I'm hoping to join the next virtual Ottawa support group. Looking forward to meeting!
Original Message:
Sent: 03-21-2025 17:33
From: jobo
Subject: Total Hysterectomy & HIPEC!
Hi OttawaOvaWarrior - Thanks for sharing your story about HIPEC. I am in Ottawa too, and was diagnosed in 2019. At the time, I had been reading about HIPEC and asked whether it might be useful for my case, but my question was pretty much dismissed, possibly because unbeknownst to me, they weren't doing it at the General yet.
I also wanted to let you know that there's a peer support group for women in the Ottawa area with gynecological cancers. We meet on zoom every second Thursday evening. In case it's of interest to you, here's a link: https://gynecancerottawa.wordpress.com/
Jody
Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2025 16:40
From: OttawaOvaWarrior
Subject: Total Hysterectomy & HIPEC!
Thank you so much for introducing yourself Katie and sharing your story! We are similarly in my family discovering who is BRCA 2 positive and it's more than we realized. I'd love to attend one of the sessions but I can't currently drive or do much post-surgery. It will likely be May before I can join but I do intend to. Thank you!
Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2025 13:56
From: Larkk
Subject: Total Hysterectomy & HIPEC!
Hi Sarah,
My name is Katie Lark I am an in Ottawa as well and I am a BRCA 1 Previvor.
I was diagnosed with knowing about the BRCA 1 mutation when I was 25 years old. My aunt had been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the time which is why my dad younger sister and I got tested(my dad came back positive my sister came back negative). At 27 I had a double mastectomy as I was tired of having panic attacks after every MRI.
In 2019 I found out that I had developed endometriosis and decided to have a salopingoopherectophy and a total hysterectomy in January of 2020 at the age of 30.
I have been attending a local support group here in Ottawa for BRCA mutation carriers for 10 years now. I am now one of the facilitators of the group.
We meet the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Ottawa Cancer Center's Community Hub at 1500 Alta Vista dr. I Know its is short notice but we are meeting tonight at 7pm if you would like to join us.
Feel free to email me at hboc.ottawa@gmail.com and I will include you in our email list for any future meetings and events.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Katie
Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2025 09:12
From: OttawaOvaWarrior
Subject: Total Hysterectomy & HIPEC!
Hi Everyone! My name is Sarah, aged 39, based in Ottawa. Diagnosed Stage 3 OV Cancer in Nov. 2024, extensive spread through peritoneal area. I have two beautiful kids aged 3 and 8! Parenting during this has been an experience!
I've had 4 rounds of chemo and just finished my total hysterectomy surgery, removal of omentum, and had Hot IntraPeritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure in that same surgery just last week. I spent 7 days in hospital, 3.5 in ICU.
I'm writing because I don't think HIPEC is super common as so few hospitals in Canada offer it. Ottawa General became only the second hospital in all of Ontario to begin HIPEC and I was the second patient ever to receive it here as it's brand new (and was their first gyne patient ever for it!!!!). The surgery was really successful! I'm back home recovering now. They got all the visible and hopefully microscopic cancer cells too. I still have to go through 3 more rounds of chemo (taxol and carboplatin) and will also have two years of maintenance drugs as I'm BRCA2+. I've responded incredibly well to the treatments and they are already classifying me as in total remission which is SHOCKING given how extensive my cancer was.
I find it really confusing to be considered in total remission but still undergoing months more of treatment. Not sure if anyone else has that confusion or feeling during this? I am so grateful for the medical care I've received at the general. The team is incredible. Anyways, just wanted to put this out there because I'm curious if anyone else has gone through HIPEC, particularly as a young person. Surgical menopause is hitting already with intense sleep disturbances. I've been referred to the menopause clinic but haven't gotten in yet. If anyone has questions about the total hysterectomy/ HIPEC or even their own experiences they'd like to share, would love to connect. I'm really not sure what the future will hold for my sex life, menopause etc. I'm grateful to be alive but there's also such a component around quality of life with my husband and kids, I enjoy connecting with those going through similar life experiences.