Going through second round of Chemo

[brattypechild]

I am a 39 years old.  I was dignosised with ovarian cancer stage IIIC 18 months ago.  I went through a total hysterectomy and debulking surgery.  I did 6 cycles of toxal and carboplatinium.  The chemo and the debulking semmed to have worked for a while.  My CA125 started increasing last August and after a CT scan and a MRI and another CA125 (Which was higher than when I was dignosised) I am going to begin a second round of chemo.  

I would like to know about how many cycles of chemo has anyone gone through on a second round?

[sueg]

Hi, I was diagnosed with OC stage3c last February.Had surgery,carboplatin and taxol for six cycles which finished in August,but I was only in remission until December.Had my first round of second line chemo last Tuesday (Caelyx-I'm in England) I think you call it Doxil.Had a first rough week,but feel okay today.They are giving me three cycles to see if it works/shrinks my tumor, then I'll have a ct scan to see how things stand.I'm just praying and live in everlasting hope...

[Barney22]

Like sueg I live in the UK and will be facing 2nd round chemo probably from next week (or the one after) when I go to get my CT scan results on Tuesday.  I already know my CA125 is up to 145.  I have had very similar results to 2 of you - stage 3c/4 diagnosed in Oct 2004, 2 lots of surgery and 6 rounds of taxol/carboplatin.  In remission for just about 6 months after a very good response, but relapsing from November 2005 - now classified I believe as  'partial platinum sensitive' (not sure if that's the right way round!) Like you I'll be interested to see what is suggested - probably Caelyx(Doxil in USA)maybe plus carboplatin, but maybe something different as my hospital is a specialist centre and has some clinical trials (not sure about those - will have lots of questions to ask).  I'm interested to hear from sueg that they are first doing 3 rounds to see how she responds.  It's my understanding that Caelyx(Doxil) is a 4 week cycle - is that right?  How often do they test your CA125?

I hope we can all keep in touch as there don't seem to be that many people on the website in our position - not a very happy one!

[sueg]

Hi Barney,
Yes I'm having Caelyx in four week cycles.My CA125 last week was 396.In December, 191, and in November, 15-so it's just shot up.My longest wait was for the ct scan-3 weeks,everything shut down for Christmas and New Year! In my initial de-bulking I had tumors on both ovaries and in my omentum,but all they were able to remove was my left ovary and omentum.The tumor on my right ovary 'disappeared' and hey presto 'appeared' again on last months ct scan-8cmx4cm,but I'm also getting a lot of abdominal pains and neck and shoulder pains-thats what took me back to my oncologist earlier than I was scheduled for.She thinks the cancer may have spread,because of the pains I'm having,but its not showing on the ct scan yet-Here's hoping she's VERY wrong!
So they want to see if the Caelyx will shrink the tumor,so that they can operate.I'm glad I found this board-and you Barney-there doesn't seem to be anything like this in the UK and the lovely ladies of the US keep me going-I just sit and read this stuff when I'm feeling down in the dumps.So thankyou everybody!

[otto57]

Hi
My wife 43 she over 6cirl cemo in oktober/november
sence then 3-4 new tumor appeir on her body.midle of december
she begining use Celluar Zeoliteis,it is  work the tumor's disappired,
if sombody like to have more info go to

www.mywaiora.com/852220

[brattypechild]

Well, I went to Doctors and had my first cycle of dixol/carboplatin.  They told me that I would be doing three week cycles for over a year.  They do a CA125 every time I go into the office.  I got down as low as 9.1 before heading up.  It is now 77.4 which is higher than when originally diagnosised with oc.  I feel okay right now, but give it a few hours then I will feel like **** for a few days.

[Hazel30]

Hello ladies,  My mom just got diagnosed with OVCA stage 3C.  She has not yet started chemo.  But Im posting here for you with maybe some helpful info.  My mom and I are going to see a Doc for intergrative medicine next week, and that is something that could interest you.  I heard ESSIAC (camasprarie) tea works really well, Esquador shots, shark cartlidge.  These are things that just compliment your chemo, not yet proven to work in the US, but worth a shot.  Also pamogranet juice really works well for your immune system when chemo brings it down.  Best of Luck To ALL of YOU and I pray that GOD gives strength to all women and carries them through these rough times to a healthy and successful recovery.

[kathy o]

I am on first reoccurence and have to go through 6 Taxol/Carbo treatments. My reoccurence I think was mild so after one round I already feel so much better, they said three should get it and three more for reassurance. My case is alot like yours other than the fact I had 12 maintence Taxols.
Good luck.

[Lizzpoet]

I am relieved to find, if not answers, some similar situations that may inform my second round of treatments. In Jan08 I was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer. The main tumor was removed, and in February I start a taxol/carboplatin protocol. I was on a study that later added (or didn't if I was in the placebo group) Bevecizimab. REcently, they discovered that some disease areas resisted all the treatments (I too am platinum resistant). They stopped my participation in the study and gave me a chemo holiday to rebuild my bone marrow. I start Gemzar and something else in Jan09.