What's next?

My mom was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in July 2008.  Her Ca 125 numbers were over 13,000 before going into surgery which removed a huge tumor and many of her organs.  She is 63 and (except for lifethreatening cancer) has been one of the healthiest people I know.  She has tremendous faith and strength.  She has just finished her 5th round of chemo and the last one is taking place next Thursday.  Her Ca 125 has been going down after each chemo - her levels are at 175 after her fourth round.  Considering where she started, these numbers seem great, but reading and listening to others, they probably aren't really that good.  I just have no framework to know what things mean, and honestly haven't asked her oncologist.  It's like we are in chemo mode and don't want to speculate until she is finished with her first line and we have that information.  But now that we are getting closer, I'm starting to worry again.  I just don't know what to prepare for.  What can I expect after her 1st line of chemo ends if she is declared cancer free?  What can I expect if she isn't?

[Beachwalker33]

All I can say is hope for the best,be as supportive as you can,and take good care of yourself.As the doctor for the operative report.The best thing you can do is learn as much as you can about the type of Ovarian cancer it is that she has.Feed her lots of healthy foods.Bromelain,a pineapple enzyme is said to improve chemo response.New chapter organics Ginger force is good for healthy cell renewal,can't be given if she has gallstones.Bio-k,a probiotic drinkable is good to maintain digestive health.A stool softener daily and senokot to rid off constipation.Over course ask doctor.Green tea is also really good.Blockages are very common with this disease,do everything to keep this from happening.Keep a log of all meds,all food intake,lots of Smart Water is good to help with dehydration.Keep track of how often bowel movements are had.So sorry,hope this is helpful.

[bohan54]

I can offer info based on very similar experience to your mom`s,
DX was May 29, 2008 also IIIC.  My CA 125 was 2900 before surgery and 154 after my 5th chemo, had my sixth on Nov. 14 and it went down to 31.  Enough to call it a remission altho I still show 2 very tiny spots on my liver.  

If your mom`s goes under 35, doc will probably call it a remission but will also want a scan to confirm.  If not, my doc told me he would have to start treating my disease as chronic, meaning try another chemo cocktail.  Let`s hope your mom`s downward trend continues so she gets a break, knowing that most of us recur at some point and require more chemo.  Hoping for a long remission for your mom and me!

Yours,
Sharon

[Oregondaughter]

Sharon,

Thanks for your comments.  Since you hit 31, and considered in remission, what kind of follow-up are you having?  How are you feeling?  What did your doctor indicate would happen next?  

Denyc

[bohan54]

I am involved in a clinical trial so my follow up differs from the norm.  I will continue to receive treatments every 3 weeks 14 more times.  I may be getting a promising new drug Avastin (very expensive) or a placebo and I will never know.  Avastin has helped many recurrent OVCA patients, FDA is seeking approval to make it part of first line therapy.

I feel like I have gone nine rounds with the champ but am thankful to be in remission.  I asked my doc what would happen if I wasn't in the trial and it would just be wait and see.  They check you out every 3 months at first, then every 6, then once a year.  My understanding is 80% recur within 2-3 years but there are many variations of chemo that can keep the disease at bay.

Stay close to mom, go with her to the doc, it may make you feel better.
S

[SimplyStar]

If your Moms health and physical condition is good now, talk to the onocologist about maybe extending the chemo for a couple more sessions.  Since the recurrance rate is so great at stage 3,  I would suggest getting all the cancer killing drugs  I could now, try to stop any recurrance from happening.  I know that it feels good to take those breaks but untill all those cells are killed, they just keep multiplying. At the very least ask about a maintainence  chemo, get the CA125s done  every 2 months and head off any new growth.

[Oregondaughter]

Thanks again for the suggestions and comments.  It helps to hear from others.  You don't feel so alone.  My mom has tolerated chemo really well. She is healthy and relatively strong.  The other complication is that she has a colostomy that the opening keeps shrinking and we have just been praying that it stays open until chemo is over.  I mean it is really tiny.  She has to have another surgery to either create a new stoma or reattach and eliminate the colostomy all together.  Not sure which direction she will be able to go, but something needs to happen soon.  She has basically been on a liquid diet or very soft food, little fiber.  It has frankly been more stressful than the cancer, if you can beleive it.  In some ways it has been a destraction.  She has her 6th round of chemo this Thursday.  We're gonna hope for the best.  Thanks