Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC

[warrior2007]

I soon will be a 4 year survivor of late stage 3 ovarian cancer. I have had all of the usual chemo. I respond very well to the chemo and generally they take me off in early spring and then I start again in Dec. So my summers have been free. The CA 125 starts to rise generally around Sept. I do a lot of supplemental treatments along with my regime. I have just finished Doxil in May and the CA125 is rising. I have been searching out the cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. Have any of you tried it? Do you know of anyone that has done it? Also, I have tested positive for estrogen and they are wanting to use Tamoxifen I have read all of the comments and I don't know if I want to go that route.  I will do anything to keep from going on chemo as the platinum based chemos are destroying the nerves in my inner ear so if I continue with any of them I may lose my hearing. God has blessed me tremendously I was given only 18 months. I did not find a date on me though saying when I would die so I continue to fight. I do not like the word cancer so generally refer to the disease as the Amalekites. I had surgery at the beginning but the doctor did not remove all tumors and she left the uterus this concerns me with the tamoxifen as a side effect is uterine cancer. I am so blessed. I am really praying concerning this surgery as it is 10 to 12 hours and takes several months to get over. Any advice is appreciated. God bless to all. Margo

[warrior2007]

I have been busy with great grand children sorry about taking so long to respond. At the time of surgery my CA125 was 1500. Mine has never dropped below 27 during these years. I have done 4 different chemos. I respond really well to the chemo and have never had one that did not work its just that my WBC goes down so low that after 6 to 7 months they give me a rest so that my body can recoup. they always say we will try this and maybe we can give you another summer with your family. I am so blessed and I am thankful for every day, but I am praying that this surgery might help even more. At present the CA125 is 70. I feel great some discomfort in the abdomen area but nothing I can not tolerate. I know though that the chemo has many side effects so I do all that I can to stay off of it. I pray you will be able to beat this and have many blessed years. I do not know how anyone survives without God, family and friends. Take care, Margo

[Kanga1508]

Hi Margo
Thank you for responding to my enquiry.  I am curious to know what your CA125 reading was and is now.  My doctors have said that I need to have more chemo now and that they will be using a different chemo drug.  Hopefully this will give me more time to enjoy life. I am fortunate to have a loving husband and children and caring friends so I have lots of support.
I will pray for you and hope that you will respond well to your treatment.
Many thanks and good luck to you, Margo
Jacqueline

[warrior2007]

Kanga, I know that the CA125 can be related to other problems, but yet they use it as a tumor marker. I have not had a scan since Oct. of last year, but am scheduled for one on the 21st. I think the way you did your surgery is the way it should be done at all times. I feel after all of the research I have done that they should do chemo and then surgery and then go back with chemo again. So hopefully your CA125 is connected with something else. You also had a debulking I did not she left the uterus and tumors on the spleen and lower bowel so I have had to fight all of that. I respond really well to the chemo and have not been sick, but the platinum based chemo has done nerve damage in my ears. So now I may not be able to use a platinum based chemo, that narrows the chemo choices down. I generally have to return to chemo in Dec and they will say well we will try this and maybe we can give you another summer. That is why I am considering the cytoreductive surgery. It will be a 10 to 12 hour surgery, but it may give me more years without taking chemo. I am really praying as I will have to be away from home and family that is the bad part. You can read about this surgery on mdmercy.com. I have an appt. with them on the 21st so hopefully I will feel better about all of it by then. I joined this forum hoping that maybe someone had done this and also they are wanting to put me on Tamoxifen since
I tested positive for hormones and I wondered if anyone could help me on that. My regular on said even if I do the surgery he would like for me to take tamoxifen. I feel great take care of my family.God has blessed me with soon to be 4 years and I have treasured every moment you learn to smell the roses and walk barefoot in your garden and slow down. Sure there are bad days when I get alone and cry my heart out, but they are far and in between. I know my God is in control so I try not to jump ahead. I will pray for you and hopefully they can find the reason for the climb in the CA125. Blessings, Margo

[Kanga1508]

I am 68 and was diagnosed with late stage 3 ovarian cancer 11 months ago. I had 3 lots of chemo then the debulking operation and again 3 lots of chemo.  I responded well to the chemo.  My CA125 reading went down from 4,000 to 8 but a month ago went back up to 550 and now has gone up further to 900.  I had a CT scan which did not show any cancer yet the CA125 count keeps going up.
I feel really healthy in spite of this and wonder if you had a similar experience.  I have so many questions.  Any information would be gratefully received.  Thank you.