This page is dedicated to our daughter Ronna, and her brave fight against ovarian cancer.

Diagnosis:   Neuroendocrine tumor of the ovary, non-small cell type

History of the Diagnosis:   There are 11 reported cases of a similar cell type, over the last decade.   These cases were treated with surgery and Taxol/Carboplatnum with some other ovarian treatments.   The survival prognosis was poor with the disease non-responsive to the treatments of chemotherapy.   Survival results ranged from 3 months to 3 years (just one person).  

Patient History:  

December 2004- Ronna was scheduled for a Gyn check up due to abdominal discomfort and distention. She was found to have a large tumor about 13 inches in diameter in her belly containing 3 liters of liquid and a solid mass inside. She was pregnant as well.   She decided to keep the baby after discussing her options to terminate.   She would have surgery to remove the tumor and exploration would be performed during the procedure.

February 2005- Had surgery with incision to remove the tumor and diseased section of her right ovary, that is all that appeared to need removal at the time. Diagnosis as above, confirmed by Stanford and Cedar Sinai.

March 2005- Laproscopic surgery was performed to remove complete right ovary and associated tube and appendix which also included another exploratory look in the process. Again, no other disease seen or felt.

April 2005- Chemotherapy treatment plan of 6 cycles, each every 21 days.   Drugs were Cysplatnum and VP16.   Treatment logic is that the cell type is acting like small cell lung type.

Only 5 cycles were completed.

July 10,2005- Baby Dustin born 2 ½ weeks early.

September 2005- Pelvic and back pain felt. Sonogram results new tumors. Left ovary engulfed with another large tumor.     Surgery with Gyn Oncology Specialist Surgeon. Full hysterectomy; lesions or nodes found on colon, bladder, spleen, abdominal walls, burned off or cut out. Removed omentum(sp?) with some nodes. Removed two lymph nodes from pelvic area that felt suspect. Doc confirmed they removed everything that they could see or feel. Successful chemo treatment will be the only thing that can stop growth.

October 2005- Kaiser oncology uncertain of treatment but feel they will try another treatment used for same small cell lung. Gyn/Onc Surgeon mentioned at discharge ovarian treatment approach.

December 2005 – CT scan performed earlier in the month.   Scan shows approximately 6 to 8 cancer “spots” on the outer lining of the liver.   The oncologist had discussed using a combination of Gemcitabine and Taxol but now wants to use Taxotere by itself.   This treatment started 12/21/05.

January 2006- CT scan now shows the cancer has progressed to her left lung, abdomen, and more on her liver.   Two tumors are in her abdomen.   Chemotherapy has been changed to strickly Gemcitabine.

February 2006- On some information we had received in regards to some possible clinical trials being held at the University of Texas, Ronna's doctor contacted the head doctor there, but was informed that the treatment Ronna is currently recieving is the same treatment he would of recommended.

March 2006- Ronna has lost approximatley 20lbs since January.   She is now on numerous pain, nausea, and appetite medications.

April 6, 2006- Next CT scan is in approximatley 3 weeks.

April 26, 2006 -  CT Scan will be on May 1st.

May 1, 2006 - CT scan postponed to May 6th.

May 12, 2006 - Ct scan shows the cancer is still growing.  Different pain and nausea medications are now prescibed to see if she can get a handle on the pain managment.

May 23, 2006 -  I know that Ronna can no longer view the messages, but I know in my heart that she does appreciate them.  Thank you Crystal for the flowers.  Lynn, Russell and I, and the rest of the familiy, are trying to make her as comfortable as possible.  Hospice in now involved.  Thank god for them!!

June 2, 2006 - Our baby girl passed away in our arms this morning.  She is now free from the pain and suffering.

June 12, 2006 - We had Ronna's memorial today.  I don't know what to say.  I want to thank everybody for their love and support throughout Ronna and Russell's struggle.  I want to say it was beautiful, because it was.  We just didn't want to lose our baby girl.  Thank you all again.  This page will be up for quite some time.  When Ronna was first diagnosed, her cancer was so rare that there was no information available.  It is our hope that this site may help some other people (young women, parents etc..) at least give some information as to what "not to do", I guess.  

There is nothing worse than having a child diagnosed with some rare form of cancer and not finding any information on the internet.  We want to at least make an effort and provide something, so no other parent has to go what we went through.  It's no cure, but at least it's information.  And we will be happy to talk to anybody regarding this.

Again, God bless all of you.  We thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  People DO read this site.  So don't think that nobody is listening.  I check it at least 15 times a day.  If you have something to say, please share it.

Lynn and I would like to thank everybody for their love and support.   It is our hope that as Ronna beats this,  maybe this page may help someone else afflicted with this horrible disease.  

God Bless.