Regarding Recurrence of Ovarian Cancer

Is there a difference, and is it better if it has been a long time between the original dx of Ovarian Cancer, Stage 3 and the recurrence?  My Mom, age 75, initially was dx last November 2008, and in July of 2009 was told she was in remission.  This past December (Christmas Eve to be exact), our family was notified that indeed the cancer is back in its original location (when she initially had her surgery, ie. debulking).  Is this bad that she was in remission for such a short time, like 5 months?  Is it possible she actually wasn't in remission at all?

[gah_70]

It is possible there were microscopic cells left that didn't show up at the end of her treatment, that, given the time to grow, are now showing themselves.  Usually, when remission lasts less than six months, patients are labeled platinum resistant, and other forms of chemotherapy are used. This is assuming some form of Taxol and Carboplatin or Cisplatin was used initially.  Quite a few women on this forum are platinum resitant, so it not uncommon for that to happen.  Do you know if her cancer cells were tested to see what grade they were (for example, grade 1 which is slow growing, up to grade 3, which are fast growing)?  This is in addition to being tested for the stage, which you said is stage 3.  It is also a possibility chemo killed the fast growing (or grade 3) cells, and what's left might be a lower grade that will not respond as well to chemo.  This is something that you or your mom can talk to her doctor about.  

What chemo is your mom on now?  There are so many here who are on different chemos and can give you information about how it's working, and what side effects they have.  Best wishes to you and your mom.  Hope she responds well to the next treatment.

Gail