Now what

[vegas2cr]

Thank you for taking questions.  Diagnosed stage 4 April this year through exploratory.  6 rounds of carbo/taxol and debulking surgery last week.  My gynecological oncologist stated no visible signs of cancer.  Yesterday biopsy came back and showed a cancerous tumor in the left fallopian tube and cancer cells in the omentum.  Will see my oncologist tomorrow but wanted another opinion on next step. Since all was cut out can I forgo more chemo....
Again thanks for your time... Ronni

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Ronni,
It sounds like you have gotten good care. Surgery is very important but if there still was active cancer cells seen at the time of surgery, it is important for you to get more chemo. Your doctor may discuss 3 possible options:

1- continue with more carbo/taxol
2- consider weekly or monthly taxol for one year
3 clinical trials

I can only guess at how hard it is to face more chemo after going through so much. Please keep us posted as to how your are doing
take care

[vegas2cr]

My oncologist says the cells found with the biopsy under microscopic conditions were less than 1 cm and so she believes we should do nothing for today.  She wants to see me in 6 weeks for another ca125 and go from there.  I hope shes right... I really like her and trust her and the medicine here in Costa Rica is a little different than in the states where I am from.  Here debulking is ALWAYS done after chemo.. they go the European route...

She says that if the Ca 125 rises we will cat scan again and then use more carbo/taxol when needed.  She says she could not be more pleased with a stage 4 patient than she is with me.. HMMMM....oh I am 58 years young,

Thanks again for your comments...