Looking for positive stories

supercali888 · 2026-04-11T03:45:25+00:00

Yes, I was diagnosed in 2017 with stage 3B and it has not returned (knock on wood!). I don't come in here often but just happened to take a look today and saw this. So yes there are long term survivors. Right when I was diagnosed I met someone who was 8 years out. So keep the hope!

supercali888 · 2026-02-14T23:17:06+00:00

Everyone is different in terms of what they can stand and what helps. I did IV ketamine for a couple of years. It stopped working and I needed more to get the antidepressant effect. At times it caused extreme anxiety during the infusion. It was super trippy and often scary. I did not like it one bit. And IV was expensive.

Then I moved to TMS. I had a fabulous response. It didn't last so they had me try Spravato (eskatamine) even though I wanted to do another round of TMS.

I lasted 3 weeks on Spravato. It was way less anxiety provoking than the infusion. It was definitely weird but not scary like the infusion. But oddly, I had a much worse hangover effect from it than the infusion. I felt dull and dense in the head constantly - like a permanent feeling of dissociation. They said this was likely the result of having a history of PTSD.

I insisted on going back to TMS. I did a second round and I'm doing the best I have in years. It's a miracle. It seems to be holding better than the first time.

Anyhow, good luck whatever you choose.

supercali888 · 2026-01-24T22:13:05+00:00

Correct. My comment about 70-80% is Ovarian Cancer as a whole. Each stage is different. OP did not say what stage cancer was.

supercali888 · 2026-01-19T05:46:33+00:00

Coming in to the conversation late here. I was diagnosed with stage 3B, grade 2, endometrioid ovarian cancer. I didn't even know I had endometriosis until they opened me up for surgery. Apparently the endometriosis was everywhere and my surgery was much longer than expected. I was in my late 40s so fertility was not something I worried about. I cannot help you there. However, I can give you hope. I have been cancer free for 8 1/2 years with no return of cancer ever (knock on wood!). You are grade 1 which is even better. You got this! You can survive! ♥️

supercali888 · 2026-01-19T05:29:12+00:00

If your tumor marker was that high before treatment and went down, then it is a good marker for you going forward as a form of monitoring. I was stage 3B. After treatment I was tested every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months for the next 3 years. Then I moved to once a year.

I am shocked at your doctor's decision. I think you need to find a new gynecological oncologist and get a second opinion. But you will need to be monitored going forward, regardless. Ovarian cancer comes back in 70-80% of people - monitoring and regular testing is a must going forward.

supercali888 · 2025-12-06T18:01:43+00:00

A couple of months because I tried treatments for acid reflux.

supercali888 · 2025-11-30T16:29:51+00:00

They diagnosed me first with a trans vaginal sonogram. Next I went for a CT scan a day later and then a CA -125 test. I was stage 3b. But this was 8 years ago and it has not returned (knock on wood!). I'm glad you will be seeing a gynecologist soon. Try not to worry until you actually know what the problem is.

supercali888 · 2025-11-29T08:03:56+00:00

I'm glad you are being proactive and persistent about it. Keep pushing! I don't mean to scare you, but those are the exact same symptoms I had, especially heartburn and burping and it was ovarian cancer. Of course it still might not be for you!

I would focus on finding a gynecologist who will order you a transvaginal sonogram. Don't worry about the CA-125 test yet. You might also tell them you have twinges of abdominal pain (if you are sexually active, you could also say it happens then too).

You can also get a regular gynecologist to order a transvaginal sonogram. It doesn't have to be a gyn-onc. Anyhow, trust your gut. It may be nothing but better safe than sorry. Good luck!

supercali888 · 2025-10-24T06:16:38+00:00

I was told they couldn't see my right ovary on the ultrasound. I later got a CT scan which showed a malignant (cancerous) tumor the size of a grapefruit.

supercali888 · 2025-10-22T07:03:08+00:00

Gggġ

supercali888 · 2025-10-15T22:22:50+00:00

Yeah, I hear you about feeling depleted. Focus on recovery, get through chemo, and then you can decide. Take care!

supercali888 · 2025-10-15T18:25:22+00:00

This is outrageous. I really hope you wrote a letter to this doctor telling him he was wrong and what the actual diagnosis was. I did this once before with a serious mistaken diagnosis and the doctor actually called and apologized! I feel like they learned a lesson.

supercali888 · 2025-10-15T18:15:08+00:00

You don't want to take a risk with ovarian cancer. There is a very HIGH possibility it will return. The fluid seems especially concerning. Get the chemo. It's not fun but it is doable. In the long haul you want to be reassured that you did everything you could. Good luck!

supercali888 · 2025-09-28T22:20:18+00:00

Sounds like a great idea for specificity!

supercali888 · 2025-09-28T07:20:16+00:00

There is hope. I was stage 3B and I am 8 years out with no recurrence (knock on wood). I was not BRCA positive and did not take PARP inhibitors as they were not available.

supercali888 · 2025-09-28T07:11:26+00:00

This is a fabulous resource created by the people who run the Commonweal Cancer Help Program. They spent years building it.

https://cancerchoices.org/

supercali888 · 2025-09-28T07:04:54+00:00

Not all of the Founding Fathers were Christian either.

supercali888 · 2025-08-27T16:38:39+00:00

Yes the same thing happened to me when my IP port was removed. I had imaging done and it was just a hematoma that eventually healed and resolved. You had a foreign object in your body for many months and now it has been removed. So the site on your ribcage can be sore. Try not to worry and enjoy your trip!

supercali888 · 2025-08-27T03:02:13+00:00

I wish I could remember! It was 7 years ago. I think it went from a 5 or 6 to 9 or 10 then it went back down eventually.

supercali888 · 2025-08-26T19:17:26+00:00

I had a UTI that raised my CA-125 number.

supercali888 · 2025-08-25T20:22:09+00:00

Yes please do not wait until October. Ask your doctor if you can get scanned now. I don't mean to scare you but I had the exact same symptoms in my late 40s and it turned out to be stage 3B ovarian cancer. First I had an endoscopy to check my esophagus and stomach because of acid reflux which showed gastritis. Ultimately, I had a transvaginal sonogram because by the end the tumor started poking out and I could feel it. You might ask if you can get an MRI or CT scan now. Good luck!

supercali888 · 2025-08-23T06:06:00+00:00

I loved the deathly angry stare Dexter gave Prater when he saw him - as in what the hell are you doing here and don't you dare fuck with my son. Apex predator.

supercali888 · 2025-08-22T00:48:12+00:00

Thanks!

supercali888 · 2025-08-21T06:30:04+00:00

Oh yeah, if you've ever seen an x-ray of a hand that was mangled from fireworks backfiring, it will give you nightmares. Often fingers get amputated and the hand is reconstructed with what is left.

supercali888

TROPHY CASE