I need a little advice and support

[Brownie3321]

Hello ladies! I hope you are all having a great week. I had my 3rd chemo treatment today of taxol and carboplat. When I was diagnosed with stage 3C OvCa, my CA-125 was 6,000. After my surgery and 1st chemo treatment it went down to 195. After my 2nd treatment my CA-125 was 220. I know ! posted about this before and many of you said this was not something to worry about because it didn't double. My onc didn't think it was a big deal until my appointment with him today. Maybe he was just covering all the bases, but I would love to hear what you all think. He said my CA-125 needs to go down after this 3rd treatment, or he thinks I may be plat. resistant. He seemed very concerned that if I was plat. resistant, my recovery would be a lot more difficult. I am scheduled for a pet/cat scan in 2 1/2 weeks to see if we can see any change with the cancer. I am also scheduled for my 1st IP chemo the next day. If, God forbid, I am plat. resistant - these were my options: I could be put on a different cocktail of Doxcil or I could undergo another surgery where they would take out a bit of the tumor and do some testing to see what chemo cocktail would work the best. What do you all think about this? For those of you on Doxcil, what is your opinion of it? Have any of you had a surgery to take out a bit of the tumor for testing? I am confused because I was told my onc/gyn had removed 99% of the tumors - how will they test this? I could use any insight. Thank you ladies! Stay strong. God bless, Deandra

[SimplyStar]

when Leslee was put on Doxil her onocologist office never told her about the side effects, so I went to the Doxil web site itself and found out all about them   I searched  Doxil  Side Effects   they are all listed plus how to treat and avoid them.  But she does take the COQ10 to help with the heart problem.  Good Luck

[SimplyStar]

it is late now but will tell you tomorrow about my daughters experience with doxil

[Brownie3321]

You are so sweet. I admire the fact you always respond to as many women as you can. I appreciate your advice, and feel a little better about the possibility of being plat. resistant. I am hoping I won't have to switch treatments, but you never know. It just feels like such a waste to have these toxins in my body if they are doing nothing to the cancer. I will keep you posted after my pet/cat scan. Best wishes to you, Deandra

[Helmar]

Hi Deandra....Don't despair even if you are platin resistant, there are lots of other drugs 'out there'. Doxil generally works well, although it probably takes 3-4 treatments before the numbers start to reduce, after having climbed some with the first couple of treatments. I had 4 Doxil treatments, and the numbers continued to drop for 3 months after the last Doxil. It can be harsh on your heart, so a MUGA test would be a good idea before you start. There are side affects, which I'm sure some of the other girls will tell you about. The only side affect I had was large and sore mouth ulcers, which were a real pest, but apart from those, everything else was fine. This can be helped by sucking on ice while having the infusion, but I wasn't told until after my second infusion. No hot food and no hot showers helps too. Good luck with your scans... I hope everything comes out good for you. Stay in touch, and let us know how you are doing.  Hugs...Helen...