Help-Taxol/Chemo

Hi, I'm new to this message board.  I have ovarian cancer, stage 3, surgery last Sept., and had chemo once a week for 18 weeks (taxol & carbo).  I am 64 years old.  I'm making a decision on having chemo (taxol) once a month for a year.  My big concern is being numb from this next treatment. I'm told this 2nd treatment is not a cure but only to hold off ov cancer coming back so soon.  Although, I'm hoping my cancer is gone!!!    

So my question is:  Anyone out there had taxol once a month for a year after your 1st chemo treatment?

Another question:  Any one have a Pet Scan and what were your thoughts on it if you did?  I am not on medicare, so don't even know if the insurance will cover this procedure.   

Another question:  Do you have a good web site or book on nutrition for ovarian cancer?  Or any good tips on what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink?  For example, a gal eats cottage every day with flax seed (something she read).

I'm sorry we are all in the same club (cancer) and hope we can live a long and healthy life with all the new treatments!!!!!!

Puna

PS  My name is Michele, but I see there is a Michele on this site already.  Puna is what my 2 grandkids call me.

PS  I live in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I lucked out and have the best surgeon in the US!!!!  My surgeon thinks I should definitely do this chemo for the next year, and I think my chemo Doc. is not trying to talk me into it. 

PS  I'm open for any advice!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

 

On 5/26/2009 Puna1 wrote:

Hi, I'm new to this message board.  I have ovarian cancer, stage 3, surgery last Sept., and had chemo once a week for 18 weeks (taxol & carbo).  I am 64 years old.  I'm making a decision on having chemo (taxol) once a month for a year.  My big concern is being numb from this next treatment. I'm told this 2nd treatment is not a cure but only to hold off ov cancer coming back so soon.  Although, I'm hoping my cancer is gone!!!    

So my question is:  Anyone out there had taxol once a month for a year after your 1st chemo treatment?

Another question:  Any one have a Pet Scan and what were your thoughts on it if you did?  I am not on medicare, so don't even know if the insurance will cover this procedure.   

Another question:  Do you have a good web site or book on nutrition for ovarian cancer?  Or any good tips on what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink?  For example, a gal eats cottage every day with flax seed (something she read).

I'm sorry we are all in the same club (cancer) and hope we can live a long and healthy life with all the new treatments!!!!!!

Puna

PS  My name is Michele, but I see there is a Michele on this site already.  Puna is what my 2 grandkids call me.

PS  I live in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I lucked out and have the best surgeon in the US!!!!  My surgeon thinks I should definitely do this chemo for the next year, and I think my chemo Doc. is not trying to talk me into it. 

PS  I'm open for any advice!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Hello Michelle,

First, the PET shows where the cancer is and how "hot" it is.  It along with the CA125 cancer marker is a good way to follow the cancer and determine if the chemo is working.  PET scans are expensive, but well worth the money to find our exactly what is going on.  Do you know your CA125?

I was DX 3 years ago, did the surgery, chemo  Taxol/Cisplatin, lost hair, numb feet, etc. then has a year off chemo, but my 125 started going up and the PET show the cancer was active and growing.  Now I have been on Gemzar and Carbo for 11 months and it is working very well.  Hair is thinner, but still there, no additional numbness.  I have had a few minor side effects dur to my compromised immune system, but I live a very normal life.

The last PET showed the cancer reduced dramatically and the CA125 is down ti 8.4 - also breast cancer marker, 27.29 is down to 18.5 - the two are not related.  I am now able to spread the chemo out from the Day 1,8,15 to every 3 weeks which is so wonderful.  Now I feel I have a life.  My oncologist says that I will be on this chemo for as long as it keeps working, then we'll try something else.

I think if you will read through the Compass messages, you will find many are on Gemzar and most of them are doing well.  Taxol is so strong, if your Dr. can find something that works for you, it certainly would be better and give you more qualtiy of life.

Many of us on this message board have changed our diets somewhat.  Go to www.i-amperfectly healthy.com/acid-alkalinefoodlist.html where you will find a good diet for cancer patients.  I follow it somewhat, have cut out red meat, eat more fruits and vegetables, etc.  Send me a note if you can't access this web page.  You are on the right track to search out alternative diets.  Also antioxidants and food supplements help. 

Please follow up on what your decision is and how you are doing.  The Teal Warriers on this site are always with you.

Gayle

Gayle, my CA125 is 18 as of 1 month ago.  It was 3,000 before surgery,  I'll email more later, I'm dashing now.  Thanks, Puna

I was diagnosed with stage IIIC ( node involvement ) in October 2007. After debulking I had 8 rounds of taxol/carbo. I too was offered the once a month maintenance chemo. Before making a decision, I did a lot of research, and I found that while maintenance chemo can delay recurrence, there is no proof that it extends overall survival, and some studies indicate it may even shorten overall survival. I turned it down, and after I did my chemo doctor shared the same research that I had already found before making my decision. Chemotherapy is very hard on the immune system, and if your immune system is so depressed that it can't even fight off colds, etc, imagine how weak it would be against cancer. For me, I decided my best bet for long term survival was to build up my immune system and hopefully my body will fight off the cancer. I switched to a mostly plant-based diet ( buying organic when I can ), eat chicken/fish a few times a week, and very rarely eat red meat. I cut out sugar and white flour and most processed food. I try to nourish my body with a lot of natural good food, like carrot juice, salads, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, and beries, and I take supplements such as Vit C, Maitake Mushroom, Ginger, Immpower, Vit E, and a multimvitamin. I drink Green Tea and Essiac Tea. So far, so good. Just had a check-up and I am still in remission with a ca-125 of 6.

Hi Michele

My name is Michele too.  I chose not to do the 12 month consolidation of taxol but that was my choice.  A friend of mine from chemo with the same disease chose to do it and just finished her last treatment in May.  She did well throughout all of her chemo though even though she was also Stage III.  She had a very positive attitude and always did Pilates and exercise.  Her CA 125 has been 7 throughout all of it.  She's doing well thank God.  My doctors told me if I did choose to do the taxol if I was going to have a reoccurence it would happen anyway.  And I did have one.  I have no regrets upon my decision though.  Do what your heart tells you.  I did.  And I feel no matter what aI did it would've turned out like this anyway.  The best of luck to you.  Michele

Michele, how long after your 1st chemo treatment did your ov come back, and what treatment did you do if any?  Did you have surgery and what stage do you have?  I'm assuming you had taxol & carbo and if so, how often?  Will you give me your history of your cancer, time lines and treatments?  Thanks, Puna (Michele)