3 x ovarian cancer

[Setter]

I found my 6lb. tumor, dr treated me for constipation 4 months, ca125 was 4700 stage 1, 11/1/05 hysterectomy & appendix removed, 3 rounds carbo/taxol, back 10/01/06 6 rounds carbo taxol, back 10/01/07 now doing 6 rounds doxil, is this the way my life will be from now on ? My oncologist, gynecologist surgeon, is way too busy , I have asked him several times about hormone replacement therapy, (do you know anything about that?) clinical trials etc he just flat out says they don't work.  He has 2 offices and really could care less about me unless i am doing chemo, when he examines me he spends about 3 minutes, there is no one else to go to around here. i am really tired of not getting phone calls returned and the apathy he shows,  when he 1st saw me he said "if you were my wife this is the treatment i would give" I often think if he would have done his job better maybe the tumor  which was suposed to be Encapsulated would not have leaked into my fluid system and i could have been cured 1st time out,remember i am only stage 1,  what do you think about all this?

[Searching48507]

Don't lose hope.  My mom was also diagnosised a stage I and was told it was encapsulated, but 8 weeks later it was found spread throughout her bowels.  Then 13 days after the bowel surgury the PET scan showed a 5.6 cm mass (the size of a large lime) to have grown back in her pelvic area.  You need to keep fighting the fight and stay positive.  

Wishing you some peace during this trying time!!!!

Karen

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Setter,

Where is the cancer now?
do you know what the histology was? serous, clear cell, etc and the grade? grade 1-3? It is really tough if you cannot talk to your doctor. I do not know if what you have can be fixed or not but it is alot more comforting if you can talk about it with someone who has a handle on what is going on for you.

Does your doctor have a nurse or nurse practitioner that you can talk with? I know that my nurse knows everything and gives my patients alot of comfort by listening and being able to answer most questions.

As far as therapy,
if you have a tumor that can be surgically removed, that is the best first intervention. Chemo is always important but chemo works better on smaller spots.

The chemo you have received is very standard and good.
Other agents that have been used for recurrent ovarian cancer include
topotecan
gemzar
cytoxan
tamoxifen
arimidex

let me know more about you
take care