Ovarian Cancer Terrible Pain

[chryztna]

Hi Guys.  My mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer Stage 3C last November 2008.  She already had 3 chemo sessions and currently on her fourth.  Having gone through all these,  she would still feel the terrible pain from time to time.  Is this normal?  Shouldn't the pain at least subside with every chemo sessions she would take? Could this be an indication that the chemo is not working for her? Thanks! Will really appreciate if you can share your experiences with me.  I am so concerned especially when I would hear her cry and almost give up because of the terribe pain she feels.

[chryztna]

Thank you so much for all the help and support. We had to take my mom to the hospital last Thursday as she keeps on vomitting her food.  She has a very sore mouth due to taking oral etoposide and until now is having a hard time opening her mouth.  Also, she had another blood transfusion as her hemoglobin is very low and creatinine is high.  She's still in the hospital and recovering. I'm a bit worried though that her fever is on and off since last night,  but this is common right? Hopefully, she'll get better in the coming days.  I will keep you updated. Again, many thanks!  Tina

[marie3B]

I'd like to see her get the pain managed.  She could be getting more discouraged and feel unable to fight due to the pain.  I had a similar situation after my last chemo.  The pain was so bad I felt like throwing my hands up and saying "I give up!!".  Fortunately I got the help I needed for the stomach pain on the chemo expert forum and I am back ready to battle.  Is she on anything for pain?  If not I'd have her ask for something right away.  If she is on something she can tell her docs that it is not helping and get something else.  Once the pain is under control she can work on beating back the cancer.  As far as supplements many should be avoided as they can work against the chemo.  Cranberry juice and pills are okay and seem to help the kidneys and to flush the chemo from the system.  A good multi-vitamin is used by some since the chemo often keeps us from eating right.  Any other supplements I'd ask the onc first.  Some can even be dangerous and cause drug interactions.  I hope she feels better.  Marie

[chryztna]

Thanks! Really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me.  

Her pain is all over her abdomen.  My mom is 53 years old. She had her biopsy (including ovary removal) November last year (2008). I believe her CA125 was high before her first chemo. Already had 3 rounds of chemo using carboplatin and taxol.  And currently on her fourth using oral etoposide.  It appears that etoposide really has very strong effects on her.  She appears very weak and she now has bad cough. When I talk to her this afternoon, she was crying and it appears to me that she is on the verge of giving up. She says it's too painful.  Do you have any advice on how I should be comforting her whenever this happens? :( Also, do you guys use any supplements to help keep up with the strong effects of chemo?  She drinks Li-Dan (from E. Excel) but I've been thinking of trying to switch her to Aloe Vera gel from Forever Living.

She had her checkup today and unfortunately doctor says they still couldn't test her for CA125 as her hemoglobin is still low (she already had blood transfusion 3 weeks back), while creatinine is high.  

She'll have a rest on etoposide day after tomorrow and will have her CA125 test next week.  Really hope that the results would show improvements so as to encourage her not to give up.  I will keep you posted.

Thanks so much!

[Teresa222]

What is your best guess as to what can be causing your pain? It just doesn't sound right to me. I've not heard of a chemo causing such a traumatic type sudden sharp pain. My first rounds with carbo/taxol caused terrible leg, muscle and joint pain.  I had to take pretty hearvy doses of pain killers to even touch it. But, your pain is puzzling to me. What have the doctors said?
Teresa

[dian07]

Your mom should not be in such pain.  I had extreme pain in my bones (enough to make me feel like crying at times) as a result of the Neulasta injection I was given after each chemo.....it is given to help keep blood counts up.  Other than that I don't remember pain bad enough to make me want to cry or scream.  Please do make certain your mom's oncology team are aware of her pain..... they can and will help.  
Marie....geeze, girl....I didn't realize you were in such pain....how horrible.....I am so sorry.  Don't you loose sight that there is hope..... you are so busy tossing it out to others...... keep some for yourself!
Peace.
dian

[marie3B]

Where is her pain?  Has she told her doctor about it?  Sometimes people have horrible pain from scar tissue. I never had pain once I was beginning to heal from surgery.  I did, however, have pain when I started my chemo for first-line treatment.  I had some pain all over the abdominal wall and also some bone pain, but never severe enough to make me cry.  I didn't even need pain medicine for it.  That lasted throughout chemo.  Did she have a high CA125 before surgery?  If so that may be an indicator for her to see if the chemo is working.  She could ask the doc to check hers and see if it has gone down. Also ask when she will get a scan to see what is going on.  What kind of chemo is she on?  How old is she?  I am on chemo for a recurrence now and have been experiencing some very severe pain off and on, so I feel for your mom.  I not only cried, I screamed, yelled and sounded like a wild animal. This disease is so ugly.  I am sorry you and your family have had to deal with it.  I hope she gets a full response to her chemo.  Many do.  A woman in my support group is over 3 years with no evidence of disease and was diagnosed at 3C.  There is hope.  Don't lose sight of it.  There is help here, so come ask anything you want.  Marie