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Hi everyone. I'm new here and this is the first time I've reached out to any kind of forum. I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in April 2026. I've had 4 rounds of chemo and a full hysterectomy with debulking. No family history or anything. I'm not really sure what to say other than I'm scared all the time. I feel alone and kind of like people have given up on me already. Anyways, thx for letting me in💖

Hi Danielle,

A lot of people just don't know how to deal with the "tough stuff" down here - don't take it as they've given up on you and don't EVER give up on yourself!!!

You've taken a HUGE step just by reaching out and there is amazing strength, wisdom, and perseverance that is shared here. We are all here for you.

It's completely understandable to feel scared - who wouldn't? But, sometimes our journey is just gathering enough courage, strength, bravery, in the moment….summoning up that next breath….to just put one foot in front of the other to make a step forward….know that we are here to help you do that.

Hello @Danielle and welcome to OVdialogue. The fact that you had Teal Sisters welcoming you and responding so quickly is an absolute reflection on the value of this forum. As @LeslieA said we are here for you 100% and @Glofriend is so right that it is a huge step to reach out and we are glad you did. I also echo the comment by @lbarr72 that this is a wonderful source of support and information. We are also humbled that you chose OVdialogue as the first forum to engage with. Many Teal Sisters in this forum, including myself, have felt alone at times through our journey and absolutely there has been fear. We've been blindsided by a cancer diagnosis. Our worlds were upended. Our lives forever changed. Please don't give up. Please ask us questions. Let us know how and in what ways we can help you. I have learned so much from the warriors in this forum. They have helped me in ways they will never know to find answers, to ask questions and to find some sense of 'normalcy' in how I'm feeling. Also know that there are stories of hope, survivorship, strength and fierce determination among our members.

It sounds like you are well into your journey with chemo and debulking surgery. Do you have more chemo to complete? Are you receiving Paclitaxel and Carboplatin? How are you feeling? Also, what type of OVC were you diagnosed with? Do you know if you have the BRCA gene? I was diagnosed in February 2024, High Grade Serous, Stage 3C plus I discovered I was BRCA2+. Like many of us, it was a complete shock and similar to you, I had no known family history. Through genetic testing it was uncovered that my father carried the BRCA gene which passed to me. I've had surgery, chemo and complete two years of Lynparza (Olaparib) maintenance. My complete story is in my BIO which you can get to if you click on my icon at the left of this post.

If you are looking for specific information, you can try typing in words in the search bar above e.g., chemo side effects. As well, there is a "Categories" section at the top of this page. If you click on the down icon, you will find different ways that the information on this site is grouped such as "Resources". Plus there's the "Library" section where Ovarian Cancer Canada has captured videos and helpful tools.

While you thanked us for letting you in, I'm going to flip that and say thank YOU for letting us in. Let us know what we can do to help. Even if it's to provide a space to share emotions, we are here. We are forever linked. We understand. 

#Introductions #Supportandencouragement

Hello Danielle, 

I have had stage 3 cancer for about 2 1/2 years. Still here and responding well to treatment after a reoccurrence. 

It is very normal to feel scared at times. For me, I spend as little time worrying about tomorrow as possible and embrace all the good things I can today.  Over the past 2 years it has been the worst and best of times. Do you have some good people to support you?  Are you happy with your medical team?

Hang in there! 

@Danielle, welcome to the group.  Here you will find support from women who have walked this journey. There is so much love and support here so never be afraid to say anything or ask any question.  We will have your back.  We are all at different stages in this process.  Feel all the feels for as long as you need.  But know it does get better, you learn how strong you really are, who your real friends are, and you learn that you can LIVE with cancer.  I was diagnosed advanced stage in Feb 2025, 4 chemos April to June, surgery July and finished 2 rounds post surgery in Sept 2025.  No genetic markers except NF1.  I am currently on Niraparib since Dec 2025.  I hit my 1 year NED in Sept.

Best advice someone gave me when I started my journey was one day at a time.  It truly is, no one is guaranteed tomorrow regardless of a cancer diagnosis or not.  You got this🫂🙏🏻👊🏻

Hi Danielle!

Thank you for letting us in! We welcome you with open arms! I am so sorry that you are feeling alone and like people have given up on you.

This is such a great community. I spent a long time just coming on here and reading posts and quickly realized that everything I was feeling, others were/had as well and that was very comforting.

I had people in my circle that I felt had written me off so I talked to them about it. Turns out that wasn't the case at all- they didn't know what to say or do, they didn't want to bother me with texts or calls in case I was resting, etc. This isn't an easy path to navigate for anyone, especially when no one has experienced a loved one going through cancer. 

That being said, I do hope you aren't feeling that way with your medical team?? Because that's a whole other situation.

One day at a time, come on here often even if it's just to read. But I do hope we hear from you often!

Hugs!!

Hi Danielle, I'm also new to the group. I'm currently home from surgery for my 3rd recurrence of GCT. Unfortunately, I'm learning that so many of us are living with and in fear. I think we've done something right by joining this group to be in a safe space to express how we're feeling without judgment. I'm very sorry to hear of your journey so far. It's amazing to see the different reactions and behaviours of people in our lives during this time. Some things I've learned is you're not obligated to share and no one can truly understand how you're feeling unless they're walking in your shoes. I'm here if you ever want to talk, you're not alone. 

Hi @Danielle I wanted to check in and see how you are doing. I know you had a lot of love and response from our Teal Sisters. I wanted you to know I'm still thinking of you and thought I'd check in. I wanted to reinforce support from this group!! Hope to hear from you.

#Supportandencouragement

Hi @Danielle congratulations on completing your last round 👏. Hopefully you got to ring the bell!!! I'm sure you are in the midst of the post chemo infusion recovery so I hope you are taking it easy. I documented all my side effects, eating habits etc. for each of my chemo rounds. I was so scared for my first one and having the information was so helpful to me. For each subsequent infusion I knew what to expect and if something seemed 'odd' it allowed me to focus on that vs the things I knew were going to happen e.g., my face always went flushed on day 2 for 24 hours.

Good for you for taking it one day at a time. That's the best we can all do as we honestly don't know what will unfold when we wake up each day. I know it's hard. We've been challenged in a way we were never expecting. Someone told me early in my journey that 98% of the things we worry about don't come true. I try to remember that when I'm overly focused/stressed about something. 

Stay hydrated! Eat lots of protein! Hug yourself!!! You deserve it.

#Supportandencouragement

Hi@Danielle, thanks for providing an update. It's nice to know that you've finished another hurdle. I wanted to ask how relationships are now? I hope I have the right person but I think you said you felt like people were already giving up on you? 
My journey with cancer has been over 15 years and relationships have definitely changed over this period. Sometimes the ones you think will be there are the last on the lists and strangers, angels show up instead. Wishing you lots healing and love 

@Prema22 you are so right about who is 'there' and who 'isn't'. I was quite surprised at the folks who really engaged with me and stepped up especially during my surgery recovery and chemo. We even had friends who we honestly had only known for a few years, loan us their condo in Toronto for my surgery recovery and then for the days around my chemo infusions (we live about 3 hours from T.O.). No strings attached. Just handed us the keys. We were so overwhelmed with the support. I remain thankful every day for the friends and family who I was able to lean on. It meant the world to me.

#Supportandencouragement

@Danielle congrats on completing your chemo.  Definitely it takes awhile to adjust to this new normal after finishing chemo.  You realize how strong you are and how amazing our bodies are to get us thru it.  But you may also feel at a loss, our safety net is taken away and now we are sent into the world on our own.  I won't say the anxiety will ever go away but it does get better.

@Danielle did they tell you what the maintenance pill will be? Wondering if it's Lynparza (Olaparib). Being able to transition onto that is also a good thing. It's not available to everyone.

#Treatmentandsideeffects