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Post Op and Chemo
My Mom had debulking surgery on August 7th. They were only able to remove a portion (about 60%)of the stage III ovarian cancer mass because it was wrapped around her aorta and impacting her bowel. They decided they could not perform a hysterectomy either. We are seven weeks post op as of today. Her doctor has been very "easy going" since the surgery. During her first post op visit, he basically looked at her and said "you look good, keep up your strength."
They decided they want her on a trial (the one that includes the Avastin drug). I realize that they prefer patients to heal after surgery, but I am starting to worry that they are waiting too long. Her belly is starting to swell again and she is becoming more and more uncomfortable.
Is my Mom at more risk because we are 7 weeks post op? By the time she actually receives her first treatment, we could be out 8-9 weeks.
They decided they want her on a trial (the one that includes the Avastin drug). I realize that they prefer patients to heal after surgery, but I am starting to worry that they are waiting too long. Her belly is starting to swell again and she is becoming more and more uncomfortable.
Is my Mom at more risk because we are 7 weeks post op? By the time she actually receives her first treatment, we could be out 8-9 weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi There,
If your mother has a cancer that could not be adequately removed at the first surgery, she is in danger that this cancer cannot be controlled.
I think 7 weeks is too long to wait to start chemotherapy unless she has an active infection.
My questions to you:
did a gyn oncologist do her surgery? If not, she needs to be taken care of by a gyn oncologist.
Clinical trials are fine as long as they do not compromise care. The problem with avastin is that it prevents wound healing. The rule is not to give avastin within six weeks of surgery or not to operate until more than 6 weeks after avastin is given.
I hope the delay in her getting chemo was not because of that.
In general, she should get taxol and carboplatin. Most trials that add avastin , add the avastin at the second or third round of chemo (which would be 3 to 6 weeks later - this type of chemo is given every 3 weeks)
best wishes
If your mother has a cancer that could not be adequately removed at the first surgery, she is in danger that this cancer cannot be controlled.
I think 7 weeks is too long to wait to start chemotherapy unless she has an active infection.
My questions to you:
did a gyn oncologist do her surgery? If not, she needs to be taken care of by a gyn oncologist.
Clinical trials are fine as long as they do not compromise care. The problem with avastin is that it prevents wound healing. The rule is not to give avastin within six weeks of surgery or not to operate until more than 6 weeks after avastin is given.
I hope the delay in her getting chemo was not because of that.
In general, she should get taxol and carboplatin. Most trials that add avastin , add the avastin at the second or third round of chemo (which would be 3 to 6 weeks later - this type of chemo is given every 3 weeks)
best wishes
Thank you. Yes, a gyn oncologist performed the surgery at Rush University in Chicago. She is scheduled for her first round of chemo on Friday of this week (Oct 5th). Her surgery was on August 7th.
My mom is having trouble coping with all of the "extra things" that go along with a trial. We heard that Avastin can cause bowel problems and that really concerns my Mom because she has a really hard time going to the bathroom now. They bowel was being compressed before the surgery.
My Mom went from 225 pounds to 168 pounds since July 22nd. The surgery was 7 weeks ago and her belly has gotten really large again. The oncology nurse indicated they could reduce the fluid by tapping her belly, however, they really would rather not do that before her first chemo treatment.
The doctor did not give us any indication that he was concerned about controlling the cancer. He does not really talk that much...but said he felt the chemo would really help and told her to stay strong.
Now I am really concerned. We're at the mercy of these doctors to be proactive with her care and now I feel we may have waited around too long. This is the first time dealing with anything like this.
I guess we will know more after her first round of chemo. Are there any specific questions we should be asking at this point? I think we've made the choice to do the normal protocol and forget about any trials.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Deb
Curious Daughter
My mom is having trouble coping with all of the "extra things" that go along with a trial. We heard that Avastin can cause bowel problems and that really concerns my Mom because she has a really hard time going to the bathroom now. They bowel was being compressed before the surgery.
My Mom went from 225 pounds to 168 pounds since July 22nd. The surgery was 7 weeks ago and her belly has gotten really large again. The oncology nurse indicated they could reduce the fluid by tapping her belly, however, they really would rather not do that before her first chemo treatment.
The doctor did not give us any indication that he was concerned about controlling the cancer. He does not really talk that much...but said he felt the chemo would really help and told her to stay strong.
Now I am really concerned. We're at the mercy of these doctors to be proactive with her care and now I feel we may have waited around too long. This is the first time dealing with anything like this.
I guess we will know more after her first round of chemo. Are there any specific questions we should be asking at this point? I think we've made the choice to do the normal protocol and forget about any trials.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Deb
Curious Daughter
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
dear Deb,
it is good that your mother is getting chemo this week.
You should ask if she can get a CT scan to see what is going on right now inside. It is reasonable to see where things are right now so that there can be a comparison scan after a few rounds of chemo
best wishes
it is good that your mother is getting chemo this week.
You should ask if she can get a CT scan to see what is going on right now inside. It is reasonable to see where things are right now so that there can be a comparison scan after a few rounds of chemo
best wishes
My Mom had a CT scan yesterday. I fought with the doctors and they are going to admit her on Thursday to remove some of the fluid in her abdomen and administer the chemo the following day. They said that she should be feeling more comfortable after they remove some of the fluid.
I, too, am glad she is FINALLY going to start chemo so that we can see how the cancer is going to respond. The doctor told us that his ultimate goal is to go in and perform another debulking surgery once he sees a decrease in the size of the remaining mass.
We are finally getting some movement! Thank you, again!
Deb
I, too, am glad she is FINALLY going to start chemo so that we can see how the cancer is going to respond. The doctor told us that his ultimate goal is to go in and perform another debulking surgery once he sees a decrease in the size of the remaining mass.
We are finally getting some movement! Thank you, again!
Deb
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear Deb,
i am sorry it is so hard. I am glad that your mother has you to advocate for her. I know i am always grateful to my patients' families who are such wonderful advocates.
please keep us posted
take care
i am sorry it is so hard. I am glad that your mother has you to advocate for her. I know i am always grateful to my patients' families who are such wonderful advocates.
please keep us posted
take care
Dr. Goodman,
The CT Scan and bloodwork came back. They said her blood levels look really good - considering everything. The CT Scan does not show any growth since her surgery and there does appear to be some excess fluid. I hope they can help her tomorrow when the admit her to tap the fluid.
One thing of interest to me....her CA 125 levels were above 5,000 before her surgery in August. She has not had any chemo, however, the doctor did leave a drain IN the mass after surgery for about two weeks to drain the fluid. We just found out today that her CA 125 level is 289. That's a good thing, right? It means she is making progress and that the surgery helped to remove some of the active mass that was producing those proteins? Having anything encouraging to tell my Mom these days is a blessing. Hope you can tell me that this IS an encouraging thing.
Thanks much,
Deb
The CT Scan and bloodwork came back. They said her blood levels look really good - considering everything. The CT Scan does not show any growth since her surgery and there does appear to be some excess fluid. I hope they can help her tomorrow when the admit her to tap the fluid.
One thing of interest to me....her CA 125 levels were above 5,000 before her surgery in August. She has not had any chemo, however, the doctor did leave a drain IN the mass after surgery for about two weeks to drain the fluid. We just found out today that her CA 125 level is 289. That's a good thing, right? It means she is making progress and that the surgery helped to remove some of the active mass that was producing those proteins? Having anything encouraging to tell my Mom these days is a blessing. Hope you can tell me that this IS an encouraging thing.
Thanks much,
Deb
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