Ovarian cancer - 15 year old teenager

[Greenglass]

Dd's best friend in the whole world being treated for ovarian cancer. Losing her hair, feeling she is not feminine anymore. Grown ups have such different priorities - we are just happy to keep her, whatever the cost to hair, fertility etc. but her worries are so different I can only guess at the right things to say. Words don't exist to say how we feel. Can anyone help? Beautiful, kind, funny girl. I want to cry with her at the loss of her hair.

[jampots]

OMG really? How on earth was that diagnosed? Poor lamb

[nogoeswithbellson]

Oh God, I don't have any advice I just wanted to say sorry and give my best wishes to your daughter and her friend. How terribly unfair . I remember reading a while back in the newspaper that a charity had been set up for teenagers with cancer as they are often an overlooked group that have different priorities and concerns than those of children or adults. I can't remember the name of the organisation but I will try and google it for you hopefully someone will come along with some more constructive advice.

[nogoeswithbellson]

A couple of websites I have found; www.click4tic.org and www.plwc.org/teenagers (an american site).

[SaggarClaus]

Greengalss - - No advice but have a look at the Teenage Cancer Trust

[SisterOfSoapbox]

Just a suggestion that might help with the hair loss is hats with hair , my friend used these and everyone thought they were really great!

HTH

[LizP]

Another suggestion for the hair loss mynewhair

[winnie]

greenglass, how terribly traumatic. I am afraid I have very little advice but didn't want to ignore this post.

Please look out for your own dd at this worrying time. Teenagers are very good at putting on a brave face when in fact they may be unravelling inside.

[Munz]

jesus, GG, my aunty had OV cancer and it was so awful. she got by the hair loss by wearing ahts and a wig, it was very well done - althou her hair did grow back, and it grew back thicker and curley or all things (was dead thin and straight before)

have they given any sort of prognosis at all? my aunty was told she had 2 weeks - 7 years later it was a blockage in her bowls which killed her not the cancer.

as winnie says thou watch your DD as well. it's a horrible horrible thing to watch this cancer it really is.

[buktus]

my cousin had a double mastectomy at 18 no one thought she would pull through she is now 28 with a baby boy that is a miracle as she was told she would never have children and is completely cancer free, she had some great wigs i will have to get the comapny name when i speak to her, she now raises a fortune for breast cancer she has jumped out of an aeroplane three times so far this year shes an amazingly brave woman

[winnie]

I've been thinking about this thread and what my Mum was most upset about when receiving treatment was the fact that her eyelashes fell out. Her beautiful long eyelashes really were part of her identity and the loss of them impacted on her very deeply. I hope it doesn't sound flippant but false eyelashes may be a thought too.

[Greenglass]

thanks everyone, some great websites especially the ones written by teenagers. I think false eyelashes are a good idea, I'll have a look for some. I'm sorry I can't post any more. Writing it down has made it feel worse, I can't pretend it's happening to other people now. Appreciate your support so much, have taken all your suggestions on board. Hope you understand why I can't post again on this.

[winnie]

Greenglass, take care {{{}}} & please come back if you need to at any time. This is such a huge thing to get your head around. I hope you have someone in RL you can talk to.

[danceswithreindeer]

Greenglass - your dd and her friend are lucky to have you in their lives. Good luck to you all in the journey ahead.

[Munz]

of course greenie - I have trouble now after nearly 4 years.

this cancer is awful to watch it really is (sorry to be brutal) the girl will look real bad after chemo (again sorry to be brutal) but I know my aunty refused to let it beat her down, everytime she went for treatment she'd come back worse but within a few days would fight back, she did have a long fight and at one point was v nearly in a state of remission (the cancer was there just not growing) this lasted for a good year. my point it, it will be hard, but to keep fighting, it's not fair that any one should have cancer but esp a young girl with this type. try to keep all your spirits up - my aunty used to say 'I ain't gone yet so what you lot moaping about for??' (she had such a way with words! lol.

I don't mind if you want to cat me or your DD does, as I was 14 (just) when she was diagnoised and 21 when she died.

[maisym]

greenglass lots of support to you xxx - always know mumsnet is here xxx