Needing some advice

[kimberly347]

Hello, I posted mid March about my mom and how soon we would see a reaction in numbers from the taxoteer. From speaking to my sister today we are very worried. My mom's "mass" has always been soft to the touch, meaning it really only felt like her belly, we could not really feel anything. Today after her treatment she wanted my sister to feel these bumps around the area, the doctor had mentioned three weeks ago he felt 3 or 4. When she felt her stomach she said that it was actully hard and that there were lots of bumps, the size of marbles everywhere, I am so scared right now, she is to see the doctor next Wed. for her new ca125 and she said she will tell the doc about the new lumps and the hardening of the area at that time. I think she is scared and that is why she did not tell anyone before now, the doc, nurse or any of us. This is pretty much the last chemo they feel will work, the last one is very harsh and they don't have very good results which is why they will not use it unless they have to. If anyone has had this hardening or the lumps appear please let me know I appreciate any info I can get. Kimberly

[marie3B]

I would not wait until next Wednesday. Encourage her to call the doc and report the change. The doctors do want to be notified of changes in condition. I have done it. I had a new nodule and even though I had an appointment scheduled soon, my doc wanted me to come in that day to check it out. I wish you all the best. I am so sorry your mom has to deal with this disease. Marie

[crecco]

I had a reaction to the initial carbo also. And I was kept on taxol as a maintenence for several months until it quit working. Then i was put on Doxil, after that, Gemzar, then Topotecan and am currently on avastin/abraxane. So as you see there is a number of different drugs out there that can be tried on their own or in combination with other drugs.
As for the "mass" and the smaller "tumors" only a PET or CT scan will show for sure. I am surprised that her Dr has not ordered one done.
  kmoe above has the right idea in telling the Drs to give you some straight answers. And if they won't, or they just seem to blow your concerns off, by all means i would do some checking around to find another Dr.
  I know that you are worried, and we all wish it could be taken care of with a "simple procedure" but unfortunately it is not that easy.
  I wish your mom the very best. Hang in there!
    Chris

[kmoe]

You may want to post her type of cancer and see if anyone has had success with a different chemo. Or if you can get in ask Dr. Goodman. My sister's doctors didn't know what to do for her, or they just gave up, so I had to research chemo. In the end she didn't get any chemo but I will regret that the rest of my life as she wanted to try something and keep fighting. Has your mother only been on carbo/taxol, taxotere and gemzar? There are many chemos, topotecan, doxil, oxalplatin, combinations, etc. Ask the Drs. to give you some straight answers on prognosis, no BS. It is still up to your mother what she wants to do. There are millions suffering from this horrible cancer. I am so sorry as I've been there and there is nothing harder but you will get through this. God bless.

[kimberly347]

My mom was dx stage IV in 06, she  had debulking done asap after dx, removed tumor from left ovary size of a cantaloupe along with over 5 liters of fluid. Her cancer had spread in a salt and pepper effect, ( small little seed effect ) over all organs and entire lining of the ab and pelvic area. She has been on taxol/carbo - she can no longer have the carbo due to a severe reaction and the taxol,  worked for a short time but she is allergic to it (with meds she was able to tolerate) and due to the fact that it stopped working they won't put her back on it. She was only off the first cycle about 3 months when it came back, not been off again. It continued to progress and is now wrapped around her bowels and intestines  Gemstar was tried but had no effect and it is still progressing. They now have her on taxoter, had her third round yesterday. I was with her the day before her first taxoteer treatment and the doc said nothing about being able to feel these small tumors and the mass on her left side was not changed. Now her stomach is VERY distanded, she has many tumors the size of marbles and the area of the original mass is hard to the touch, oh and her ankles are swelling. I know this is way out of control, I am so afraid for her. I guess I really don't have a question, more I am praying that someone will say " oh I had that, not a big deal, simple little procedure took care of it. Thanks for the post back.

[crecco]

I cannot say what all of the bumps may be, but you or your sister one should go with her next week and makes sure that she brings them to her Drs attention. You don't say and I cannot remember, but has your mom had surgery? And as for the chemo,has she been on it long? Taxotere is a milder form of taxol and i am suprised that they say that is pretty much the last chemo for her. My onc has told me that there are hundreds of drugs out there and not to worry.
  I did have a lot of small lumps over my whole torso prior to dx. And was told that they were tumors. But by the time I finished the carbo/taxol thay were all gone. It is hard to say a whole lot as i do not know your moms history. But as i said, one or both of you should go with her, and if you need to make a list of questions you would like to ask. If you do not get answers, do not be afraid to look for another Dr and get a second opinion.
   Chris