What should we be doing at this point?

[ConcernedInNY]

This week my mom goes for her 3rd treatment of taxol/carboplatin.  I am insisting they do the CA-125 because I think we need to see the trend or at least establish a baseline.

For now I know the standard treatment is the 6 treatments of the taxol/carboplatin.

But is there anything we can be doing/researching at this point?  Id like to think chances are these treatments will work.  But then again chances are there will be a recurrence.  How long she is chemo-free should a recurrence take place will determine what the next drug(s) used will be.

What drugs should we be looking into?  The initial treatments are standard but I think docs differ on subsequent treatments...at this point should we get a second opinion especially since my mom is feeling pretty well at this point?

I dont want to sit around and wait...I want to be proactive and have courses of action for the future.  Anyone have any advice?

Thanks and God Bless you.

[milashka]

Alan, first of all, I noticed from the way you have been phrasing your questions, you have learned a lot over the past weeks! And knowledge is good!

Your mom must have been in good shape going into this mess, if she is doing so well at 75! It is easier for us young ones to "suck it up" so anyone over age 60 I really admire.

To answer your question: Let her make it through all treatments first. When she is done, she might not want to do anything else, nor might she need to! After chemo, it is time to reclaim one's life and body, and get strong for another treatment, if needed. Just the way I look at it.

[Barney22]

I agree with suzsen - once you finish chemo most people start to worry about being 'out there on your own' and it's important to help your mum keep that anxiety down as far as you can.  Recovering and doing enjoyable things she has always wanted to do is very important.  Anticipating other treatments at this stage may not be that helpful - there will be time for that if and when there are signs of relapse.  I know my own consultant was not keen on jumping too quickly into 2nd line treatment until there were clear signs of relapse as CA125 can move around up and down whilst your own immune system is fighting away on your behalf.  Chemo is very toxic and eventually might not work if over used.  A number of new drug regimes are coming along quite quickly now, not just chemotherapy ones although they are mainly at the trial stages.  Very glad to hear she is coping so well with the chemo - keep her cheerful!

[kathy o]

Hi Alan,
I am so glad your Mom looked pretty and surprisinly well for what she is going through.  I don't know what you could really do to prepare for the end of Chemo and beyond that. Reading and learning about the Cancer can surely give you insight to what might occur, but until she has completed her inital treatments  and they do a scan, you cannot really predict what will come next. I will tell you that each time I have had to do more treatments than orginally planned, but that is not the case for everyone, I had the stubborn Ascites fluid and had an additonal 3 treatments to get rid of that stuff. Your Mom is one tough cookie to be handling this at 75 and I admire her and you!! .  Remember too Alan if you have a daughter that she will need to be tested also. My neice will be starting testing when she turns 25. Let us know what her ca125 results were. When I started my Chemo mine was at 125 and now six treatments later it is a 18! WHOOPEE!!!!

[ConcernedInNY]

Hi Suzsen,

After the second chemo treatment she was a bit achy and tired for a few days afterwards but she says she is feeling fine now.  So overall, I think she is handling the whole ordeal remarkably well.  I am so proud of her!

But I saw her over the weekend and she looked amazing.  Her wig looks great and she looked so pretty and healthy I could literally feel my eyes well up.  Its just so hard to believe she has this life threatening illness.

Thank God they can boost the red and white counts and that theres meds for the nausea.  I am so thankful she hasnt been nauseas once and has maintained a very healthy appetite.

I so admire my moms strength and the fact that she is facing this with grace and dignity.  She is a wonderful mother and an incredible human being.

[suzsen]

It's hard to be patient, and you're great to be so concerned about helping your mom, but at this point I think you should let the chemo finish it's course before doing anything else.  Hopefully the chemo will put your mom into a LONG remission, and if/when the cancer comes back there will be a newer and better treatment available.  

It's been 16 months since my mom's last chemo. She's doing great, her CA125 was slowly rising but it seems to have levelled off around 25 and her CT scans are clear.  She's enjoying herself and traveling with my dad.

If your mom is feeling good let her enjoy that.  Unfortunately the effects of chemo tend to be cumulative, each successive treatment may leave her a bit more tired and achy.  So keep your eyes peeled for news of new treatments, but in the meantime try to relax a little and enjoy the fact that your mom is doing so well!