Mary, 61 years

I live on a sheep farm in the Western Division of NSW. In April 1999, I visited the doctor because I "just didn't feel well". Nothing specific, just this feeling. Over the next few months I had numerous tests, visited a gastroenterologist, had scans and blood tests but nothing particular showed up. I was then told it was lazy bowel syndrome and was given some medication.

In the November I started to feel very unwell but put it down to gastro, as that was around at the time. I was ill on and off for a few months and lost quite a lot of weight although my stomach always looked bloated. Further tests did not pick up anything except an unusual liver function.

By March 2000, I was so sick I again visited the specialist in Melbourne. It was thought I had a blockage in the bowel and was put into hospital straight away. I woke up from the operation to be told that they had performed a bowel bypass as there was an inoperable tumour pressing on my bowel. This was later diagnosed as ovarian cancer. I found out much later that I was in Stage four and my CA125 was over 1400. I started chemo three weeks later and had six cycles of Carbo/Taxol. I then had a total hysterectomy and radical debulking, then three more cycles of chemo, which put me into remission with a CA125 marker of 16.

I was in remission for nearly two years but then my marker started to rise. I tried Tamoxifen and Caelyx which did not work very well. The Caelyx had awful side effects. I felt as if my feet had been out in the sun for days, they were red, swollen and very painful.

In 2005, it was discovered I had a tumour growing in my stomach so I started six treatments of Carbo/Taxotiere. By 2006, the tumour in my stomach had regrown so I undertook another six cycles of Carbo/Taxotere. Early in 2007, the tumour had reappeared so I went into hospital and had half my stomach removed, taking the tumour and another tumour close by. I still had a tumour in my pelvic area which it was decided was too dangerous to try to remove.

Unfortunately by September 2007, a scan showed that I had four more tumours growing and my CA125 maker was rising. This time my oncologist decided to use Carbo/Gemcitabine. This meant no hair loss and after losing my hair three times before it was an added bonus. After four cycles my marker had reduced to 17 (normal). Needless to say I was very pleased, as was my oncologist. I have now finished the six cycles and do not have to see my oncologist for two months. This is great as we travel to Melbourne for treatment, a round trip of over 1200kms and we have made that journey 14 times in five months.

I know this story is very long but I felt I needed to explain my situation and stress that we must never give up. No matter how awful the diagnosis is - there is always hope. Every day there is research going on and new treatments being found. I know when I was diagnosed the chances of dying within five years was 65%. I thought, well the chance of survival is 35%, so why can't I be in that 35%? I am now eight years post-op and back in remission, so that is all positive.

<< Back to Personal Stories

Share on Facebook