains you had, are probably from the chemo. After each treatment day 3-6 or 7 I was having lots of shooting pains in my stomach (it’s chemo attacking the tumors) never felt very good on those days. I hope the rest of your treatments go well. Bonnie, good luck with your surgery, I’m the week after you. 🙏🙏

Thanks so much for sharing your symptoms, Kathy! Best of luck with your surgeries, Bonnie and Kathy! I will keep you both in my prayers! Hope your hospital stay is shorter than mine (4 days because I had blood transfusion on the third day).

Thank you Selviana!! They told me 2-3 days. We’ll see. How was your Recovery Selviana? 6-8 Weeks?

My recovery was for 6-8 weeks (with lifting restrictions). I was able to work from home on the third week after my surgery. A month after the surgery, I went to work in-person (with doctor’s clearance). Overall, my recovery went well. Sending you positive vibes for 2-3 days (hospital stays)!

I had forgot all about those sharp pains in my stomach after my chemo I remember telling my family it had to be the chemo killing those cancer cells and they were fighting back. . I still have no energy so im hopeful after this surgery and last few rounds of chemo I can get back to normal. Kathy I pray your surgery goes well keep us all updated. Ill try and do the same next week since my surgery is in 2days,kinda nervous but so ready.love you guys

You got this, Bonnie!!! You’re on my prayers! Hugs!!🤗

Hi Bonnie, I won’t soon forget those stabbing pains, however, the 4th Chemo I barely had any. Did the Dr. tell you how long after surgery you would have chemo again? I will be praying for you!! I’m sure I’m going to be a bit nervous too, but we definitely need to have it. It’s almost over for us. Can’t wait. Best of luck!! Xoxo 😘 let us know how you do. I’m sure it’ll go great

Oh, Bonnie, I just read that you’ve lost 50 lbs. Wow! Was that because you felt bad. I’ve actually gained 5 lbs. the steroid I would take for 3 days after treatment made me ravenous

O Kathy i stayed just slightly nauseous every day not enough to throw up but enough I didn't feel like eating .but I was at 250 lbs so I really needed to lose some. I lost 14lbs the 1st week after the biopsy and paresentisis,"remove the fluid" i would like to lose about 50 more. But dont think thats gonna happen ive already gained 3 lbs back since may 27 my 4th round of chemo. I will talk to you ladies in a few days. Thanks for being there to listen to my thoughts and ramblings. And good luck with your surgery in the next few days. We got this.love too all yall.

O and Kathy he has told me yet when I'll get back to chemo but I'll try to remember to ask him tomorrow. I was told today my surgery should only take 1 ,1/2 hours. Then I'll be in icu .due to my copd.

1.5 hours isn’t bad at all. Best of luck, Bonnie. 🙏💪🏻

Hey Guys I made it thru i t was extubated right after completing the surgery with no problems. Dr says he got out everything and also found a mass on my colon that he removed and sent off to pathology for testing..so I did get up to go to the bathroom last nite after surgery ouch that burnt but today is bettwr.i have 3 tiny incision from cameras and tools it was done laproscopicly thru the vagina. dr says ill start chemo w 2 rounds in about 4 weeks then maintaince for a shirt period.

Yayyyy!!! Thank you for letting us know. Super glad you made it thru without problems!! Praying that the mass in your colon is not cancerous! 🙏 I’m also so glad that the surgery was done laparoscopically. (I wasn’t able to get that type of surgery because my mass was so big. 😩 So I had a long incision started from above my belly all the way down to my pelvic area.) And, so glad to hear that today is better when you go to the bathroom! Wishing you a very speedy recovery. Get tons of rest!! Hugs!

I’m so happy that you made it through safely. You are so lucky that you had a laproscopic surgery. I’m getting cut open. Boo!! You’re almost done!! Yay!! I hope your recovery goes well and I’ll pray your colon tumor is benign. Good luck and rest as much as you can xoxo

Bonnie, How are you feeling a week out? How are you doing Selviana? Are you done with treatment?

Hi Kathy, thanks for checking in. I’m okay. I lost all my hair last Sunday. It was very tough and I cried! I’m going to my chemo 2 tomorrow (8/14). Your surgery is coming up, right?

I’m sorry!! That is a tough day. I’m sure you are still beautiful. I’m checking into surgery right now. I’ll let you know how it goes 🙏🙏

Hi guys!! Had my surgery yesterday. In hospital. Had a rough night last night because my BP was really low, so they were in my room every 1/2 hour to give me fluids and other things to get it back up. Finally around 6 it was up. Took my catheter out this morning and I peed. Yay. OT took me walking. Boy, it hurts to get up. Dr.’s also took out a foot of my colon. Clear diet yesterday, and anything I want to eat today. Not bad. Hope you girls are doing ok.

O Kathy ive been thinking about you so glad to hear from you. Woohoo glad everything went fairly well.just hang in there the soreness will wear off in about 6 days. Just keep walking and moving. Yea for real food those clear diets sux but hospital food ain't much better.lol. im praising God and expecting a full recovery for us both.