Rising CA125

Hi

Mum was first diagnosed with OVCA stage 3 in march 2005. CA125 520, 2 operations, carbo and taxol and CA125 was 18. Reoccurance Nov 2007 and Nov 2008 CA125 was 80 both times and scan showed a tumour in her liver both times. Both times treated with carbo and taxol. This got her ca125 down to 20 both times.
Last week her CA125 had gone up to 80 once again but this time her scan is clear and the Dr wants to wait another month then reassess. What are her options? Can she have carbo and taxol again? I have read some people have weekly taxol, but mums has been every 3 weeks. Will they wait until something shows on the scan?

She feels ok, apart from joint stiffness from previous chemo.

Thanks

[milashka]

Wow...her cancer is quite punctual! November 2007, 2008, 2009, with 80 each time? How weird!

I currently have a rising marker we are keeping an eye on and my oncologist also said that they are no longer treating the marker, but either symptoms or findings on a scan. So keeping an eye on the marker on a monthly basis and ordering another scan at some point seems like an acceptable approach. Having said that, if the insurance covers it I would ask for a PET/CT which is superior to the CT in showing cancer activity.

From what I understand they retreat with carbo/taxol if there has been a year of remission. I am a little surprised to see that they treated her second recurrence with the same mix without adding a different drug to it, but I am not an oncologist. She responded fairly well each time.

I was also diagnosed and treated in 2005, this will be my first recurrence, if confirmed. A few things have changed since 2005/2006: My clinic now administers the carbo/taxol once a week for 16 weeks, instead of every three weeks. The taxol is supposed to be more effective this way, and the side effects, per chemo nurse, not as bad. Also, Avastin is a new drug trials for which have just been wrapped up and it is pending FDA approval in 2010 - it is already available though, as I have heard many ladies are on it. If added to a chemo regimen, it is supposed to enhance the effect and lead to a longer remission. In fact, carbo/taxol/avastin is supposed to become the new "golden standard" of treatment in 2011. You may want to ask about it.

Best of luck!