Fat belly? No. Ovarian Cancer belly (pt 2)

[TwitterQueen1]

The story of my ovarian cancer discovery is here

This is such an important health issue - there's a reason why OC is called the 'silent killer'. I really want more women to be aware of what few symptoms there are (I wasn't).

This is my story. I hope it's a long one.

Just for clarity- frantic with stressed DH & DD & exacerbation of arthritis so investigations etc etc.

Hello TQ, I hope you are having a wonderful break in York, one of my favourite places, and enjoying catching up with your friend.

Melting here in York! Friend's house is very, very warm (short-term rent, can't figure out boiler) so heating is on full blast although weather is mild. It's good to get away. I've been holed up in my house over the summer because it feels safe and constant but actually, it's been good to get out of the box. Am being totally looked after, which is strange but lovely because on a daily basis I am the carer, not the cared for.

Scarlett - I'd actually like it to be cold and crispy! It's not proper autumn yet. Though yes, the trees are lovely.

My bowels are fine btw . Just thought I'd let you all know as every single HCP always (thankfully and rightfully) asks that question - including my palliative nurse I saw last week.

Glad to hear about your bowels TQ

Hope you're enjoying being north & being looked after. When's the next load of treatment due?

Hello Wrong
I missed a call from my specialist nurse today - she was ringing about a meeting in Oxford with a consultant so I'm assuming that means there may be a potential trial. Hoping to get more news tomorrow.

That sounds promising - keep us posted

Not a lot of news but apparently there is a potential trial opening in mid-November so I will wait for an appointment to talk to the consultant.

Given the very recent relaxation on the medicinal use of cannabis I'm half-hoping the trial will be cannabis-related! Should make Christmas fun

A trawl of the website looks like it may involve Olaparib, which is taken orally. However, I can't make out whether the trial is only for those with the BRAC2 gene mutation. I do not have the gene so don't know if I would be eligible, unless it's a control group..... But there's no guarantee of getting Olaparib of course, it may simply be the weekly taxol, which is what I'd get off the trial at my usual hospital.... But then my potential trial may not even be on the website.

Basically, I'm still no further forward except that I can relax for a few more weeks. Hey ho.

Well any potential new treatment option sounds like a positive step. I do hope you get your appointment soon, don’t overthink negatives. They would not have alerted you to this surely unless you were genuinely a potential candidate for the trial. Will keep all fingers crossed for you.
Glad you had a good gossip with your chum, always better than sightseeing! Take care now, you must be tired after the trip x

I've just got an appointment through for November 14th, which is good - not too long to wait. No information at all about the trial though, only a leaflet on participating and taking bloods and tissue samples and looking at genes etc. Nothing on treatment.. The Icon8b trial I was on previously had 3 groups, each with differing treatments and frequency.

I know I've just got to wait and find out but if the trial only involves taking samples it's of no benefit to me.

There's also an instruction on allowing at least an hour to find a parking space so I'm going to have to some research...

14th isn't too bad. Hope it looks like a good option for you. How're you feeling?

I'm OK and I'm not OK. I've had 4.5 months off treatment, which has been lovely, but I've always known I'd have to get back on it and now that time has (nearly) come. I've been living in a bit of a cloud cuckoo land and now it's drawing to an end - one more step towards the inevitable. Once I start chemo again it's a one-way path. I'll be on it until it stops working, so I want to put it off for as long as possible but OTOH I know I need it soon - I can feel it creeping up. I'm aiming for June 2019, when my DD3 will have finished 2nd year uni.

Hi. I've been following your posts for some time although never know what to say...you are so strong and an inspiration to many.

Are you going to the JR?. (You mentioned Oxford). They put this in all their letters. Parking is a nightmare there. The park and ride is good and you can take a bus directly there if you are strong enough to take the bus. If your appt is later in the day though, it is much easier.

I can get that. Really hoping that you respond well to this latest lot. It's good to have a goal, but here's hoping you smash that goal out of the park

Don’t know why I’m not getting notifications at the moment. Very odd- as is the fact that my ipad keeps freezing several times a day!

Glad you’ve had some time in York-lovely city. Weather is due to get colder by the end of the week TQ but I have been feeling smug, putting washing on the line in this mild spell. Love avoiding using the tumble dryer (have to take my pleasures anyway I can get them ).

Keeping everything crossed that the new trial will offer you something. You need lots of distractions before the 14th!

Another one of my crumbling teeth resulted in a trip to the dentist yesterday - I had a couple of fillings only a few months ago (chemo side-effects are never-ending. Fortunately this one wasn't as bad as I thought it would and he managed to sort it fairly quickly.

Then he made me cry by not charging me, writing a prescription for 4 tubes of special toothpaste (which I don't have to pay for), and generally being very nice.

A florist just delivered a lovely vase of flowers to me - complete surprise! Then I read the card and realised she'd got the wrong house so I've had to give them back. Boo. [we need a crying emoji]

Oh TQ. 

Nice dentist though 😬.

Seriously though I feel your pain here. Not too long til the appt in Oxford is it? Hope you're ok apart from teeth. Xx

My flowers didn't make it, maybe they salsa went to neighbour!



Also not salsa!

Thanks Alexandra and Pennina

Another disappointment this week was that no bodies were discovered either under the patio or in the garden. In brief, friend's rented house and garden is soon to be demolished and built on. Because of location on a Roman road and recent discoveries of bodies in nearby gardens, an archaeological dig was required. I was hoping to send ancient history uni geek DD up for a few days to get first-hand experience and friend was hoping it would delay having to move.

But most of all, as an ex Brookie fan, I wanted to say THERE WAS A BODY UNDER THE PATIO!!

Ooh I miss Brookie- I was just thinking in Saturday that I used to enjoy winter Saturday at 5.15 when the omnibus ran!! Do you remember that very gruesome episode where the body was dug up to retrieve a ring or something?!

Oh gosh yes, I'd forgotten that! Yuk. Remember Max and Patricia? The oh-so-glam couple? I saw Patricia in something very recently - can't remember what - and thought "oh, she's so much older" and then I looked in the mirror.....

I used to have a slight thing for Max (blushes). I wonder what they're all doing now. I only ever see that Sinbad guy on tv. I know Alex Fletcher who played Jacqui Dixon married her on screen hubby irl.

Anyway, how ru TQ? Not long til your appt at Oxford is it?

Good luck tomorrow TQ. X

Another one who will be thinking of you tomorrow, and do hope there are options available to you. Lots of positive vibes winging their way to you x