Ovarian cancer reoccurring

[Janibel]

Two days ago my CA125 marker went from 14 at my last two month check up to 68.5.  My dr says this is a significant rise in tumor marker. I have been in remission for 4 and a half months. Where does ovarian cancer spread to and how?  Initially I had 7 hour surgery and they said they got all the cancer. I had 6 months of chemo and I feel fine. I don't understand and am scared.

[Janibel]

The constipation was so painful I ended up in ER.   Psin in stomach ribs backs n shoulder blades was excruciating . ER first gave me atevan them morphine.  I am not a painkiller pill person but wow did I hollow. For it that night.  Constipation.  I don't know what else to do... Meralx twice a day lots of water, can't eat....  Any suggestions?

[HVAC]

I am here anytime

[Janibel]

Thank you.  I survived the 5 hrs of chemo.  Actually it was immediately relief from the symptoms I was struggling with going into the chemo.  I feel pretty good and strong.  I've taken my meds for side effects.  I have a dr appt next Friday ... So I will know Tumor marker number then n if chemo did good. I wish you well with your chemo treatments... Thank you for being there for me

[HVAC]

If you get nauseated at all get them to help you. I take emend for Nausea. I went on a different chemo Doxi because the Taxotere/ Carboplatin did not work on me. It may not be strong enough. I only have hour infusions. The main thing is to keep eating you may not want to. I got too underweight and almost died. Now I do six meals a day including ensure if I do not feel like anything else. The side effects may not be bad at first they build up over time. Tell them if you have side effects they have medications to help. My first hospital felt you were on your own. My new one feels no one should get sick if they can help it. Because it is over time it may not be as bad. I had a friend who did 9 hour chemos. She said it was baout the same.

I have had over 21 chemos now. I had a six month break but that was it. I am here for you.

Alex

[Janibel]

I went to see my oncologist n my marker is now risen to 345. He said it appears to b aggressive. So I begin the same chemo that worked really well for me the first time but for longer period of time. Initially chemo was 1.5 hours for 6 months once a week.  Now I will be infused for 4.5 hours with 2 medications every three weeks.  I'm scared. I don't know what to expect with 5 hours of chemo.  What will it feel like?  Will the side effects b horrible?  The side effects of the 1.5 hrs once a week were minimal but knocked the marker down from 600 to 7 in 6 months.  Have you gone through 5 hours of chemo?

[HVAC]

I read a text book about Ovarian Cancer to understand it. Unlike Breast Cancer it rarely leaves the abdomen. It does not usually go to the bone or brain like Breast Cancer. It is treated like a Chronic Illness once it comes back. It is good your Doctor is on top of things. The sooner they treat the better. My last CT showed new Cancer on my spleen. I have killed from the spleen and liver so I think I can again. I call it the whack a mole Cancer. I kill it one place and it pops up in another. The trick is not being scared and living with it which is not easy.

Alex

[Janibel]

Thank you for your message of hope. I have a CT scheduled for this Friday. I didn't know that it can show up on CA125 and not on CT ... That it can b so small.  This knowledge gives me a different understanding.  Thank you.

[HVAC]

I am sorry you have to go through this. I know it is scary.

Ovarian Cancer is considered a Chronic Cancer. Some women are lucky and have long remissions.  With Ovarian Cancer it spreads through out the Peritoneal Cavity. So it can go to the out side of the bowels, the liver, the spleen, the diaphragm. It can be so small at first it is picked up by the CA125 but not a CT Scan. It has been there awhile if it shows up on a CT. Most women have ascites fluid and the cancer floats around the peritoneal cavity and latches on to whatever organs. The tumors are like popcorn. This Cancer does not have symptoms until the late stages.

With me at the beginning I had Cancer in both Ovaries, Fallopian tube, on the omentum (the lining of the organs which they took), four places on the bowels, my rectum, and the diaphragm. Then it went to the liver, spleen and lymph system. Usually women live for years. I have now been in a Clinical Trial for Amgen 386 and Doxil chemotherapy for over a year. It killed all the Cancer in my liver, spleen, and diaphragm, but is back again in my spleen. Doxil is not as bad as the Carboplatin/Taxotere. I know a woman who did over a 100 cycle on Doxil and lived 27 years. I am 2 1/2 years out from diagnosis. I live a normal life. I have gotten used to having Ovarian. I try not to think about it. The fear can drive you crazy. When Amgen 386 comes on the market it will be a game changer it is not chemo it is a target therapy and I have had it every week for over a year with no side effects.The only problem with a clinical trial is you have a 50% chance of getting the drug. I did it for other women but it ended up saving my life. I changed hospitals because the first University Hospital was not as good as where I am now Duke. Duke has more cutting edge treatments.

Alex