update on my mom

[Christine72]

My mom recieved her CAT scan results, and the  tumors spread more in her abdomen.  She just came home from being in the hospital since Tuesday.  She went to get drained again.  She ended up staying three days because her blood pressure was extremely low, and she needed several blood transfusions and to be monitored for a few nights. So she didn't even get drained until Wednesday morning.  Both her PCP and a new oncologist came to see her several times, and then we found out about the CAT scan results.  

My mom is medically resistent to the chemotherapy--and the new oncologist looked through her records and said she's on some of the best chemo out there!   The problem is, her cancer is mutating. The new oncologist had a special term for it -"Medically Resistent to Drugs" (MRD) or something. He's going to examine some of the ascites that was drained from her, and see if there's something that can be done.  If the tumor contains hormones--estrogen and progesterone--maybe the cancer can be killed that way. Also  he told us about something else he was looking for in the ascites which I can't pronounce or spell.  Right now, he doesn't know if he's going to give her more chemo, or try a totally different type of drug.  At least, that's what I ASSUME he's trying to say.  

Has anyone heard of this procedure, where they test ascites and come up with alternative treatments?  If so, are they successful?  I'm really worried, since her cancer is mutating.

Something better be done soon, though. My mom was drained Wed. morning, and this morning, her abdomen is full again!  

[MickeyVicki]

Yes, I know of a woman being treated for  an advanced stage OVCA.  She is being treated at a hospital in Atlanta.  The doctors tried several different "standard" therapies, and nothing seemed to be working.  She had to sign a rather long-winded consent to the treatment, but they more or less began experimenting.   She's had to spend more time in the hospital than when she was on standard therapies.  They have not been able to regress her cancer, but the spread has slowed to a "crawl."  The doctors' efforts on her behalf has bought her some time, and when we are really honest with ourselves, that is all any of us has!

[dian07]

Hang in there kid; you are in a tough spot, and, I do respect both the pain and sense of responsibility you are feeling right now. I wish I could help you carry your burden.
Please realize your mom knows what you are offering up for her; your love for her is something she recognizes and is so thankful for. She might not be able to say it out loud, but, believe me, she feels and knows it.
Stay close; stay honest; love her, and let her love you.
Peace to you and your mom.  dian

[xrayu2]

I am so sorry things are so touchy right now.  i have seen(I think on hystersisters.com) where a lady is taking Tamoxifen(an estrogen blocker usually given to breast cancer patients) because chemo is not helping her ovarian cancer.  Hopefully results from the ascites pathology will give some hope of treatment.   My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

[Christine72]

Thank you for your reply.  The information you gave was a big help to my mom.   I copied and pasted your reply, printed it, and showed it to her. She's saving the paper I printed. I guess she'll show it to the doctor when she sees him. The oncologist didn't really go into the detail you did.  My mom and I didn't even know this was the latest technique.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

My mom's had seven rounds of chemo so far.  I don't know the names of all of them, but I know she got taxol/carboplatin.

[MickeyVicki]

Christine, basically the new onc is using the latest technique in  ovarian cancer fighting.  It is  just now becoming common for doctors to test tissues and fluids during the chemotherapy regimen to determine if the drugs are working. If they are not, then other drugs can be tried, and often they "cocktail" the drugs together in custom combinations, and sometimes including other medications they believe will slow the progression of the disease.   I do not recall how many times your mother has had rounds of chemo, or whether she ever achieved a remission.   Previously, doctors  often just prescribed a drug or combination of drugs, let the patient run the entire regimen which usually consisted of as many as 6 to 12 rounds of chemo,  and only then did testing to determine the level of success.

There have been dramatic changes in cancer therapies in just the past few years, and this is one reason that current statistics on cancer survival for ovarian cancer  are not yet showing the increasing numbers of women who survive, or who live longer with, this terrible disease.

[MRW]

Christine, I've been following your story and am so sorry you are having such a difficult time. I'm fairly new to this message board (my Mom was just diagnosed) and will be watching and hoping for the best for you and your Mom. Just please know you're not alone in this...

[Gatsby]

Christine, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your Mom. It sounds like she has some good drs on her side.  Sending hugs!!
~Tascha