Hi All!
My mother has just told me she has stage 1?C? Ovarian cancer which was found in the peritoneum. (Ovaries were taken last year). She is scheduled to start chemo and avastin this week via an internally implanted dispenser? My parents have been extremely secretive and this has all been an overnight shock. I have so many questions, they wont talk to me about it and I dont know where to start. They are in the states and I'm in Canada and I feel so unable to help from a distance.
1st, they have not sought a second opinion and my first priority is making sure that they get one prior to embarking on this course of treatment. Is chemo and avastin the best thing available? How do you go about finding trials? Is there anything promising that is not being used in the states? Are cancer counselors a thing and how do you find one? What should I expect of her treatment and how do I support her/make her most comfortable? What creature comforts have y'all found most comforting? How do you assemble a treatment team? How do you incorporate integrative and holistic medicine and discern between what is real and what is snake-oil? Please someone help me find a starting point. SO overwhelmed.
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And yes, that is difficult for you to be in Canada and your family in USA - distance as well as the current virus situation doesn't help and complicates everything.
There are lots of very helpful comments on this site about women (and some of their supports) who have been through many of the surgeries and treatments. I hope you can find some support and guidance here; a least some help to ask the questions so you can offer her support.
Also, if you review the main website - www.ovariancanada.org there is an abundant of information there about treatment, living with the disease and support systems - again, Canada based.
There are many variables that may be considered - stage, grade, age and any other health issues of the person, location, treatment centre location, etc. Yes, you are helping support her by asking to see if there is a second opinion or an examination of a proposed treatment plan and options (as in, you could ask why or why not an option or a consideration in her case) Just like each person is different and unique, so may be the treatment plan/options.
good luck to you, and I hope your mom will talk about this. to you soon. My daughters have been an immense support to me.