Im very sorry your diagnosis was not benign. You're smart to take your mother along to your appointments. That extra set of ears is priceless when your ears stop working. Make sure your mother takes notes for you to later go back and go thru. Some doctors will allow the patient to tape their session. In extended appointments like what you went thru that would be a very important part of your appointment. Ask your doctors permission if they mind you taping your session so you can go back and review things you arent clear on. Also ask for all your records to keep copies of every appointment, with every specialist. You want to begin a paper trail so you can go back and read thru things if you have trouble understanding anything.

Just remember... stage 4 is NOT a death sentence, even if it has been there for a while. I know many Stage IV survivors who have gone on to live full meaningful lives. I was diagnosed for my third round of OC as Stage IV and somehow I survived even having very low odds of survival. We're here to help you get thru this. You are ahead of many OC patients as you have been reading and learning about your illness before it was even diagnosed. That will make for a strong advocate! Dont worry, we will be in yoru corner every step of the way.

Best wishes with everything!!!