Worried for my mom

[jennifer71]

Hello. I just discovered your site and its been so informative. My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May. She is 58 and has no family history that we know of. She had a radical hysterectomy. Everything is gone including the cervix. During surgery,the surgeon said it was likely stage 1c,but when the biopsies came back,they changed it to a stage 1a with grade 2 cells.Her ca125 prior to surgery was 65. After surgery it climbed to 158 which doesnt make sense because they said the tumor was contained and no organs or lymph nodes were affected. She received her first chemo treatment 3 weeks ago and her ca 125 dropped to 42. 4 days later they repeated it and it was 37. Her second chemo was yesterday.My question is the drs are now deciding whether or not she needs 3 or 6 treatments of taxol. They originally said 3,but now because the ca 125 increased to 158 after surgery,they dont know. Also with a stage of 1a she was told she is incredibally lucky and it is unheard of to diagnose oc at this early stage.She stomach was growing out of control so she went to her dr and they found a 17 cm complex cyst. They told her there is a 95 percent chance it wont return. Any information you could help us with would be so appreciated. Does she need 3 or 6 treaments. Im 34 and my moms my bestfriend. Thank you for your time...

[Gatsby]

Hi and welcome to the site.  It is good that your mom was dx early.  There are many women here who have been down the same path and I know that they will post shortly.  Your mom does have a gyn/onc, correct?  If not...get her to one.  They are the specialists.  The general course of chemo is 6 but that will depend on what the findings are.  Did the dr. say that the 95% return rate was without the chemo?   You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed
~Tascha

[jennifer71]

hello,thanks for responding. Yes she has a gyn and 2 oncologists. One says 3 treatments of chemo the other says 6. The 95 percent rate is for the cancer NOT returning because its at stage a grade 2. Does that sound right? Are her chances that good? Anybody else have a stage 1a and had a recurrance. Thank you..
Jen

[Gatsby]

It does sound good.  Looks like it was caught early and that is the key to beating this.  Early detection is the best cure.  Sounds like she has good drs. with her.  I think that the one wanting 6 chemos wants to make sure that it is irradicated.  Keep talking to the drs and get as much info as you can.  Write down any questions you have so that you don't forget to ask them.
~Tascha