My mom's recurrence

[etaxitpo]

Hello-

My mother was diagnosed March 2007 with stage III b or c ? ovarian cancer.  My mom had a complete hysterectomy then 6 rounds of carboplat and taxol.  My mother's onc decided it would be better for her to have maintenance chemo Taxol only.  My mom's CA-125 counts started to slowly creep up.  My mother's onc decided to switch her treatment to Doxil which we started yesterday.  We also found out that her most recent PET scan results showed a recurrence isolated to an area in the pelvis region.  My question is do I start writing my mother's obituary or is there some hope for my mother?  How well does Doxil work for recurrences.

I am an only child that is very close to her mother and quite frankly I am scared to death of what this means.

[ajeanne]

I was dx with ovca stage 3c in March and have had the traditional 6 rounds of  Taxol and carbo. My pet scan shows that although there is no increase in the cancer activity, it has not been reduced by the chemo. My CA125 cut in half after surgery but has pretty much stayed the same since. I'll be starting Doxil soon. I have remained as positive as possible through this all. My mom was dx  in 1982, was treated with surgery and then chemo (big strong chemo in those days) she was a 25 year survivor and lived to the ripe age of 86. She did not die from ovarian cancer. You must keep your mind on you and your mom's individual case. NO ONE can tell you how this story will go or end for that matter. Be supportive and follow your doc's instructions and also do your own research. I was unhappy about my Pet scan, but I spent a day in the blues and then I make myself come back to the real and living world. some days are harder than others. Be strong together. I"m sure your mom is also worried about you.
Peace,

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
Thank you bgal for your great comments.
etaxitpo - it is scary to think of losing your mother. it sounds like her oncologist is keeping a good eye on her and working with her to give excellent choices for chemo.

While I agree with bgal that people live with their recurrences and continue to do well, function, work, and even have few to no symptoms with ovarian cancer, it is still worrisome that the marker rose within a year of first treatment.  The range of what can happen can include bgal's experience to having the cancer grow quickly and cause  your mother to become very ill this year.

It is really, really hard not knowing! I agree with bgal, all you can do is push on with therapy as long as that seems reasonable.

take care

[bgal]

Your Mom needs your strength right now.  You have every right to be scared BUT not every ovarian cancer patient with a stage IIIc diagnosis is on their last legs!  I was diagnosed in Jan 2000 with stage IIIc.  I have had two recurrences since my original diagnosis for a total of 21 rounds of chemo, have done clinical trials at the NIH, and work full time.  I have never had Doxil but did have 6 rds of taxol/carboplatin and 15 rounds of taxotere and carboplatin.  My hair has come and gone so many times that I have become very used to not having it at all and really don't care about it any more.  I was just recently advised I will be going into treatment again in a few weeks as another mass has appeared.  NOne of this matters.  What is most important is that your Mom has strong people to lean on when the going gets tough - and it certainly does.  To answer your questions - NO now is NOT the time to start writing your Mom's obit!!!  NOW is the time for you and your Mom to start living life to its fullest and finding the joy in each other's company and the environment in which you find yourselves.  Now is the time for you and Mom to really do the things the two of you have always wanted to do together and never found the time.  It's time!  When you and your Mom start really living, DESPITE the situation, you will find that life is truly an unbelievable journey and that the length of the journey is immaterial - the substance of the journey is what matters.  Best wishes to you both.  It's time to grasp the brass ring and go for the ride!