second-line chemo

[Bina_N]

I had another appointment for my mother at cancer Center today and I do have few questions:

1) What could be a reason for not removing ovaries/uterus during laparothomy if patient is 66 y.o. woman  diagnosed with ovarian cancer ?
2) What are the stats for those who is going to have second-line chemotherapy ? Is it really just the last attempt to prolong their life or there are survivors after such treatment ?
3) Doctor said that sometimes CT scan can show tumors in lungs while this is not really tumor but something else? What except surgery is used to double check if this is tumor or not ?

Thank You,
Sabina

[karikay]

Regarding survival after second line chemo:
When cancer returns after first being treated, it is unfortunately not likely that it will be cured - but you can live a long time with ovarian cancer. Some of the ladies out there have lived for years with it and have been on several different drugs for it.
All my best to you and your mom. :)

[Bina_N]

Thank you for your replies. The story with my Mom is that she was treated in Russia and now moved here to live with me. I am puzzled about a lot of things that she had done back there and I have no chance to talk to her doctor.
She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 2 years ago through biopsy (micro surgery). Then she had laparothomy in Oct. 2005 when they did not remove wither ovaries or uterus but did a resection of greater omentum. This is what puzzles me, why leaving varies and uterus?
Then she had first line chemo and seem to be doing better untill next year. In Oct. 2006 she had another laparthomy and it sounds like at that point doctor couldn't separate tumor and just left everything as is.
Since January she was on alternative treatment: herbs, strict diet, water/clay procedures, cleansing ....etc. She seem to be doing better. Lady who treated her claims she "dissolved" tumors in her uterus but of courseI do not believe it.
In August her CA-125 went up to 400, in Septemebr it's already measured 2350. It took some time to get her coverage and doctors lined up here, so it is not untill yesterday she had her CT scan and had doctor to see examine results and suggest treatment.
He is saying she has tumors in stomach, liver and lungs now. And she knew that, she felt a lot of bloating lately and feels hard tumors in stomach. However doctor is saying CT scan is overly sensitive sometimes so he is not sure about lungs.
He is going to present her to Oncology Board next Wednesday to decide what to choose:
1) Surgery to remove tumors + 2nd line chemo.
2) Only 2nd line chemo.
I trust her current doctor, he is experienced professor at Stanford Cancer Center and I do not think we need a second opinion. It is just I am puzzled by some staff which was done woth her elsewhere

[SimplyStar]

if your mother has not had debulking surgery, how was she dx with OVCA?  You ask about 2nd line chemo, did she have first line?  maybe you need a second opinion for your Mother.

[Conquerer]

Sometimes it is important to shrink the tumors before removing them.  It might be a full debulking would be stressful for your mom at this time.  Please ask more questions like you asked here to your doctor.  They will explain it and if you are not comfortable see another doctor for another opinion   good luck