Likely ovarian. Terrified. Anyone available for a hand hold?

[Ohjoyohbliss]

Blood test yesterday: Serum CA 125 level over 35 indicates possible cancer. Mine is 213. Shit.

DH knows and one friend but I don't want to worry anyone else until I know how bad it is; hence I've name changed for this post. I'd love to know how anyone else has coped / is coping.

CT scan Saturday and USS on Monday. GP has made 2ww gynae referral today.

Sending a hug 💐 it’s great to have the shortest day over. I really hope you feel better again soon.

I spoke too soon. Not long after writing my previous post, an ominous gurgling started in my tummy. However, thanks to this warning, I was comfortably ensconced on the throne and prepared when the poonami hit.

Had a later bedtime than usual, took 10mg morphine, and slept through the night. Yes, the whole night! I can't remember the last time that happened. It's probably an indication that I didn't drink enough yesterday, but I feel so much better for it.

He really is. I keep seeing threads from MNers with flu etc, whose husbands are being awful, and I can't imagine how bad it would be to go through this with someone like that. I'm so grateful for him.

I am wishing you more little robins .......

Fab news on the sleep. I hope today is a better day for you x

Your husband is very finely attuned to you and willing you on, Joy. You’ve scaled back the morphine, are having better nights’ sleep, are now past the shortest day of the year and a robin has called to see you. The nausea, poonamis, feeling awful, are up now against these positives, though I don’t mean to diminish them.
Merry Christmas to you and the other cancer sufferers on this thread. x

Your husband does sound like a good egg. That's amazing about sleeping through too. Hears to no more poonami's

@NotPerfectlyAdverage
I presume you can't take ibuprofen either because of your stomach issues?

Not just because of the stomach issues, (I've got the squits again this morning, which is making me feel rough,) but because at least one of the meds I'm on is incompatible with NSAIDs. I need to check which one(s).

Just in case you’re not aware, an unscented soap rubbed round that part which might sting after the squits works well Joy. Sorry if this is TMI but better to be comfortable.

You have been really through it (massive understatement). Willing the Robin and its friends to visit daily, Mr Joy sounds fab - well to be fair he is married to you who sounds more than fab, hoping like everyone on this thread that 2026 is your year and that it is bloomin amazing, Merry Christmas and very best wishes to you both 🎄🎄🎄

Managing expectations:

I've been reading up a bit on life after chemo. The overwhelming message is that it will take a long time. We finish treatment and think "Now I can get back to normal" but the reality is that we might never get back to where we were before, and even if we do, it will take months rather than weeks. The chemo brain fog, fatigue etc lingers on, while other people expect you to be fully functional again.

Of course the fear of recurrence is ever present and can increase with the increasing gaps between check-ups.

I think it's best to be be prepared, so I don't
get disheartened when things don't go as smoothly as I would like.

That sounds very sensible.

I am not on Chemo but a biological/immunotherapy type regime and it too is life changing aside form the condition I’m treating. I have been very thoughtful over Christmas and have made some big life changes to try and ease myself into this new life.
I have also been sad at how many friends you lose through illness. I am trying to remain positive though and will go into 2026 with recovery at the forefront and will see what life brings.

Did you manage to have some nice times over Christmas?

This has been helpful to a few of us, @Ohjoyohbliss

www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

Happy New Year!

The little robin has already been to visit me this morning. I haven't seen it for a few days, just a big fat woodpigeon, but robin redbreast is back today.

Do you think it is tempting fate too much to choose ALIVE as my word of the year? I feel as if I've barely been alive for the last five months or so, I've just been existing and trying to get through one day at a time.

But you are alive in spite of all ... sounds like an ideal word to me!! Sending New Year good wishes for a steady recovery in 2026. Spring to look forward to speed the process.

Sending you best wishes for a better 2026 and for your recovery x

Happy New Year
Alive is perfect ... And we hope you feel more lively as the medicine does it stuff

I rang and left a voicemail today saying that I still haven't got an appointment for the PET scan and can they please check that it's been requested and chase it if necessary.

I know they won't action it until Monday at the earliest but at least I've let them know.

'Alive' is an excellent choice.

Happy new year! 🥳

Happy New Year! I hope you're feeling better now? Hopefully you haven't lost too much weight this round of chemo. It's a shame there's no easy way to be like a bear and gain weight in between sessions.

I'd wait until Tuesday and chase up the scan again. There are so many places these things can "lost" between departments.

Funnily enough, I weighed myself just yesterday and was pleased to find it's more or less stable since my last chemo, which is great.

DH also took my blood pressure and it was 115/65, which is also excellent. I was expecting it to be much lower.

I've reduced the morphine back to 5mg a day and just started reducing the anti-emetics so everything seems to be going the right way, I just need to know if the cancer is still active. Hopefully I will find out before this thread is full and, if it's good news, I won't need another one.

That's excellent news about the weight gain. Hopefully that's a good sign for things too come x

That’s brilliant news Joy ❤️

I can’t imagine how the wait for your scan results must feel. I am thinking of you 💐

Your BP is fab 👌 👏

Scan has just been booked for tomorrow!!!
They are hoping to have results for the MDT meeting on Thursday, then I see the consultant on Friday when I will learn my fate.

Edited to add: Not so fast. Hospital just rang, they have moved the MDT from 8th to 15th in case the scan results aren't back by Thursday, so my consultant appointment is also being put back by at least a week. Aargh!