My Ovarian Cancer Journey

Saturday afternoon update   I know I haven't posted in a few days, we have actually been busy (for me), and I've gotten pretty tired in the afternoons...   Thursday morning I helped cook breakfast, but that turned out to be too much for me. It didn't help that there was a little bit of an oil fire when I was trying to explain to Jack how to do something. So blood pressure was raised more than normal that day... 🤕 So food delivery gift cards are a much loved gift for when William Wen takes Jack to Taiwan in a few weeks...   I had my post-op check up on Thursday afternoon. With chemo in the middle, I have to remember that I had a bunch of my innards removed two weeks ago. The Dr says I'm looking good and to come back at 12 weeks after for a final checkup. I did have some of the ascites (fluid) get into my fatty layer near some of the incisions, so that will take a little longer to go away. 😕   I was reminded at this appointment that that hysterect...

Short hair in the house until it falls out 🥰  And a throwback to I think 6th grade at Wall Intermediate School and my rat tail 🤣  Thanks to Margie for remembering about that 😂  The hair stylist humored me and took the pic then cut it off 😊

Good morning everyone!  I actually got some sleep last night ☺️ Monday night had me up often due to bathroom runs (I know, TMI). But last night, I was able to get some sleep. I still got up here and there, but there were a few hours of sleep in between.  Yesterday was my first outing since coming home Friday evening after chemo. We had an appointment with the genetics counselor at the hospital to talk about testing... We have to wait to get a DNA sample until the chemicals are mostly out of my body, so the day before the next chemo treatment.  I felt more normal yesterday, was hungry and was able to eat more. So every day is a little better.  My goal today is to get a haircut. Will get it cut short so it's less dramatic when it falls out. It feels backwards, but oh well. I suppose I could always just shave it off now 🤔 I'll post a pic once it's done, whatever I do...  I realized I haven't changed my nail polish since I first met with the oncologist on July 11.....

I know I haven't written all weekend. I was pretty tired.  I felt fine Friday after the chemo treatment, but then Saturday and Sunday, I was pretty tired. I'm feeling a little more normal today.  Everyday brings some different things - twitches, hunger, no appetite, coldness, or being too warm.  I have to remind myself I'm recovering from surgery and chemo. I forget the surgery part since the past two weeks have been a little crazy.  The chemo seems to be working on getting the fluids out, but it also means getting up to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours (TMI sorry).  I plan on getting a haircut within the next few days. I'll post a picture when it happens.  I'm enjoying our hydrangeas blooming right now... I think that they need to be trimmed soon though, so I had Wil grab a picture 🥰

Hi everyone. I decided to create a post that links to all of the posts regarding my ovarian cancer life. This way in case you have missed any, you can go back. They are the mobile version of the link since I'm just on my phone, but it should still work on a browser. I will add new story links to this post also. If you want to be notified when I add a new story, you can click the three dot button in the top right corner of this post and choose to turn on notifications or follow or something like that. The posts are linked newest to oldest in the post body so it's easiest for you to find the newest post first 🥰 At the bottom of this post are ways you can help 🥰❤️👒🍕💅   Saturday, Oct 28th, 2023 update: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160779050548286&id=520253285&mibextid=Nif5oz    Sept 26, 2023 update (it's back): https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160703411198286&id=520253285&mibextid=Nif5oz    Sept 11, 2023 upda...

Friday evening update: I have finished chemo for the day 😊🥳🎉  I'm feeling good. No bad reactions today, so that is awesome. Next chemo is in 3 weeks.  I've included a photo of my chemo nurse Heather all covered up to protect her from the chemo chemicals. They are actually sending me home tonight too. Wil will come in about an hour to help me pack up and change. I'm going to have dinner here first so it's easier. I'll probably be tired the next few days, but I'm going to try and post every day something of my experience.  I'm also going to consolidate all of the posts into one with a list of them in case anyone misses something... Makes it easier to follow the progress.  And please be patient if I don't reply right away, I might be sleeping all day. We have to see how I react to the chemo in the next for days and weeks... And please don't call. Just text or FB msg and I'll eventually reply 🥰  And a reminder, please don't send flowers. I...

Having some Häagen-dazs ice cream with my first chemo dose :) Finished my pre-chemo cocktail, felt fine. No problems today. I am 20 minutes into the first chemo drip of 3 hours. I'm feeling good. After about 5 minutes I did have some flushing of my face and a little bit of pressure on my chest, but I drank some water and that helped. So I'm feeling fine so far.

Some photos so far from my ovarian cancer journey.

I haven't been part of the clean plate club for a while 😜 I either couldn't eat a lot because of all of the pressure from the fluid in my abdomen or I just wasn't really hungry. But I finished my breakfast today. I'm going to continue to post random things because it makes me happy. And maybe you'll get a smile too 🥰 I'll share some more pictures in the album I just created. Love you all. I'll post later after the next chemo try.

Hey everyone.  I can't sleep right now so I figured I would give you some details on my chemo treatment plan. The plan was to start today, but while they were giving me some of the pre chemo medications, such as the anti-nausea drugs and Benadryl, I had an extreme reaction to one of the anti-nausea drugs. I basically blacked out. So they will try something different tomorrow for the pre chemo cocktail...   For the actual chemo treatments, I will receive two different drugs, one followed by the other, go for 21 days and then have another session. This will go on six times. The two drugs are carboplatin and paclitaxel. One takes 3 hours and the other one takes 1 hour, both administered via my new port that I got to today.   During those 21 days my body will be processing the chemo drugs. After the first 7 days or so, I will start losing my hair. So I plan to go sometime early next week and get it cut short so it at least isn't as dramatic when it does start comin...

My next step has been completed. I just had the port put in for my chemo treatments.  Still have not spoken to the chemo doctor, so I don't know the plan for that yet, but at least the port is in. This also means I don't need to get poked and prodded whenever they need to take blood or anything. So happy about that.   Update Thurs evening: Update from trying to start chemo today. They were giving me all of the pre chemo drugs that include Benadryl and anti-nausea drugs and maybe some other things. I had an extreme reaction to one of the anti-nausea drugs, so we are putting off chemo for today. We will let my body work these things through tonight and try chemo tomorrow.

There is a bed at the hospital available this afternoon!   Whenever I meet with the chemo team, I'll share. Otherwise, I don't know the plan yet.   I want to thank everyone for their love and support. It means so much.   When William Wen takes Jack to Taiwan for college, I might need to ask local people for rides and such. I just have to see how I react to chemo...   One more photo, and this has my other protector sitting behind me 🥰   I'll have to see if this is what finally makes my hair go gray 🤣

Ok, well... Couple of things...   We know the type of cancer, found on all specimens they sent in, is high grade serous carcinoma, Stage 3c, starting at the ovaries and fallopian tubes.  It was found on things near other organs, but not on other organs. For example, the ligament holding the liver, but not the liver. Or the bladder veil, but not the bladder. So all of the organs are still good. I was told this cancer responds well to chemo, so that's good.   I will be re-admitted to the hospital once a bed opens up (full because of increase in Covid cases). Since my surgery was done so quickly after diagnosis, they weren't originally able to schedule chemo right away. Also, my surgeon is on vacation this week, which I'm completely ok with - Drs need vacations more than others...   I noticed I had been accumulating more fluid, but it's actually become uncomfortable. The fluid is spreading to the side this time. My abdomen is now wider than my hips (not v...

Homemade trail mix by Alex 🥰   I wasn't sure what I wanted for a snack, already had some frozen mangoes and chips... Then I decided on cashews and some M&Ms... So Alex made me a small bowl of trail mix 🥰   Wil has been an awesome husband, helping however possible. The boys are stepping up around the house, helping with meals and the dogs.  I know it can't be easy for them since we don't know where this will go. But I hope they all know I love them more than anything in the world.

People have asked what they can do to help since we learned of my ovarian cancer diagnosis less than a week ago...  Wil and the boys are doing so much, and we don't really need anything.  This is something that will help keep my small business going while I go through chemo and recovery. I'm having a Screw Cancer party 🥳 all proceeds will go towards cancer research. There is currently no test for ovarian cancer, you just hope you catch it in time... Luckily, we did with mine.   Please share this link with others too 🥰🥰🥰 cancer.allysonwen.com    Or shop my stock at inventory.allysonwen.com

The best medicine is friendship (and chocolate M&Ms).   I had a wonderful day with Cari here at home. We had planned a trip for her and Rik to come out and sightsee with us for the weekend. Didn't quite turn out how we planned, but they got to do Seattle things yesterday, and I got to spend the day today with them.   I didn't overdo it, I took a nap in the middle of the day, and I sat with my feet up. It was great though being able to catch up with a wonderful old friend 🥰🥰🥰   And I made sure that chocolate M&Ms were on the shopping list Bob Fullerton since I know those are the best medicine too 😜🍫

Hey everyone! I'm home 🥰  I got home yesterday evening in time to watch everyone make dinner 😜   I am comfortable sitting in my office chair at the end of the table, and this way I can see everything. After dinner last night, I did go lay down. Got a few hours of sleep in. The family watched a movie and I did wake up for the end of it and a small snack. I still need help getting in and out of bed, so Wil helps with that. But once I'm up, I seem to be fine. Went back to bed about midnight, and had to get up at about 4:30 to use the bathroom...  Tried to go back to sleep, but I wasn't as comfortable in bed anymore, so I had Wil get me out of bed again and I went to sit.   Just got myself my coffee, some homemade banana bread toasted with cream cheese, and some frozen mango chunks.   I'm feeling good. Minimal pain really, and I'm trying to minimize pain meds I'm taking too if I don't need them.   I could feel all of the positive thought...

No, I'm not pregnant... Read on for a long story and why it is so important to ask more questions and get second opinions. If you don't feel right, find out why...   Also, I want to preemptively say that my husband William Wen is a rockstar. He has helped so much already, and is ready for fighting with me. I love you Wil.   I'm headed into surgery on Wednesday, so in less than 2 days. All because my abdomen filled with fluid and I didn't know why... Turned out to be because of something going on with my ovaries. Read on for more info (lots of medical info, but I wanted to be real and open because we need to share the good and bad).   A couple of weekends ago it was really warm out. Our air conditioner wasn't working right so we decided to get out of the house, go see Top Gun in the theaters, and have dinner out. It was a great, normal day.  That Monday night, I had dinner with a friend at The Melting Pot, the fondue restaurant. I definitely didn't eat ...