chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and good pain-killer?

[bug11]

My mom, 63 years old, was diagnosed as ovarian cancer--stage IV last November. She has gone through 6 times of chemo (4 times paclitaxel and 2 times paclitaxel plus cisplatin). It seems that she has much more severe side effects from any medicine than most other people. The chemo and the rhG-CSF give her extreme pain all over body--joints and muscles. She has taken all kinds of strong pain-killer (the regular painkillers do not work for her at all) such as tramadol, morphine,buprenorphine. However, those strong painkiller gave her other severe side effects like nausea, vomit, and dizzy. This adds up with the chemo almost kills her and makes her want to give up all treatment. I love my mom so much, and I am desparately asking for help here--Would you suggest some other kind of painkillers that have strong effects and at the same time fewer side effects? I would do anything for her if something helps to make her better. Many many thanks in advance!!

[Jenny Go]

My mom, age 70  too was diagnosed with stage 3/4 ovarian cancer last year May 2004.  Doctor discovered a mass which was too big to be operated on.  Medications was given to reduce the size of the mass on one of her ovary.  I did not expect the doctor to write stage 2 cancer on her report i guess it must be the juice that healed her.

I read about natural juicing in a book written by indian doctors.  I quickly bought a juicer(good one) and gave her beet root(cut into half for big one) because the ingredient can be strong for weak patient, green apples 1 or 2, carrots juice them enough for a cup and drink them daily once or twice a day.  She has been drinking them (sometimes add celery or other vegetables if you like) but i guess beet root, carrot and green apple is the inital thing you try now.  If your mom can co-operate by drinking those natural fruits and vegetables, then at least her condition will not worsen as i see from the way my mom has got her life back to normal. (she had her blood test just three weeks ago).  Beet and carrot and apple are anti-cancer and cleanse the blood and get rid of toxins. She should feel better than pain-killers(pain killers don't heal your illness but just relieve for a moment).

Organic fruits and vegetables is definately good if you can afford them. I still do not know whether it is the juice or the medication that reduced the mass on her ovary up to 80% and later doctors remove her womb because it had spread to some part of her body already.

So, please encourage your mom now.  Good Luck. Hope to hear good news too.

[bug11]

Thank you so much for all your encouragement, which means a lot to me. I will tell my mom about Dilaudid and ask her to give it a try! Best luck to you.

[Dyno]

You may want to try a pain reliever called Dilaudid. I am not sure of the spelling.  It is pronounced "Dill" -"law" - "did". My wife typically has an small allergic reaction to morphine. She would break out in hives and itch all over. The Dilaudid worked well for her. My wife had Stage IIIC Ovarian cancer and has had the same therapy your mother has had. In addition, she has had topotecan, gemcidabine, hexaline and Doxil. None of them are a cakewalk.  They each have different side effects. Good luck. I know exactly what you are going through.

[Techo]

This type of chemo treatment is verry effective on ovarian cancer, so my personal advise is whatever you do - DO NOT STOP IT. My mother had a course of 5 terapies with both paclitaxel and cisplatin, and I am aware of the side effects. The pain over the body, the muscles and articulation will not go away for probably 9-10 months. But as I said abvoe - do not consider quiting the therapy. Wish you all the best!