BernieO

Leslie I too gained about 15 lbs with chemo. I craved canned fruit. I once sent my sister to the store to buy 5 cans of assorted canned fruit!! I ate them all in a couple of days. I never ate canned fruit before chemo and haven't since. Food cravings are strange thing. The discussion group for ovarian cancer which I belong covered this topic and found that food cravings is very common during chemo. May your sister continue to do well. Cindy

Hi I have had my porta cath for almost 2 years. I had 6 months of chemo through it and countless numbers of blood draws and IV's. The main advantages are: you have both hand free during chemo and iv therapies, the infusions are never "positional" thus no beeping when moving, and the pain of accessing the port is minor compared to multiple venipuncture attempts on poor chemo weakened veins. I will have to use my port again soon for more chemo as I slipped out of remission. My gyn/onc wisely advises his patients to keep their ports for as long as possible. Just a monthly heparin flush, otherwise I never know its there. I wish your sister the best. The 1st chemo is the hardest. Cindy ( ovca survivor)

Hi I am a 2 year survivor of ovarian cancer and am facing my 1st recurrance. I have spent conciderable time studying ovarian cancer; causes, symptoms, and treatment. I 1st read layman' basic material, then nursing journals & books ( I have been an RN for 30 years), then I purchased physician's textbooks on ovarian cancer. The CA125 test is not on its own a reliable indicator of ovarian cancer. The best triad for diagnosis is a recto lady partsl exam, translady partsl ultasound and a CA125. These 3 give a better picture of ovarian cancer but still not the best. The CA125 can be elevated with inflamations, endometriosis, menstrual periods, and a host of other things. At this time, sadly the only true diagnosis of ovarian cancer is an ovarian biopsy. There are new screening tests being researched but not available yet. My sisters all get the diagnostic triad every year (TV US, physical exam, and CA125). This gives them some chance of early detection. Also, please if a gyne cancer is suspected, especially ovarian, seek the experience of a gynecological oncologist. They are the experts in surgery for ovarian cancer including debulking surgery with staging and treatment. Everyone needs to be aware that ovarian cancer is no longer the silent disease but is a disease that whispers. Thanks Cindy

I was diagnosed with Fallopian Tube Cancer Aug 2002. Stage 2A. Because fallopian tubes and ovaries are embryologically similiar tissues the protocol for ovca is followed with a diagnosis of ftc. Fallopian Tube Cancer is very rare, ocurring in about 1% of all gynecological cancers. Because of this rarity, there has been little research into ftc. Fallopian tubes and ovaries have embryologically similar tissues so the protocol for treatment of ovca is followed also for ftc. For ease in discussing my cancer, I often refer myself as an ovca survivor. More people understand ovca. I have read most lay persons and nurses information on ovca and ftc. I now have several physicians texts that I refer to when I need information about my cancer. ( I have been an RN for 30 years.). I wish your dd the very best. I hope she is under the care of a gynecological oncologist. They are the true experts in combating this cancer. BernieO

I am also an RN with a dx of ovarian ca. I have had my porta cath for 18 months. After post insertion healing your friend should not even feel or notice the port is there. My gyn/onc recommends that ovarian cancer patients keep their ports as long as they function. so he has had patients with ports for 10 years. Chemo and the many necessary blood draws are so much easier with a port. Cindy

I frequently lurk here but seldom post. I have a question. Should I report a fellow nurse for a hippa violation? Here is what happened. I have ovarian cancer. I was at the Cancer Center yesterday to have blood work drawn from my port. The RN who drew my blood (in a private enclosed room) was a nurse I worked with about 20 years ago. She started to tell me about all the nurses she has taken care of at the cancer center: naming them by name and disease. She named 3 nurses when I stopped her and asked about hippa. She stated that this is just chatter and doesn't count. When I got home and had more time to think about this, I wondered what she is telling other people about me. I hate to report a fellow nurse, but I feel she really violated confidentiality. Should I just give a heads up to her manager? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Today is June 1. is National Cancer Survivors Day. Happy Survivors Day to All.

lindi I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last Aug. I also worked through chemo except when my Neutrophils were too low and the risk of infection too great. Cancer is truly a life altering disease. Also I find being a nurse that I comfort others when they hear of my cancer diagnosis. I still have the nurse instincts. I also approach my cancer as an academic. I research everything and ask questions often. I think I hide behind the research so I don't have to face the unknown aspects of a cancer patient's future. Keep in mind. Many people survive cancer. We can be survivors.

I have been an RN for almost 30 years. My experience is in Cardiac Care, Med-Surg, Pediatrics, Substance Abuse, and Administration. I have been reading this site for personal reasons. I have just completed 6 cycles of Taxol and Carboplantin for OVCA 2A. My initial surgery for staging was done at a University hospital by a Gyne/Onc. This hospital is 90 miles away so I had my chemo monitored by a heme/onc at the local cancer center attached to our community hospital. This cancer clinic is affiliated with the same university hospital that did my surgery. My last cycle of Carbo, with only about 100 cc left of the infusion, I developed a reaction. My numbness & tingling subsided about 15 mins after infusion was stopped. The nurses are hopspital based trained only but seemed to know exactly what to do. The staffing ratio is always 1 RN to 2 Chemo patients. Of interest is also the cost of Cancer Care. Each Cycle of Taxol & Carbo with the pre blood work, pre-chemo meds, nursing care & physician visit along with the chemo meds was slightly over $10,000 each time. I can understand what drives patients without comprehensive health care coverage to Mexico to seek cheaper sources. The cost of fighting cancer in this country is expensive. But when you consider the alternative....

Those surgeons really worked to save that lady. What an interesting show! I kept waundering if they would run out of replacement blood. That truly was a surgical miracle.

At my LTC we give all new to facility agency nurses one shift orentation working side by side with another nurse. We have a flow sheet listing all the relevant data to our facility, paper work, emergency procedures, protocols, etc. The agency nurse must sign off on all these things before she works on her own. So far the system has worked well. As a plus, the residents feel more comfortable meeting the "new nurse".

Got all 25. After a hard day at work, get 100% on something!!!

I had DVT with multiple PE in Feb. I take 2 Tylenol every night for sleep. The Tylenol takes the ache out of my legs and allows me to sleep. I work in LTC, Many of my residents have a routine Tylenol order at HS. I think that when the aches and pains are controlled---sleep comes easier.