More treatment...

   
Surgery went well.  Really well!  There were no other random bits of cancer and they were able to completely remove the tumor with clear margins.  I spent one night and was discharged midday, with 4 small incisions on my belly.  This was a couple of weeks ago already.  Recovery was quick, and I am already feeling back to my old self, which is why I was more floored by the news delivered at yesterday's visit with the oncologist- I still need to do chemo...  I'll be doing 6 rounds of carboplatin and doxil once a month for 6 months.  Followed by a maintenance therapy of daily oral PARP inhibitors to prevent the cancer cells from repairing the damage done by the chemo.

                                                  ( ↑ Carboplatin )

Update on the update

Surgery has been moved one day forward, to Wed. November 1, which is just fine by me.

Unfortunately, Updates

Things have been quiet for a few years, but now I'm dealing once again with this ovarian cancer.  I don't see it as a life sentence, rather a chronic disease which I'll probably have to deal with the rest of my life.  Going many years in between episodes has been great, and it's what I'm hoping for in my future. 




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The latest started back in July.  I was feeling something not quite right in my lower abdomen so got a ca125 blood test which came back 10.  Under 35 is "normal", but my usual is 5,6,7.  We redid it in August and again it was 10.  I was still feeling some pressure and cramping, so a CT scan was ordered and a very small mass was found in my Morison's Pouch, the space between my liver and right kidney.  Next, a biopsy which confirmed ovarian cancer, and a recommendation by my oncologist to have this thing removed.

This Monday I met with a surgeon.  The plan is to start with a diagnostic laparoscopy using a video camera to see if there are other bits of cancer that didn't show up in the scan.  If there is, they stop the procedure and I'll talk to my oncologist about treatment options.  If there isn't, he will remove the mass.  75% chance this can be done laparoscopically, otherwise it might end up being an open surgery.  Date is set for Thursday Nov. 2nd.