Hello,
Mom's doc is changing her treatment to Caelyx. I just posted an updated.
Regards,
Nicola
Hello,
Sorry for the delay in replying but I was busy with mom. Just to update you all, mom was hospitalize for 12 days from Nov 5 to 16 - for the issue with her lungs. The doctors decided to let it drain - so they have to insert a tung into her lunds and it allowed the fluid to drain naturally, then they injected a medication into her lungs with will find any opening and blocked it up.
Also, her oncologisted is changing her chemo treatment from charbo/taxol to Caelyx.
Has anyone used Caelyx before?
Nicola
I have read that pleural effusions can actually raise the tumor marker.
That said, it is best left to the oncologist to make the decision as to the next course of action. There are so many variables in this disease, its treatment and prognosis that it is overwhelming for most of us and I suspect for physicians as well sometimes.
Best wishes!
Hello,
We are going to see the doctor tomorrow so I will know then what the plan it. He did mention that he was not happy with the level and he will have to re -evaluate. What do you mean it may change the staging?
It think we were under the impression - after surgery the levels would be lower than that... we did not expect it to go higher.
I will update after seeing the doctor.
Nicola.
Nicola,
This shouldn't change her course of treatment, although it may change her staging. Do you know what the doctor has planned. Here it is 6 cycles of carbo/taxol. Your Mom's CA-125 is not outrageously high; so, chemo therapy may take care of everything.
Keep us advised.
Minnie
Hello,
I just wanted to update you and everyone about the results of Mom's CA125 level; it seems that is has gone up - it was 550 before surgery -the first test after surgery it was 577 and now this last test shows it's 657 - so I am not sure what to make of this.
We are doing on Thursday for a CT scan and after we are doing to see the Doctor. My mind is going round in circles as I type this as I try to understand and figure why it has gone up so high.
Any thoughts or ideas anyone? Is there specific questions I need to ask the doctor on this?
Nicola.
I have malignant pleural effusion. First they drain it by with a needle in your back but if it keeps coming back, they must find other solutions. I have a pleurex catheter tube which is drained twice weekly by a visiting nurse. Your mom might be able to reach a better solution with her team. Hoping for the best for her,
Sharon
Hello,
They told us they found cancerous cells in the fluid but I am not if what that means for us.. we are both just shocked from hearing that.. I do not know if it's malignant cells or not.
I will ask the doc on our next visit and keep you all posted.
Hello,
Yes, Mom was able to get the fluid out -I took her to the hospital and they drained it. She is breathing much better now. But the doc is not happy with her CA125 level, they are thinking of changing her reigment to a different one.
She has to have another CA test done this week and a CT scan on Nov 5th
I will keep you posted.
Pleural effusions are pretty common after abdominal surgery -- any abdominal surgery. A lot of times they will resolve on their own. Mine didn't -- it got worse; so, I had to have it drained. Fortunately there were no malignant cells in the fluid. Here's hoping that your mom's will be negative.
Keep us updated.
And it's a good lesson for all of us to remember to keep bringing up anything that is going on. I have doctors in my family, so I know full well that doctors are only people and while they might be wonderful and highly trained people - they are not perfect. I always keep lists of everything that concerns me and my doctor *knows* that despite the fact that I trust him I will always have a lot of questions!
I'm glad your mom brought it up again and I hope it is able to be taken care of quickly. She is so lucky to have you supporting her! Let us know how it turns out!
Hello,
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes, I am beginning to learn that the journery that is full of surprises. It has certainly been a roller coaster ride.
Along with my daughter-in-law's journey, the one constant seems to be change/surprise. It's a roller-coaster ride. I hope it's not cancer.