Book suggestions??

Hi all,
I received such great advice that I thought I'd try again. Our mom will be on her third round of chemo. next week. They are giving her the Platinum chemo. We finally got her CA125 level today, it's 98. Her doctor told us to keep an eye on this number, and that it's an indicator of her tumor shrinking or growing. I guess I have a ton of questions, about this current level, and what it means. I've been trying to google it, but that's not helping. ANy thoughts on some books for the family? Thanks again!!

[vegas2cr]

Do you know what her starting number was?  With that said as long as the numbers continue to decline she is doing great...Usually they test once a month.. the number can sometimes go up when if you are sick or other factors.. some women are very senstive to it.... I am.. I have stage IV and started at 380.. after 2 surgeries and 6 rounds of chemo I now stay around 9.0 up and down a point or 2 every month.. My .last chem was Aug..

Go and buy your Mom the book by Debra Jarvis and its called "Its not about the Hair" any book store.. It is a wonderful book and it will really help your Mom.

I wish your Mom continued good results every day... Ronni

[ireneo]

I do not have cancer but have had many friends with cancer (breast or ovarian). I read a book that was extremely helpful to me as "the friend." It's called "Help Me To Live - 20 things people with cancer want you to know" by Lori Hope. As friends and family we want to say and do things for our loved ones. And good as our intentions might be, we often miss the mark. This book is wonderful in explaining how some of our common reactions feel or sound to the person with cancer. I think you've all heard this: you hear that someone has lung cancer. What's the first question people ask? Did he smoke? Like we automatically blame him for his own illness. A person with cancer already wonders if they did something wrong. Don't start pointing fingers. Anyway, it's a great book with a lot of insight from patients themselves.

[lucymullis]

http://www.thegcf.org/pubs/CA125Levels_brochure.pdf

Good brochure about understanding the ca 125 done by the Gyn Cancer Foundation.

If you have other questions, ask away.

[Jan214]

The Human Side of Cancer.  It was written by Jimmie C. Holland, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  She deals with the psychological issues that arise from having cancer and the book is for the patient, but I recommend it it for the whole family, especially Chapter Two: The Tyranny of Optimism.  That is a chapter that should be required reading for everyone that is going to be around a cancer patient.  You can download the first two chapters free online.  

http://www.humansideofcancer.com/

Also, I highly recommend  Gilda Radner's, It's Always Something.  It is not only funny, but she talks a lot about the symptoms she had that are so often overlooked.  I had low grade fevers off and on that I thought were just a bug going around that wouldn't go away, but she also talks about prolonged low grade fevers.  That is why I watch my fevers closely now.  In between chemos I can tell when it is coming back by my fevers.

I think it is admirable that you are being so helpful to your mom.
Good luck
Jan

[JansGirls]

Thank you all so much!! Awesome advice and books, you all are so wonderful to help us out.

[Teresa222]

I too had low grade fevers for about six months or so before I was DX.
Teresa

[Jan214]

Teresa, I did not know that.  I wish they would put it on the list. They didn't have a list when I was diagnosed but it would have been helpful to know about it.  Here in TN when don't you have the sniffles from allergies, or a sniffles from the constant colds that seem to go around?  I have people hacking all around me and than saying, "i'm not sick", well, what are ya?  Shrug  It was March when I had the low grade fever, so I thought it was the usual beginning of allergy season, end of winter cold, flu, etc. and didn't think anything of it.  It should be listed as a possible symptom or at least women should be told not to blow off low grade fevers as "something going around".  My GP is really on the lookout for that now and warns all her female patients.  I think this is something we should crusade for.  Thanks for telling me that.