Fat belly? No. Ovarian Cancer Belly (part 3) still going!

[TwitterQueen1]

This is the story of my ovarian cancer discovery and treatment from March 2017 to now. I hope it proves informative / interesting / thoughtful ... and most of all, perhaps make someone think 'actually I need to go the doctor about this and not just assume I've got a pelvic floor / weight problem'.

I am not having treatment - I was on an early phase trial with olaparib and cedirinab, which was going well but the doctors discovered brain mets in May, and after targeted radiotherapy there's not much else they can do.

I'm recently home after 3 weeks in hospital with pneumonia and sepsis so I cannot promise any exciting tales (except falling over). I moan a lot about steroid-induced diabetes.

Happy to hear any terrible (or good) jokes, rants, raves, anecdotes. I was/am a woolly hugger but can't do anything right now.

Here is part 1

Here is part 2

This link is particularly important
It is for anyone who is undergoing tests for cancer or who has been diagnosed with cancer. We are a group of cancer patients who will support you, guide you, reassure you and provide a reassuring ear. Support for those with cancer

This is just my own individual story.

Hi TQ - sat here melting , not in the least comfortable , so not sure how you are managing .
Not even doing any crochet , had to resort to sewing !

Just seen a Bake Off trailer! very excited...

It clouded over here around lunchtime book so it's not so bad. I should have put a Woolly Hugs link in too.

Don't worry iVamp , my wine is poured very carefully!

Hello TQ, glad to see a new thread. And that you have a phone!

Glad that pleasure is not denied you!

Hope Heat is not aggravating Stuff too much

Thank you for this thread Twitter.

I had developed a very large tummy and was feeling out of shape and tired. I had put it down to getting old and fat. Your thread prompted me to go to the gp where a 12 inch ovarian cyst was discovered. They are not too worried about it and it's being removed soon.

Love to you and your dds x

Glad to see you posting tq (and drinking wine).

Glad to see you managed to sort out a new phone 👍, and a new thread 😊

Hi TQ. I read all through your updates on both threads last night (stalker alert ). I’m so sorry that you’re going through this I can’t imagine how scary it must be for you.

How are you feeling today? Hope this heat isn’t making you too uncomfortable.

I'm very glad to hear that sprouts. Hello Frappe. If I stop and think about things too much it becomes unbearable.

Anyone see the news item on olaparib today? They were talking about those with the BRCA gene - but there are also trials for those who don't have it. So they know now that olarapib is effective after initial chemo for those who have BRCA but AFAIK it was also proving effective for people like me, who don't have it. My tumours were reducing in size and side-effects absolutely minimal.

Sadly, because of the brain mets I've had to come off it. They were incorrect about ovarian cancer being common though - breast, lung and bowel are far more common, which again is why it might not be the first thing you think about.

HI TQ, I'm a serial name changer on here who's followed your threads from the beginning, I saw that item on the internet this morning, and wondered if it was a medication you had taken.

yes, I was taking it with cedirinab, after initial Taxol, Carbo and Avastin and then Caelyx had failed to halt progress over time. I'm platinum resistant and BRCA neg (or wild) but olaparib is certainly looking very hopeful. I'm not taking anything at the moment.

TQ my oncologist told me there would be a news story about a new drug for ovarian cancer when I saw her the week before last. So glad it seems to be working for you.

I'm having the gene test for BRCA but expect it to be negative, no family history and I'm quite old.

Bridget I am not having any treatment - it is too late for anything; palliative pain relief only.

Oh sorry TQ, I misunderstood, didn't read properly.

Hi TQ, just popping in to say hello. Glad to see you got your phone sorted. I'm very behind in crochet - trying to get 3 things completed by weekend for 3 new gt nephews/nieces- all arrived this month!

We're you ok in the heat last week? Glad it's a bit cooler now

Px

Delurking to send you love TQ

I'm disappointed with my overall weakness. I thought by now I might be helping prep a meal or emptying the dishwasher or something.. I'm not doing anything other than sweeping the muck off the kitchen floor into a corner that the DDs then let spread across the floor again . I cannot say anything to them, they've had the most horrendous time and they're doing a brilliant job of working and coping with me.

My head is nearly recovered - still a bit sore. My DDs took me up to the common at the weekend whilst they had a walk. A man sat beside me on the bench and proceeded to talk without stopping for the whole 45 minutes they were gone. I wasn't rude but in the end I just couldn't respond - all I wanted was for him to go away and let me have some peace.

would you consider getting a cleaner in - might help you feel more in control, than feeling you can't give the DDs any negative feedback about their cleaning skills? you have been so poorly recently, frustrating as it is, try and take the household stuff more slowly, and save your energies for more fun stuff, if you can. Maybe next time you have a rest on a bench, take a prop such as kindle or headphones, to give off more "don't talk to me vibes"?

Hi TQ, it must be frustrating, but you know you’re being too hard on yourself, don’t you?

You’ve come such a long way since those days in hospital when you had everyone worried, but that’s probably easier for us on the “outside” to see than for you living through it.

Are you still planning to go to Cornwall? Can you think of this time as one of just building up your strength in preparation?

Sending lots of love x

Hey, TQ, seems to me you're doing brilliantly to be home and able to go out and sit on a bench (anyone who talks at a stranger for 45 minutes should be consigned to the deepest circle of hell). But I know it's so boring and frustrating to feel feeble all the time. Hope you do feel a bit stronger before long. Without being critical of your wonderful DDs, could you say ""if I sweep the floor, could you wield the dustpan and brush"?

i had to sack my cleaner 3 weeks ago - she was so rude to my dd - she was asked not to go into the living room to give them some privacy, but she did, and then told a neighbour what a tip it was! And she refused to do anything about mouldy grout, saying it was a 'separate utility'.

I'll take headphones and the car keys next time.

Morning TQ
Did you post a beautiful picture of a raptor in your garden last year?
This is my back garden this morning - walked into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee , and there he was , having his breakfast!

Yes I did! well remembered. That's a brilliant photo tx. Sadly, my neighbour died and his wife doesn't feed the birds anymore.

Sending love x