Platinum + 5FU

Hi, Dr. Goodman.

My mother is receiving Carboplatin + 5FU as a fourthline treatment. (Her previous treatments for recurrence were Carbo+ Doxil, and Carbo + Gemzar, and Taxol) Her CA 125 has been a pretty accurate marker for her, and it increased after one treatment. How long should one continue this regimen without a drop in CA-125? She switched from Taxol after one treatment when her CA-125 did not decrease. (Taxol was last used with carboplatin in September 2006). Also, my mother has been concurrently receiving radiation for breast cancer.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Jen,
I usually give a new chemo regimen 2 to 3 treatments before assessing how effective is was.  For your mother, if she has developed ascites, the CA 125 will be much higher and may not adequate reflect the action of the chemotherapy. Ascites in and of itself cases an elevation of the CA 125 protein.

Now if she is developing symptoms from the ascites or the fluid in her lungs, that is a reason to consider draining the fluid now to make her more comfortable.
please let us know what happens
take care

[Jen Y]

Hi, Doctor. Just a quick update since my last post: My mother had a CT scan done showing ascites in the abdomen and in the pleural cavity.