Maintenance or consolidation therapy

[Rebecca_1968]

I would like some information on maintenance chemo.I have ovarian 3c and I've had 3 treatments or Carbo and Taxol.My CA-125 went from 170 after surgery to 102 after 1st chemo to 16 after 2nd chemo.I hardly have any side effects from the chemo so I figure i can't hurt me.I spoke to my doctor about it and she said to ask her after my 5th chemo.I'm from Quebec,Canada and we have medicare here and I feel like doctors don't do much unless you are in serious condition.
Thanks
Rebecca

[crecco]

I was on maintenence chemo after my surgery in June of 06. I was stage IV with mets. During surgery they got all the visible cancer, but the path reports showed cells in several places, which were not visible. So my onc opted for the maintenence to try and stay ahead of it. Which is what we have done. Once my CA stars rising, we just move on to a different chemo. Kind of a pain in the butt to be on chemo all of the time, but so far even though I have not been able to completely get rid of all the cancer, it has not had a chance to take off and get out of control again. So in a way that is good. It has kept me from having to have multiple surgeries which I am sure would be the case if we were not staying ahead of it like this. I feel as though if your onc reccommends it, to go for it, as I am sure she has her reasons. That would be a good topic to discuss with her.
      Just my opinion, Chris

[lucymullis]

There's really no objective evidence that maintenance is of benefit.  However, some docs do say that they have had good results with it in their practice.  The same is true about Aromatose Inhibitors like tamoxifin.  I am considering an AI; however, to keep breast cancer away since I am BRCA positive.  Again, there's little evidence that this really helps.  I have found that these kind of decisions are difficult and we really don't know the right way to go and don't have good evidence.  I know women that have done both.  I know it feels like more is better.  However, I also have concluded that we don't know a lot about how these drugs interact for ovca survivors, so I also think sometimes less may be better.   I think continuing to ask, read, and discuss with your onc. is about the only thing to do.  One reason I go to so many conferences is to hear the latest on this issue.  I plan to go to the FORCE conference in Fla. in May.  That's for hereditary breast and ovca cancers.  I will look for more info on this.  Hope this helps.

[msjazz]

I too was told that doctors are divided on the maintenance therapy. Ask your dr. to see if your cancer was estrogen receptive (estrogen fed). If so there are ladies on tamoxifen and arimedex (tablet) after chemo as a maintenance. I tried arimedex, but quit because one of the side effects was bone pain.However I am also on chemo now for recurrence.  Maybe I should have stayed on it. Its hard to know.

[marie3B]

My doctors were against maintenance chemo for me, even though after all my treatments I still had some residual cancer implants.  They said there is no evidence that maintenance chemo extends the remissions.  I feel like without trying more chemo I am not trying hard enough to beat the disease, but my onc and my gyn/onc agree.  I like to be more proactive. I know there are several others here that have had or are having maintenance chemo. Hopefully they can give you some answers. I realize my answer was just me whining about my doctors. Sorry. I do wish you the best and hope you get a plan that you feel comfortable with. Marie