Bowel Obstruction

My mum was diagnosed in march 05 with stage 3 OVCA.
It has reoccured 3 times, with between 12 and 15 months between each reoccurance. Each time treated with Carbo and Taxol with gives a clear CT scan until the next CA rise.
Anyway, 4 weeks ago CA rose to 300, admitted to hosital with tummy pain, scan showed partial bowel obstruction. Surgeon felt he could operare so she had a bowel bypass. The small bowel was cut and joined at a different place to the large bowel. Operation was one week ago. They plan to start caelyx in 2 weeks and if that doesn't work as they want it to they plan to use carbo combination again.

I have read on various sites on the internet that bowel obstruction is normally the end of life for OVCA patients. Could you tell me if that applies to all OVCA bowel obstructions?
The Drs have told mum that she really needed that operation and she will benefit from it.
The Drs said the scan and op didn't show any tumours in her bowel or anywhere else, the partial obstruction was caused by 'cells on the bowel surface' the Drs said.

Many Thanks for Your time.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Ang,
Nice to hear from you again.

Due to the nature of the behavior of ovarian cancer, it is very common for women to experience trouble with their bowels (intestines). The cancer commonly spreads along the surface of all the organs in the abdomen. Over time, that slows down the bowels, causes bloating, constipation, and blockages (obstructions).
There are many kinds of obstruction of the bowel. Some definitely are present at the end of life  especially for women experiencing ovarian cancer.
But many blockages can be fixed or palliated and more therapy can be given.
that appears to be your mother's case.


here is a nice site on the nonoperative management of bowel obstruction


http://www.growthhouse.org/cifwriter/library/70/4940.html

emedicine has a great chapter going through symptoms and treatment

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/774140-overview

best wishes