reoccurring ovarian cancer in enlarged lymph nodes

[littleman]

My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had surgery. 2 years later the c125 have increased. A scat scan was taken and shows that the lymph nodes are enlarged in an area below the belly button down to where the aorta artery seperates to go into the legs. Please list the stages of cancer and their prognosis, for instance difference between stage 2 and 3 and what are her options. She was told to take femara and have another scan in 3 months and a decision on other options at that time. Are lymph nodes in cluster or are they single cells. She was told that the cancer was in about 20 lymph nodes.The largest lymph node in 2.8 cm.

[alanpvegas]

There is much talk about Femara today based on studies by the Univ. of Edingurgh in Scotland.  (There it is called by it's generic name Letrozole).

http://www.alanpeto.com/ovarian_cancer/blogs/45

Femara or Letrozole will only work in certain ovarian cancer patients who are estrogen sensitive.  The study shows about a 3 year survival time and those who were highly sensitive to estrogen even had responses.

Perhaps the doctor is seeing if she is sensitive this way and if so, Femara looks like it is an emerging option (clinical trials need to finalize this initial research, however).

Alan

------------
Ovarian Cancer Research Website
http://cancer.alanpeto.com/

[dian07]

Hey there....finding out your mom's cancer has reared it's ugly head again must be terrifying.  I am 2 years out from being diagnosed with ovarian cancer....I have 3 sons...they would be feeling tha same as you  do right now if it recurred.  You have good questions but I don't have the answers ....maybe you could talk with her oncologist or one of nurses on her medical team.  Each of us is so different.  Some lymph nodes are in groups and others are individually  located.....the lymph nodes are an entire system.  They are strategically placed all over the body both to fight infection and for drainage.  Femerra is a relatively new drug.....I know frequently it is taken in conjunction with other chemo agents.  Is your mom taking anything else?  I would ask the oncologist if the addition of another drug would help fight this beast....Please give your mom my best wishes......I know it is hard being unable to make this go away.  When I was getting chemo one of my sons lived 4 1/2 hours away...one was graduating high school...the oldest simply came home for the duration of the chemo because he needed to be here for himself....it is different for each one.  I was awfully glad he was able to be here...could  be here ....and, wanted to be here.  The other boys were working as was their dad.  Actually they all worked but the oldest came home and took a job with one of the local towns for the summer so he could be here.  My daughter, who lives close by, has two children and was unable to be here much because of my succeptability to infection....we all do what we have to do and that is how we get through this.  I didn't want anyone to do anything that made them feel frustrated ....I had trouble concentrating.....I wanted to laugh.....that's all I wanted to do.....sounds silly but Americas Funniest Videos is something I waited for ....I loved laughing even at the re-runs....that show maybe saved my life!  My 23 year old son just now called....I told him I was talking with you.....he became totally silent....he won't even try to empathize with you... it scares him too much.....this is tough......you can help your mom by simply being there...whether physically or on the phone or by letters....just let her know you love her and that you are there....just be in touch and tell her how much you love her.....it's okay if she knows you are scared.....she is scared too.
Peace.
dian

[Helmar]

Hello... here is a site where you can read about the staging of Ovarian Cancer,

http://www.oncologychannel.com/ovariancancer/staging.shtml

I have a cancerous lymph node in the left groin area, which has all but disappeared from the 7 treatments that Iv'e just finished of Taxotere/Carboplatin. I don't know much about Femara, but do have a friend who has been taking it, and it wasn't working for her, but we are all different. Personally... and just my thoughts alone... I feel that your Mum could need something much more stronger to fight the cancer in the nodes.
Best wishes to you and your Mum.....hugs./....Helen...