home from surgery yesterday

I went in for a possible total exenteration since my cancer has now travelled to my vaginal cuff and bladder. I'm the one who takes all the test, MRI, ctscans, ct/pet scans, upper GI, bone scans, ultrasounds, etc with the results never showing my cancer is spreading, and is only found through physical exams. When the dr went in he found that the cancer now has spread to my omentum which is a flap that covers the stomach and other organs. With this new finding he felt that I would need more chemo, so he deceided to leave in my bladder and vaginal cuff tumor and strink it with the chemo, he said he could always take it out later. He removed the diseased omentum and pulled the good part over my organs for protection. Im sore but doing ok, my main concern as always has been, what do I do to keep tract of my cancer spread if no test show it. I have already told the dr that I will be going to UCLA for a second opinion and he suggested a medical oncologist he knows there. Thank you all for being there, and there are a few very special sisters to me, who have been extremely supportive! Thank you all!

Dear Roxanne

You sound like you are in good spirits, for someone who just had serious surgery!! I am sorry your cancer has spread, but I know how it is, as my ovca recurred on my bladder, and I finished a course of chemotherapy, Doxil and Gemzar, in May of this year. It definintely shrank the tumor but it is still there. We are waiting until January for another CT scan, and see what is up at that point, but I feel really good, better than I have really, since my diagnosis in March of 2003.

As a chemo "veteran", I know from experience the effect it can have on the cancer, and there are many cases where the cancer disappears totally. My cancer is being treated as "chronic" (a word I am not crazy about), and so I know it is expected that the chemo will simply control the tumour, not shrink it right away, but you never know!

So I'll be thinking of you as you start your chemo. Let us know what it will be, there may be others who have experience with the same one. Take good care!

love, Janet J
in Aarhus, Denmark
ovca 1c
taxol, carbo 9 tx.
doxil, gemzar 6 tx.

Roxanne,

I pray the chemo will shrink those remaining tumors and all will be well. When my cancer returned, it was at the vaginal cuff and bowel but was removed with surgery and then more chemo. I can relate to what you're going through. My best wishes to you for a full recovery.

s Roxanne

Things sound like they went better than planned. It sounds like your
doc has a good plan set out for you.

Now, let's just pray that the chemo zaps any of those remaining cancer cells. Take it easy and be sure to pamper yourself. You deserve it!

Here are some of my best vibes to you:

Good to hear that you are doing okay after your major surgery.

It sounds like you are in good hands, so much so.. that your doctors is open and even giving you a name another good doctor to get a second opinion with.

Take care.. and know you are in my prayers.
xo Donna

Roxanne,
I am so sorry that you are going through all of this. It must be so frightening. But it sounds like your doctor has a good plan. Shrink it and kill it! You are on the right track with a second opinion. Several women here have contacted M.D. Anderson for second, or third, opinions.

I don't know what to advise you about the tests not revealing your cancer. I don't know why it happens. But it totally stinks that you can't get answers from all the tests that you have had. I asked my gyn/onc about follow up scans and he said they weren't helpful. Maybe scans aren't good at picking up cervical cancers? That's totally a guess on my part. A year or more ago I saw a study of women who had cervical cancer recurrences. None were found through pap smears or scans. All were found either because the woman had symptoms OR the doctor found it during his exam. Since pap smears didn't work for me, I have little faith in anything except my doctor's exams.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

Hugs and comfort,
Janie

(((Roxanne)))

Glad to see you are home! Remember to take it easy and act like a brand-new -- you've just had a big surgery and need time to recover.

I'm glad to hear you are headed off for a second opinion. I hope they come up with the perfect plan of attack to rid you of this beast forever!

Hi Roxanne,
Sounds like you had quite a lot done during this recent surgery so please take it easy and let you body heal. Your doctor seems very much on top of things and I too like that he offered a name of a collegue for you to see for a second opinon. It is good he can detect problems even thought the tests apparenlty are not helping him.
May any chemo you have shrink, if not eliminate, any tumors and served to wipe out any possible stray cancer cells.
Please keep us posted when you feel up to it. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
s, peggiesue