Valerie’s Story

Site created on November 3, 2022

My Ovarian Cancer Journey Started on October 14, 2022.  We choose the HIPEC surgery at Wake Forest along with chemotherapy at Novant Cancer Center for Chemotherapy.  I have Crohn's Disease.  Please share this with whomever you feel may find it helpful or just want to keep track of me.  It's hard to repeat it all and there are so many of you that I love!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Valerie Joly

I am very excited tonight.  My bloodwork show:

1) My white blood cells are in the normal range
2) My red Blood Cells and Hemoglobin raised more than they expected.  I am not in normal ranges yet, but I am much higher than anticipated.  That usually takes a few months more to straighten out.  I will keep working on it.
3) My cancer antigen value is up to 10 from 9.  No big deal because this number will fluctuate.  
4) All my metabolic numbers are in normal ranges

So I do feel good.  Dr. Kelly told me I look much better than when he saw me last month.  We spoke about my parp inhibitors.  They stop working if and when the cancer returns.  They will remove my port in 2 years if all is well.  The parp inhibitors usually stop working within 2-3 years and if they don't that is fantastic.  The only way they know the parp inhibitors have failed is if the cancer returns.  The first indication will be a large jump upward in my Cancer Antigen Values.  Taking the parp inhibitors made the platinum-based chemotherapy I took this year less effective.  He told me if the cancer returns he has other options that work.  That made me feel better.  Dr. Kelly doesn't want me back in his office for another 3 months.  I will be doing monthly blood draws and if anything comes up I will be back in his office ASAP.  This makes me feel freer.  

I also told Dr. Kelly I am living like I don't have cancer and I don't know if that is right.  He said it absolutely was as I should be.  As per Dr. Kelly I am in clinical remission and show not sign of cancer.  We are watching so if it does come back we catch it early.

When I got home tonight I took a break.  I was tired.  I drank a glass of coconut water and at 7 Pm, when it cooled down Jen and i walked 10,934 steps.  We were 900 or so steps away from 10,000 and I felt good so we walked our route uphill instead of down hill.  Still feeling good!


 Have a good night!
Love
Val
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