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You are here : Cancer Blog > Ovarian Cancer Blog > Sam's Cancer Blog

Vital Info

Name:
Sam (slockwooclimbs)

Member Since:
October 14, 2006

Home page:
Click here.

Location:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Birthday:
6/1/74

Profile:
Cancer Survivor

Cancer Info

Type of Cancer:
Ovarian Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
Ovairan Cancer

Diagnosis Date:
February 16, 2005

Stage of Cancer:
Stage 2

Tumor Size:
07

Lymph Node Involvement:
No

Surgery:
Hysterectomy

Chemotherapy:
Taxol (Paclitaxel)

Fundraising Goal:
endless

Money Raised:
over $25,000 for the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation in the past three years

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
It can kill us and it hurts.

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
There can still be beauty in life no matter what.

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help:
www.bittergravity.com/samantha

Alternative Cancer Treatment:
green tea daily but not while on chemo.

Cancer Drugs Positives & Negatives:
chemo completely sucks except for the fact that it has kept me alive.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

2/16/05 – Left Ovary, falopian tube, pelvic tissue, lymph nodes removed
Side effects, horrible scar, numb skin.

9/24/08 – full hysterectomy

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:

6 rounds of Carbo Platinum and Taxol from 3/18/05-7/8/05
major side effect after the chemo was stopped: fatigue, memory loss

Started chemo again in October of 2008. Taxol, Carbo Platinum and Avastin. Switched the taxol to taxotere after four rounds because of neuropathy. Major symptoms, nausea, fatigue, nose bleeds, low white blood cells, memory loss, did I mention fatigue?

Fundraising Description:

www.bittergravity.com/samantha

Stats

Posts: 11

Photos: 4

Events: 0

My Supporters: 10

I Support: 7

Comments: 97

Sam's Cancer Blog

Update on my recurrence or whatever it is.

The doctors told me I’m an over achiever when it comes to cancer. I’m one of the rare 34 year olds who just keeps getting it. Sometimes it is no fun to be so unique. More…

Posted on October 28, 2008 at 5:30:17 AM by Sam (Update on my recurrence or whatever it is., 4 comments, 1359 views)

Cindy threw a punch at your cancer.

Sam – It is so great to hear from you. That is shocking that you have two different types of ovarian cancer.
I have never heard of that. And just now reading your post realized you can’t vote early there. Must make for a crazy day at the polls. I sure hope you can cut the line.
I am curious to hear what you genetic counselor has to say. Let us know.

Posted on October 28, 2008 at 7:31:28 AM by Jill

Two different types must be a difficult concept to grasp. As far as recurrences, you shouldn’t worry much. I just turned 24 a few weeks ago and I’m on my third recurrence. Joy. And oddly enough I’m also scheduled to go back in for more chemo on the 4th though I might just have enough time to stop at the polls on the way to the infusion.

“Genetic Counselor” is a title I’ve never even heard of?

Posted on October 28, 2008 at 1:18:31 PM by Brad

The genetic counselor is going to see if I’ve got the BRCA gene (related to breast and ovarian cancers). It is a familial gene, but I’ve got no family history. Since this is the second new cancer event in 4 years some seem to think I may have a non-familial gene or I may be the first one in the family carrying the BRCA gene.

Posted on October 28, 2008 at 1:24:15 PM by Sam

Hey Just checkin in. How are you? Please send us a post if you have the time. I just wanted to let you know I have been thinking of ya and am sending you love vibrations!

Posted on June 23, 2009 at 8:31:34 PM by Gerald Lane With Help From Timothy

recurrence?

The mass has grown on my right ovary. It looks like endometriosis, but with my history there is a 50% chance it is cancer. They think it is contained. But they won’t know for sure until they … More…

Posted on September 15, 2008 at 5:02:42 PM by Sam (recurrence?, 3 comments, 814 views)

Hey there…here’s an understatement – what a pisser! Just want to scream my friggin’ head off. Uggh. I’ll check out your other blog to follow along…you know where I am. When you’re ready, I’m here for everything you need to know about hysterectomies for 30-somethings.
xo
Tanya

Posted on September 15, 2008 at 5:11:01 PM by Tanya

I just want to say Love Ya!

Sherri

Posted on September 16, 2008 at 11:28:14 AM by Sherri

Hey Sam, I am also Stage 2-C with a secondary in Uterine Cancer. Hang in there, I got a full hysterectomy and was newly diagnosed at age 34yrs. Its an aweful thing to go through but all in all I would rather have it them a chance I might lose my life from this. They say 2-C is not advanced, which is in our favor. Its suppose to mean we may be fighting this the rest of our lifes but, we have a greater chance of living our full life expectency. Yahoo right…If only awareness was pushed harder; alot of the younger survivors may have been caught early enough to stop it in its tracks.