bloodwork/ovarian cancer

Hello Doctor,

My mom has stage IIc ovca and is on her 3rd session out of 6 for taxol and carboplatin.

She just went for bloodwork yesterday and her cholesterol went up. Does this have to do with the chemo because it kills the white cells and red cells?

Also, she still has numbness in her fingers and it has been 2 weeks since the last chemo- how long does this stay?

The last question is my moms CA-125 level is not really a good indicator for her because her level was only 21 before the surgery and then went up to 99 after the surgery ( they said this was normal) and now its down to 30...

What can she go by besides a CT scan?

thanks again for all of your help.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
I am not sure if cholesterol is affected by chemotherapy. It may be affected by the steroids that are given as premedication for chemo. I would just wait until until chemo is over and reevaluate.
Unfortunately, numbness is a big problem with current chemotherapy. The general rule is : 30% resolves, 30% gets worse, 30% stay the same. It can take up to a year for the numbness to go away.

You should ask your Mom if she might be interested in acupuncture. Some people find that helpful. Other interventions that have been tried is taking B vitamins , and prescription medicine such as neurontin or amitriptyline

Yes I think a CT scan is a good idea for follow up
best wishes

[ninabelle]

hi i just stumbled onto this site and i am sooo glad i am not the only one who has ovarian remnants.  My body after my hyst created a full sized ovary and tube to the point that my obgyn came into the ultrasound with me and couldn't believe it.  i now have enough est. in my body that he suspects that i am growing another remnant.  i am going for an internal ultrasound on thurs.  i had or am growing endo back.  i am in severe pain every day and worse when it comes around that time of the month.  i am having bowl and bladder problems along with painful intercourse.  (no longer doing that)  With my new doc hopefully things will get better.  I am waiting to get into a pelvic pain clinic.  
i have alot of back pain
lower abs pain
pain down my right leg
and now pain is up in my diaophram (SP)
new specialist thinks endo is back and growing becaouse of strong with an estegron (SP)

what is a ca 125 test should i suggest it to my new gyno.




thanks for being out there

[akg]

Hi Ninabelle
You should ask you doctor about using something like lupron to suppress your ovaries to see if your pain improves. That will put you into artificial menopause and stop the ovarian remnant from functioning. if you still have pain with that, it is not the ovarian remnant. if your pain is better, that is a reason to consider another surgery.
good luck to you