Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Ovarian Cancer  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Cancer reoccurance
Answered by
Annekathryn Goodman, M.D. - Gynecologic Cancers, Complex Gynecologic, Surgeries, Palliative Care, Acupuncture
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Boston - MA
Make An Appointment
This forum is for questions and support regarding ovarian cancer issues, such as: Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Genetics, Hysterectomy,Immunotherapy, Ovarian Cancer Types, Radiation Therapy, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging, Surgery.

Cancer reoccurance

by andreahoustongirl, Jun 08, 2009 08:15PM
My Mom is 66 and was diag in Feb 08 with stage 3C Ovarian Cancer.  She had surgery and did chemo of Taxol and Carboplatin.  She has been sick ever since!  She got Rhumatoid Arthritis very bad from it ..then Pnumonia..then her stomach just hurt and hurt and she could not eat.  Her GI doctor said it was Narcotic Bowl Syndrome from her Fentanyl patch of 25 mic.  She had 6 trips in and out of the hospital (since Feb 09).  Finally  last week her CA 125 was 262 and they could not do a colonoscopy..the tube would not insert.. so did emergency surgery (June 09).  The cancer caused a stricture on her Colon and she needed a Colonoscopy Bag..and there were little cancer cells EVERYWHERE..both intestines, liver, pancrease, stomach, entire abdomenal (abdominal) wall.
Her doctor said she should do Carboplatin..but Pallative said she has had no quality of life and with our without it she has 6 months.  Her oncologist will not discuss her live expectancy.  
Do not know what to do.  She has been so sick I just want to see her in no pain.
Can low dose Chemo do anything?
Thanks

by Annekathryn Goodman, M.D., Jun 18, 2009 07:34AM
Dear Andrea
I am so sorry to hear about what your mother has gone through. Unfortunately with her cancer growing so quickly, she has a high risk of dying from her cancer within the next 2 years.  
I would also disagree with the choice of platinum at this point. Her cancer is probably resistant to platinum.
other choices that are usually easy to tolerate include:
monthly doxil (40 mg/m2) or weekly low dose taxol. (60-80 mg/m2)

I know how hard this illness is on the whole family.
best wishes
Member Comments (2)

by andreahoustongirl, Jun 18, 2009 08:15PM
To: Dr. Goodman
Thanks so much!!
Continue discussion
RSS Expert Activity
H1N1 and Our Pets
Nov 05 by Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician
In the ER: A Unicorn's Journey
Nov 03 by Jon Geller, D.V.M.
Doctors Resign Over Coca-Cola Fundi...
Nov 03 by Adam Tanase, D.C.