Is stage iv ovarian cancer always a high grade?

[Aglaia2020]

My mom has stage iv ovarian cancer, had three round of carbo/taxol, was debulked optimally, and is now on carbo/taxol for 6 cycles, plus weekly taxol.  At her last dr. appointment we forgot to ask what grade her post-op pathology report indicated.  Is stage iv ovarian cancer always associated with a ahigh grade, i.e., grade 3?  Or can one have stage iv ovarian cancer with a grade 1 or 2?

[hopeshell]

You can have Stage 4 with a lower grade.  But, the importance of the grade versus the stage is blurred when you are talking about Stage 4.  The reason is that lower grade tumors are harder to treat with chemo...especially when they are in the liver or lungs.  Chemo is more effective on tumors that grow more quickly.   Surgery can cure earlier stages, but is less effective when there is widespread disease.   So, this is definitely a good question to ask your mom's gyn/onc.  Try to remember, your mom is not a stat and she is can defy the odds.  It is a more of a treatment challenge to have Stage 4 ovca (no matter what the grade) than an early staged, high grade tumor.  But, I have come across women who have defied the odds and are still fighting decades later.  My prayers are with your mom and your entire family!

Take care,

Shelly

[Aglaia]

Thanks for your input!  My mom had a malignant pleural effusion, which made this stage iv.  That was dried up quite quickly with chemo.  I wonder if that would be called a 'tumor' because technically it's part of the ovca, but it was liquid and not a big lump.  We have to wait until next week to ask the oncologist.  So many questions!  

Right now my mom's CA125 is <35 and she seems to have no signs of the cancer.  Here's to praying for a looooong remission!

Aglaia  

[hopeshell]

I will also be praying she has a very very long remission!   Hang in there and keep us posted on how she is doing!

Shelly

[Aglaia]

We had a follow-up appointment this week, and my mom's cancer is high grade.  She's still handling the chemo very well though, so fingers crossed.

[Aglaia]

Ok, so my mom goher first Neulasta shot last Thursday, then chemo again today.  Her CA125 levels since August have dropped from 5000 to 350, then 38, then 25, then 18.  Now, in the last week three days it has gone from 18 to 22.  I'm starting to worry.  She's on weekly chemo, doesn't seem to have had any infections or anything.  Thoughts, comments, or have any of you had slights increases, only to see it fall later again?

[marie3B]

High grade is more likely to respond well to chemo.  Grade 1, like mine, has a poor response rate.  I would not worry about the CA125 going from 18 to 22.  Unless 3 tests in a row go up a little it is not that big of a worry.  I wish her and you the best.  Marie