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[Conquerer]

well I have just spent 2 hours trying to catch up with all the postings. i have been on vacation and ended it with the triathlon in seattle.  I feel for every one.  While gone I went uo and down with energy, at times I felt bloated   can anyone tell me if they had definite symtoms when it came back.  I had a low ca 125 2 months ago but would really like to know if you could tell with the recurrance.  also i am 16 months out from ip and ov chemo and still tired at times  please help my mind  
thank you   conquerer

[Lafnatitall]

When I had my recurrence, the only thing that alerted me to it were the return of symptoms and a CA125 level rise.  My CTs and PETs were all negative.  It wasn't until I had the emergency gallbladder removal that it was found.  I hope this isn't what's going on with you, Laurel...keep in touch.

Rhonda

[crecco]

  I was told that some times when you have a recurrence that you can experience some of the same symptoms that you had before you were dx but just not quite as extreme.
I am sorry to hear this but I do hope that you enjoyed your vacation.
   Chris

[westgal]

Sorry you have been feeling tired and bloated at times. From what I understand, we usually see a rise in ca125 when it comes back. Here is an excerpt from Ledermann et al (Eds.), Clinical Management of Ovarian Cancer:

"The serum marker CA125 is a reliable tumor marker to monitor the response to treatment in ovarian cancer and to detect early progression.....

During treatment and follow up a rising CA125 level is, in the majority of patients, the first indication of relapse.

A retrospective study has shown that when CA125 was used in combination with conventional examination, progressive disease was diagnosed in 73% of patients by serum CA125 alone, and in 92% by combined use of CA125 and pelvic and physical examination."

In addition, studies that you can find on PubMed indicate that in the majority of recurrences there is a rise in CA125.