What did he expect?

Question

My mom went for a followup a couple of days after her second chemo treatment.  My brother went with them and asked the doc about the CA-125.  The doc said they usually test halfway through the treatment and sometimes they wait until all treatments are done (that last part doesnt make sense to me).

Anyway, the doc said it wasnt a bad idea to test so he took more blood.  Then afterwards the nurse came out and basically said "everything is alright and the results were just as the doctor expected".

My question is, what DID the doctor expect?  I wish I was there to ask more specific questions, but would you take this as meaning that the chemo IS working and the CA-125 levels are declining - even just after only the second treatment?

Also, arent they supposed to be testing the CA-125 levels because if it wasnt coming down , wouldnt they switch drugs?

Anyone?

milashka · Answer

Don't be shy and ask for photocopies of your lab results. I want ALL my results, CT scans, surgery reports, blood work in writing in front of me, it is my body and my right. Labs will generally not release them to you only to the doctor but his office can surely run you some copies. Never was a problem with my doc. Once you have  the numbers in front of you, then ask away. Why is that number expected and is there anything he can say about it? Maybe next time you should go with your mom. You are good at asking questions (that's a compliment)...just ask him everything you ask us.

ConcernedInNY · Answer

I will call Monday.  I just found all this out myself.  Had I been there I would have asked for the numbers.

But I would htink that he expected the numbers to come down, right?  I mean the nurse wouldnt come out and say  everything is alright if the numbers were rising, right?

Terrin2 · Answer

Ask Ask Ask, do not just take the answer, you want to keep track of the CA125 that is important.  Call them and tell them you want the numbers each time to keep track.

MickeyVicki · Answer

Alan, for first time treatments, it often takes more rounds of chemotherapy to create a change in the CA-125 level than for later treatments or for recurrences.  Also, it appears to me from all of your previous posts that the doctors do expect good results from your mother's treatment.  Don't worry and rush things.

What did he expect?

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