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Intraperitoneal chemo

Hello.  My mother passed away from Ovarian cancer, a sister that had a benign uterine tumor and recently my 49 year old sister was diagnosed with Stage 3c ovarian cancer.  She is receiving IP chemo. Does this increase survival rate?  Also her Ca 125 went from 1500 down to 150 after surgery and before chemo.  What does this indicate?
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Avatar universal
I had the IV/IP taxol/cisplatin protocol.  I was able to complete the program with the exception of 2 taxol IPs.  Research shows that it improves the chance of survival over the standard IV protocol and it is recommended by the  American Cancer Institute.  If your sister is lucky enough to be a candidate and can tolerate it she is lucky.  It is very taxing and has more side effects than the IV protocol.  I finished my chemo 8 months ago and am recovering from surgery for a bowel obstruction so it has been a tough year.  However, my CA 125 is 3 and I am happy that I selected the most agressive therapy.  You only get one chance at first line therapy.   Good luck to your sister.
Terry
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295767 tn?1240188314
I too had IP and was able to tolerate it all. I think it entirely depends on the person since I never went into remission even after all of the IP AND IV treatments. Take care, Deandra
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Avatar universal
I had 6 IV of Taxatere 6 IP of Cisplatin and 3 IP of Taxol for good luck  ha ha  I am 16 months post chemo but I will tell you the joint and muscle pain is there.  I am an active 55 year young just finished the Danskin triatholon yesterday but I wasn't breaking any records.  So yes it is harder on you and is not a guarantee.  But that is what I needed and I got it.  Many women I have in Ovca community had IP and are doing well  My dose was stronger so it is why I am having greater problems than some of them.
good luck
laurel
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523728 tn?1264621521
My doc said IP chemo is poorly tolerated, I got the feeling he wasn't overly enthusiastic about it.  I want the gold standard if it's available and possible.  Schoolmarm, did you notice a difference in the side effects of IV vs. IP?
Helpful - 0
530671 tn?1212942370
I had IP chemo along with IV. According to my brother, a NYC hospital administrator, it's the cutting edge therapy that all the Big Boys are using.  I know it worked for me!  The IP port allows the docs to use a much higher dose of whatever the chemical is they're using.  IV limits the dose as the negative effects on the internal organs can't be controlled.  But when it's applied topically, as with an IP port, they can use a big dose and really kill as many cancer cells as possible.  Take it as good news that your sister's surgery was a success and she is getting the best, most aggressive treatment to ensure that not a single cell escapes.  

BTW, my CA 125 was 500 when I first saw the surgeon, 1500 on surgery day, and 300 immediately after surgery.  By the time I started chemo three weeks later it was already down to 100.  It went to 21 after the first round and continued to drop after each of the six rounds.  Now I'm a year out of chemo and it's STILL going down!  My most recent count was last week at 5.4.  If your sister's surgeon did as good a job of debulking as mine did, she should be giving you the same report a year from now and be well on her way to a long, happy life.  

Good wishes to her!
Helpful - 0
41502 tn?1223517053
Overall all IP chemo is supposed to increase survival rate. It is a hard course, some women can't complete all six. How ever the study indicated even if you  are able to do any, it increases survival. I was only able to complete 4 then switched to IV. The ca125 drop is great, they obviously did a good debulking.They will not allow IP unless all canver over 1cm is removed.  Best wishes.
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