Chemo has made me feel very tired - fatigued I think is the right word. Whenever I do anything the week after chemo is wipes me out completely. I have just had # 5 with one more to go at the end of March. I lost my hair. It was coming out so my husband shaved it. I wear a wig when I go out. I don't have any hair left on my body!!!!

You mentioned your eyes being blurry. Mine are? I had eye lazer surgery a year ago and I was beginning to think it wasn't working - how strange. I've been told it is just another side effect of chemo. I'll tell you another side effect - hot flushes. I had gone through the menopause and was on HRT. But I had to stop that so now I am getting hot flushes all the time :(

I have an A4 diary I carry around with me because I forget everything. I have been quite "up-beat" since I was diagnosed but just lately it is getting me down. I am fed up of feeling ill, sick & tired. Would like my hair back please. I know I only have one more treatment but the week before chemo is a good week and then you know that as soon as you have the next chemo you are going to feel rough again.

It is nice to share stories with someone else who understands. Take care and keep in touch. Tina xxxx

You asked me what chemo I am on - it is carboplatin / taxol. I was told it was the "gold standard" for my type of cancer. PPC (Primary Peritoneal Cancer) is very rare and it is an accumulation of cancer cells in the lining of my stomach. It is treated the same as ovarian because it is the same tissue. It can't be cured but they can" keep it at bay" (that's what my doctor said) with the chemo.

I never knew I had cancer until I went to the hospital with fluid around my lungs. I was being treated by my GP for a chest infection. I wasn't clearing up so he sent me for a chest x-ray. I had fluid around both lungs which was not god news. I went to hospital to have the fluid drained & thought I had pneumonia. But when they tyested the fluid they found cancer cells in there. The lung consultant was puzzled and I went for a CT scan. He was still puzzled (I was glad cos I thought "at least its not lung cancer") I eventually went to see a gynae consultant who gave me the diagnosis.

The cancer causes fluid to build up in the abdomen and in me it had also gone into my lungs. So far I have had 4 chest drains (not the most plesant of experiences) but as soon as they had drained the fluid off it was such a relief. Trouble was, until the chemo kicked in, it kept building up thats why I've had 4!!!!! Now the left ling is completely clear - hurray:) but there is still a little on my right which my onc said will go as the chemo is working well. My tumour marker CA125 has come down from 1119 to 156 so he is really pleased with the way I am responding to the chemo.

Sorry to go on!!!!!! I think I might take a leaf out of your book and wear my hat more when I go out. Do you ever look in the mirror and wonder "who the heck is that looking back at me?" I am quite good with putting make up on - not too much just enough to make the best of myself. But the other day I thought I looked like a painted doll with my eyebrows penciled in and loads of eye make up & eye liner on. My husband said I looked OK but to me I just looked like a painted doll.

My eyes are better in the day light. When it is darker on in artificial light they are more blurry. It would be nice to hear about your story, it must be so hard for you having a baby to look after while you are dealing with chemo.

Look forward to hearing from you, take care Tina xxxxx

Do you know I do believe the beginning bit is by far the hardest. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to discover cancer whilst you were pregnant - you must've been terrified? I bet you were scared for your babies health. Thank goodness you were able to have your baby delivered safely before you started chemo. Am I right in thinking that you didn't have a mastecomy? That is good news if they got the cancer in the lumpectomy. I have a friend who has breast cancer and she has had chemo, a mastecomy & then radiotherapy. I think she is going to have a reconstruction next year. Its such a lot to put up with for both of you. All I have is chemo.

I know what you mean about feeling ill & knowing it is for a reason & that you WILL SOON FEEL BETTER. I only have 1 more chemo on 26.3.10 andI assume I'll have a CT scan. If all is well I will be on 3 monthly check ups. I have heard that chemo can affect our bodies in lots of different ways. Another lady I was talking to at the chemo clinic had problems with her eyes also. Another lady had problems with her feet & hands - tingles that were painful.

I live in Nottinghamshire, work in Nottingham city (that was when I worked!!!! not worked since Sept 09) I have a wonderful poem written by a girl who had cancer. If you let me have your email address I'll forward it to you. And yes you are so right about the doctors not giving any POSITIVES. That scared me the most because it is all grim and doom and I am absolutely convinced they are hiding things from me because they are so careful what they tell you. I kinda hate going for a check up especially after a CT scan cos I am sure it is going to be bad new!!!!!!

Its nice chatting to you, speak soon love Tina xxx

Looking forward to hearing from you, Tina xx

Just realised that this site converts the @ sign to AT