Remission after Chemotherapies

[kgoneou]

Hello from Greece,

I'm reading your posts for about a month and I'm informed for some questions I have.
My mum on March 2007 underwent a total hysterectomy with oophorectomy and omentectomy for a bilateral low differentiated serous-papillary ovarian adenocarcinoma that extensively infiltrated the omentum (stage IIIc). She recieved chemo with carboplatine and paclitaxel every 3 weeks and it was well tolerated, Ca was normal after 2nd cycle of chemo. In July Ca started to rise to 42U/ml but CT scan was negative so we wait for few months. In September Ca has reached 97.3U/ml. She was operated and peritoneal seedings were found in the pelvis , the mesocolon, the intestinal wall, the remaining omentum and the supradiaphragmatic space while a liver lesion was not of malignant origin. After the operation the Ca was 129U/ml and I'm really worried about that . Do you think the cancer is going into remission after the new cycle of chemotherapies?

[Angie_Lou]

My sister shares the same name and spelling!

I agree with Joanne (jlock.)  If this is your Mum's second time with carbo/taxel, and she is only platinum sensitive, gyn/oncs' usually give it a try, ESPECIALLY, when she was very receptive to it the first time.

I have a great doctor here in the USA and even attended a presentation by another doctor from another hospital.  I was really happy to learn, these two doctors (both women) seem to have similar standards for their patients even though they work out of different facilities.  Networking is all about finding what works for the individual and gathering as much information as possible to find that solution.

In some respects, the doctors do have some different methods and this is where we all need to pick & choose what seems to fit our individual situations, but both believe highly in quality of life and it sounds that your Mum's doctor is like this, too.

I pray the Chemo treatment works and brings her CA level down and back into remission.  There is a deep feeling inside me that it will.  Angie

P.S. I'm second generation Greek-American and my Greek is so-so.  But, I'll give it a try with help from a translating site (note that MedHelp might not be able to allow cut&paste & I'll have to find another way): Ο Θεός Μαΐου έχει το έλεος

[kgoneou]

Thanks a lot for your response. I really love your dogs , I have a yorkshire terrier and my mum adore him. Now she is in the hospital having her first chemo and she is missing our yorkie. Hope the chemo will work and put her in remission because we all need her in our family.
My best to you , your sister and the lovely dogs
Catherine

[jlock]

The imflammation from the surgery will cause her ca-125 number to rise..so I would relax and give her newest chemo a chance to work.  I have had my share of recurrences and each one has put me back into remsission but only for a little while.  Hopefully this latest chemo will work and put your Mom in remission for a very long time.  ~~~Joanne

[kgoneou]

I'm really glad that you answered me. I'm really thankful.
Well I'm Greek and I would like to sorry for my English but my mum is from USA and we are thinking visit US for second opinion after the finish of the new cycle of chemos.She is having the same chemo and the doctors said that she is platinum sensitive.
About the Ca that rised up after the surgery the doctors said that it is common because the destroy of cancer cells . What do you think about that?

[Angie_Lou]

I gather from your post that (possibly) you're a Brit (referring to your "Mum") married to a Greek man (your last name?) and God love you for that!  I'm all Greek and some of the Greek men in the US are, well...another story.

I'm trying to read between the lines on the treatment you're Mum has had.  I too was diagnosed stage IIIC last year in April (one month after your Mum.)  I underwent full hysterectomy, omentum removal, etc and the same chemo for 6 sessions, every 3rd week, tolerating it well.  My last Chemo session ended in Aug (2007.)  My CA125 numbers stayed under the comfort zone of my GynOnc (which is 35 and this seems to be the comfort zone for most GynOncs.) for awhile, but kept increasing slightly with every 3 month appt.  With my CA125 raising to 78 as of this August (2008), I opted to have a CT scan done again. The first one was last year, which was clear.
HOWEVER, the CT scan I underwent this September did show a small amount of scattered (cancer) nodules.  So, based on this, I'm on a less invasive treatment at the moment until my GynOnc appt in November.

With you're Mum's levels increasing after a second surgery and within 18 months of her initial surgery, it seems you're Mum's OvCa may be platinum resistant or sensitive, in which the Carbo/Taxel mix may not be effective at this time.  You should ask her doctor about the Chemo treatments they plan and then maybe ask "technical" questions on the MedHelp Doctor's forum for Ovarian Cancer for more guidance.

As much as we can give you support in this community forum (not a doctor's forum), we are going through this somewhat blindly ourselves and can only offer what we have experienced personally.  Some may have parallels to your Mum's and others will not.

Bottom line; if you are every uncomfortable with your Mum's GynOnc's decision on your Mum's life (yes, your Mum's life), I hope you have the option to seek a second opinion.

Please keep us informed.
My best to you, yours & your Mum.  Angie

[nyc lady]

Will they be trying a different chemo?

Everyone reacts differently and let's hope that they are able to get your mother into remission.  Although I disagree, many have compared this disease to being treated like a chronic illness, there are numerous different types of chemos and drugs that can keep the disease stable that allow for many women to live productive lives for years.  

First things first, get your mom back on her feet from surgery and give the chemo a chance.

Wishing you all the best....keep in touch.
Pam