After Recurrence - how long cancer free?

[Conners]

After your first recurrence, what was the longest time in remission/cancer free? You had surgery/chemo, thought you were out of the woods, OVCA came back and you started on chemo again. After all this, what is the longest time you have been or are in remission? Thanks in advance. Conners

[valf]

my cancer count just went up whilst still on chemo was devistated but after reading your comments i realise theres more treatments possible to keep me alive - I say bring on the chemo if it keeps you alive and well enough to enjoy life - i only hope i can have years like some of you brave ladies, I was diagnosed with stage 4 grade 3 on 4 jan 09 had my op in march and chemo ever since, my next one is the last scheduled one so hope the doctor will have a follow up treatment ready - I am not ready to go yet

[crecco]

Conners,
    Same thing with me, unfortunately it was only about 6 months after surgery and taxol as maintenence chemo. I have not seen a remission yet and do not expect to. But as was already said, this cancer seems to do exactly what it wants and no two of us are alike. I have been on chemo non stop for over 3 1/2 years now to try and hold the cancer steady. It did a good job until recently and now it seems to be progressing. We will just have to wait and see what happens. In the mean time I am working to get into a clinical trial. Don't give up hope as none of can ever know what might happen.
         Chris

[Burnzie]

Unfortunately more often than not  the cancer returns after recurrence, but having said that there doesn't seem to be a clear pattern for ovarian cancer and each one of us has a different course through this disease.  It is therefore reasonable to hope for a remission.  HOPE is such as big word in this disease because it is necessary to have to want to forge on, but it is so disappointing when things don't go as well as planned and a recurrence is evident. After having my first recurrence I wanted the answer to this question too.  I read alot and naturally searched for answers in books.  I read one story of a survivor with stage 4 ovarian cancer that had a recurrence a year after her first diagnosis and  underwent more chemo and had been in remission for eight years and counting.  Here is a person that is the exception to the rule.   There are always exceptions!  Have a good day.

Karen

[westajul]

Hi,
In Feb09 I had a clear ct scan and had my last chemo was on March 09,2009. In May 09 I had a pet scan and it was clean...so officially I have been in remission since March09...5 months and counting. I have a ct scan on Aug 21st...so I am hoping for another clean scan. I was in remission the first time for 15 months before my ovca recurrence.  I know most stage iv ovca will come back, but I am hopeful since my recurrence was caught very early and only had a couple of small tumors in my liver and no where else. Julie

[jane65]

Hi Becky,
I completely agree with what you said, and it's unfortunate that we have to accept this is going to be our life.
About 18 months ago, my oncologist said that with my 4B epithelial OVCA diagnosis, and a remission of only 4  months, he expects me to be on chemo for the rest of my life. That was like a bucket of ice water in my face.

We learn to deal with what ever we must as you well know, and it's tough. I feel angry, and depressed and just sad, but I know I must always keep fighting this cancer which will never be cured, just as long as it's stable, that's what we hope for.

Take care of yourself, we're all thinking about you.
Jane

[jane65]

Thank you Conners, I think you're a sweetie! Virtual hugs are good too, and I'm sending you one.
Please keep posting any time you think of something you need support with, and I'll do the same.
Jane

[Tybear]

So, from what I understand, your not aking how fast your cancer recurred, but how long of a remission you get after it has recurred? Just want to make sure I'm reaidng this correctly...hmmm...not really sure how to answer this. I don't think I've ever had a remission after my cancer recurred. I mean, I've always been on some type of chemo, whether it be avastin or just a daily pill of cyclophosphamide. I mean, there have been a couple months here and there where we've just sat back and watched things, but in the end, I've always gone back to chemo.
I'm sure that's probably not the answer you were hoping to hear, but once your cancer has recurred I don't think you ever really take a break from fighting it. Maybe a little breather, but no long term breaks.
Becky

[kismetfarm]

I was almost 4 years between initial diagnosis and first recurrance. I haven't had a cancer free stage since then - just varying rates of progression and sometimes the various tumors shrink again.   Still it's been over five years now in that state so things could be worse.   Back on chemo today after over a year with nothing - but the battle isn't over yet :-)

[Conners]

I was just thinking of you and how wonderfully sweet you are. It just breaks my heart that your CA 125 is going up again. DARN! God bless you my friend. I wish I could give you a big hug. You are always here for all of us. Thank you. Love and hugs, Conners

[jane65]

Hi Conners,
Unfortunately, the longest time I was ever in remission was 4 months. That was after my surgery and 4 months(16 weeks)  of Carbo/Taxol.

Then came Topo. for 10 months, a 2 month chemo break (no remission) and today I found out that my CA has gone up from 28 last month to 50 this month.
So, here we go again.

Don't get discouraged, there are some women who's cancer never comes back after treatment and surgery, and some who have a remission for years. Be hopeful.
Jane