Treatment & Support

In March 2010, my husband Mark and I set off on a trip to Italy, France and England to re-trace a trip of 30 years earlier. It was a prize in a raffle.  I felt very well when we left except for normal tiredness after three month’s work.  The trip began well- except for a broken foot in Milan- and I put subsequent symptoms down to a reaction to drugs taken to heal this injury.

As the two month trip progressed my waist line expanded and I did not fancy any fancy food. I started to realise something was seriously wrong and felt trapped on the other side of the world. In desperation we finally found a doctor to see me in York Hospital casualty. He said I was not sick and to go back to the pharmacy. By this stage I was carrying over 9 litres of fluid- very difficult to sightsee!!

On flying into Melbourne, our daughter drove us straight to the Austin Hospital where after getting past the triage nurse- who also thought I was not sick- I was diagnosed by 5am after scans. The staff were sensitive to our world falling apart.  The next two days involved breaking the terrible news to our children and family. Devastating.

By Monday, we met with my gynaecological oncologist at the Mercy hospital for women.  We had little reason to and he offered me a plan,  I just kept saying ‘I want to live’.  Because I had flown recently and also was in poor condition, he suggested I have three sessions of chemotherapy then surgery and then more sessions of chemotherapy.

I started chemotherapy on the following Thursday and face my final session next Friday. Three times my blood count has not been strong enough to proceed. Every session has been different and I had most of the side effects constipation, nausea, insomnia, mouth ulcers, fatigue and pain. It seems to be different session and person, so you can’t listen to others and relate it to yourself. I did however get a lot of good tips from Ovarian Cancer Australia and Breacan on things that help with the effects- ginger, clear juices, salty biscuits etc. We also now try and eat organic food due to the amount of poison I am putting into my body through the treatment.

With each session you learn to manage the drugs better and more proactively.  However life cannot be planned because you are not sure how you will be on a particular day. My family have ensured I have someone with me for a week or so after the therapy. People were very keen to see me after my diagnosis and I had visitors every day for at least 2 months. All of our friends and family sent good wishes with every session and my husband sent out emails with the results and how I am faring. I have only had one day by myself in six months but overall life is much slower and stiller.

At present I have no measurable tumours and have responded well to therapy. I had major surgery to remove my ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and appendix. I was lucky not to lose my spleen as well. The operation was terrifying- the pain was quite well managed but in removing the tumours they ruptured my bowel. So with chemotherapy, constipation became the biggest hurdle.

With ovarian cancer, you never feel you are ‘out of the woods’.  As my cancer was at stage 3.1 when diagnosed, there are microscopic tumours to keep the disease in my body. I can’t see the way ahead with any certainty.

Six months after diagnosis I feel very well. The other bonus is losing 12 kgs. However, losing my hair and not being recognised is hard to take. I have had marvellous love from my husband, children, family and friends. They have carried me.  My health and support team are profoundly good and kind people with immense skill.

I have embraced an integrated approach with support from Breacan and Ovarian Cancer Australia.  I have attended exercise classes, reflexology, and a forum with a psychologist. I have visited a Chinese Medicine practitioner weekly and have taken herbs since the third therapy session. I am attending meditation at the Gawler Centre with my daughter and most importantly I attend Mass and pray to god to be cured and live on healthily and happily. Whenever I pray for myself, I pray for all the family, friends and health workers who have helped me live through this nightmare- which had so many wonderful moments.

Elizabeth

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