is clear cell curable?

[yayhoo]

Hi.  My mom was recently diagnosed stage 1a clear cell ovarian cancer.She is going to have a port put in and will start 6 rounds of chemo (carbo/taxol) after that.  From my understanding, that seems to be the typical treatment.  I'm confused because I've been reading that clear cell is so much more aggressive.  But, I thought stage 1a meant it hadn't spread anywhere....so why is there a high chance of reoccurance?  I've been trying to find some information on long term survivors of this type of cancer...I haven't found anything yet.  I'm so scared.  I'd love to talk to other people that have had experience in this or that know more than me on this topic.  My family has never been so frightened by anything else before.  I'm tempted to post my phone number and beg you all to call me, but for now can someone give me some hope?  Is there any hope?  I'm so scared.


This discussion is related to clear cell type ovarian cancer symptoms � prognosis....

[Libbyshope]

As a follow-up to my comment from earlier today, I thought you would be interested in the following editorial published in the most recent issue of the Cancer Journal.  The editorial was written by David M. Gershenson, MD, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

In the editorial, Dr. Gershenson suggests that rare subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer (e.g., mucinous, clear cell, low-grade serous, and endometrioid) should be assigned to separate clinical trials due to the unique molecular nature of each subtype. Some discussion of clear cell ovarian cancer is included in the editorial with an excellent list of medical study citations.

You can find the editorial at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123264459/abstract. I hope you find the information helpful.  Best, Paul

[Libbyshope]

Yayhoo, there is always hope. The good news is that your mom's cancer was caught at an early stage, and yes, the first line treatment (the "standard of care") is use of  taxane (paclitaxel) and platinum (carboplatin) drugs. Also, ovarian clear cell tumors  can vary in the percentage of the tumor that actually consists of clear cell histology or classification.

My belief is that fear should not be a perpetual motivator for avoiding potentially valuable information on the internet, assuming you take the time to learn about the disease and understand the significance, if any, of published medical studies. How you approach the disease is entirely up to your mom and you as each woman is different and adopting a given approach is very much a personal decision.

What is important is for your mom's doctor to recognize that clear cell is a subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer that is distinct in many ways from other epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes. I have posted responses to several women asking about potential therapies or approaches that could be used to treat ovarian clear cell cancer should the disease recur. I have gathered a fair amount of info regarding clear cell ovarian cancer and have written about potential advances in treating this histological subtype. Please feel free to stop by the website (simply search for "Libby's H*O*P*E*").  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through the website. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. Keep the faith, keep educating yourself, and keep in mind that there is always hope.  Best, Paul

[silver&gold]

Hi, i am a long time survivor of  1A Clear Cell , I was diagnosed April 2005 and this July after my check up my Oncologist is signing me off as cured!. I had the same 6 treatments as your Mum had with Carbo/Taxol as a sort of insurance incase any cells were lurking.
With stage 1A  my Oncologist said that the Cancer was probarbly all removed during surgery.
Clear cell is a rare OVCA approx 3-5% of all the diferent types , it is often found along side Endometriosis and if so is thought to be more favorable. Because it is a rare cell type there is not enough statistical information but it is treated the same way as other OVCA.
Please do  not read articles on the internet, I did that and scared myself silly, as I said before this is a rare cell type and I am still here nearly 5 years later with no reccurance so far and fingers crossed thats the way it will stay for me and your Mum too as we were lucky enough to be caught early.
Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can answer for you.

Take care
Angie