Stage III ovarian cancer + ascites

Hi,

My mother was recently diagnosed with stage IIIa ovarian cancer. She had a lot of ascites fluid in her stomach, which was one of the symptoms that led to her being diagnosed.

Of course, one of the main questions on my mind right now concerns her chances of survival. I've read many posts on this message board from women who have lived with ovarian cancer for many years, way beyond what the doctors had originally predicted.

However, I have read that women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who also have ascites at the time of diagnosis tend to have a much lower survival rate than those with no ascites at the time of diagnosis.

So I was wondering how many women on this board who have managed to defy the dire predictions, did or didn't have ascites when they were diagnosed. I'd really appreciate hearing from some of you.

Also, I know that my mother has a very low level of protein (less than 60), which I've read is another symptom suggesting she has a low survival rate. She is so frail right now (she has lost a LOT of weight and it seems the cancer cells ate all of the proteins in her body - she looks anorexic), that I worry that she won't be able to physically withstand the chemo sessions she is about to begin next week. (Last week she had the debulking surgery). For those women out there who did manage to get through chemo and get on top of their cancer, were you physically strong when you began your chemo sessions, or were you like my mom who lost so much weight and protein?

I'd be very appreciative if anyone out there can share their experiences. Any tips on what kind of diet my mother should follow while undergoing chemo would also be great. 

Thank you so much.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi..I was dx with stage 3c ovca  in april of 2003.  I was 57 yrs old. I thought that I was in good condition...but found out that I was not.  I had a lot of acites.  I had the debulking surgery , followed by chemo (taxol/carbo). I was in the hospital for 14 days.  At the three month marker I had a CT scan...showing that the CA had come back.  My CA125 was 35 .  I was put on Doxil.  I had 26 treatments with doxil.(Doxil is used for re-current CA.) .  It has been over six yrs and I just had a CT scan that was negative, one month ago.  While going though chemo, I also lost a lot of weight.. It has all come back...and more!  I just looked up my protein levels at the time, and they were in the normal range.  Everyone is different and response differently to all the diffent chemos. There are some excellent drugs for your mother to take before she has her chemo treatment that help with the nausea.  Don't give up hope! My quality of life is excellent now.  I hope that your mother has a good out come.  If there is any questions that you have...that I might be able to answer for you please contact me..Donna

Thanks for your reply, Donna. My mom starts chemo next week and I have started to take notes from what I've read on this forum of some medication she should take to deal with the nausea. Does nausea come with the first session of chemo? Should she get anti-nausea medication before she goes to her first session? From what I understand, chemo has a cumulative effect - the more sessions you have, the worse the side effects.

What kind of side-effects did you experience? Did you have depression?

 

On 7/9/2009 stormyweather1 wrote:

Thanks for your reply, Donna. My mom starts chemo next week and I have started to take notes from what I've read on this forum of some medication she should take to deal with the nausea. Does nausea come with the first session of chemo? Should she get anti-nausea medication before she goes to her first session? From what I understand, chemo has a cumulative effect - the more sessions you have, the worse the side effects.

What kind of side-effects did you experience? Did you have depression?

Hello Donna,  I'm sorry to hear about your mother.  I wa DX 3 years ago, had surgery, chemo, etc.  They drained off 3 liters of ascites.   I felt I was in excellent health to receive chemo, but it still was a struggle.  The Dr. should provide her with all the meds she will need for nausea.  They always gave  me premeds, steroids, etc. and yes I still had nausea for a few days but not every time.  I drank a lot of Ensure or something similar.  Lost about 15 lbs., but gained most of it back when chemo was done. 

She should have a port in the chest as well as in the belly (if that is the chemo she will have.  I'm so glad I did as I will be on chemo for ever and the port is really the way to go.

 I had a year off chemo and am now on Gemzar/Carbo which really hit the cancer and has kept it down.  I also have a return of breast cancer, so I'm fighting at both ends, but I exercise regularly, try to walk a mile/day when well enough.  A healthy diet with lots of green veg and fruits, little meat, I eat almost no red meat, is my way of fighting this.

Good luck to you and your mom.

Gayle

Sorry Stormyweather that in my reply I addressed the message to Donna...just didn't read it carefully.  Anyway, you probably know it was meant for you.

 Anyway, you asked about the side affects.  In addition to the nausea, I found everything to taste bad - even water.  I tried Propel which helped and I put lemon in the water.  Chocolate milk tasted good, and lemon drops.  Dried ginger also helped the nausea.

The worst of the chemo was the weakness that I felt and the hair loss.  I got a handicap card for 6 months and it was so helpful as I couldn't walk through the grocery store - I always used a riding cart.  My blood counts were low, but they kept giving me shots to take care of that.  I have to have two units of blood to make it through the chemo.   My hair fell out after the second chemo which was Taxol and Cisplatin - given to me in both ports.

I never got a wig, wore hats and scarves ordered from TLC - cancer site for women.   Prices are good.  Go on line to see what they have and they will send you a catalog if you haven't already gotten one.

Just remember there is life after chemo and tell your mom to hang in here.  I'm 70 and doing great, but I truely didn't think I could survive this long.  Keep fighting, and tell your mom she is a Teal Warrier.

God Bless,

Gayle

 

Hi Donna-

Sorry your Mom has to deal with this. Ascites was the first clue we had that something was wrong. It prompted my gastroenterologist to order a CT scan which showed the tumors. Draining off 9 pounds of fluid afterwards let them find the cancer cells in the fluid. That was in spring of 2008. I took chemo (carboplatin/Taxol) for 2 rounds before my complete hysterectomy and appendix out too. Chemo after also. Changed to Taxol after too much foot numbness and some pain. Doxil came next after I found and had biopsied some nodes in my neck. It had returned there. It was not taking care of it so now I am in a study of PEG Irinotecan specifically for returned platinum-resistant cancer. I am making progress now and think that it is going to be chronic in my case and I may be on chemo for a very long time.

I have not had a big problem with food during chemo. Some things may taste different after chemo and your mom will find things that taste good to her  before long. And, as others have said, they will give her meds for nausea if needed and at the time of her chemos to make her more comfortable.

I have found this bulletin board full of caring and knowledgable people and hope you find help and comfort here!

Hugs,

Ann

hi! i believe that anyone who is 3c has ascites; i know i did! i dont know about the protein but a good indicator is hemoglobin before the operation; i lost about 10 pounds but put it all back on: i actually was starving during my chemo sessions! took a picknick bag of goodies with me! i was fine up to now, but am having some radiotherapy to treat 3 lesions on the liver, i lasted nearly 3 years without progression!; during the chemo i had about 4-5 bad days, then could forget about it til the next time, dont remember feeling that weak after; u need to take the anti nausea meds: unfortunately they r very constipating & u need to take the stool softeners & laxatives the day before treatments!!! the most important is to be positive!! watch funny movies, get jokes on the pc whatever, dont let the beast win! fight, fight, fight til your last breath! harriet

Hi There

My mum was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer at the beginning of March.  At 57 and extremely fit (PE Teacher), she had no symptoms and it was caught from a stray cell on a smear test - needless to say we were all very shocked. Within 3 weeks she was operated on at which point we found out that the cancer had unfortunately spread to the peritoneum and onto the surface of the liver and diaphram which they said they could not remove.  She is now half way through chemo - carbo & taxol, the tumours have shrunk and her CA125 is now down to 23 so we are going in the right direction. 

She had a tough time with her first dose of chemo as the dose was too high but she didn't suffer from nausea as she took the anti sickness drugs.  In terms of how she is feeling post chemo, she gets hit hard with tiredness 3/4 days post chemo but it subsides after a couple of days and apart from being careful not to overdo it, she is managing fine. She just listens to her body now and just does what she feels like, when she feels like it.  I guess reactions depend very much on the individual.

Just a point of note she has been using the ICE CAP during chemo and  at round 4, she still has almost all her hair so if your mum has the opportunity to try this she should ask for it.  I know managing to keep her hair, even if it doesn't stay the whole way through has helped mum enormously.

Throughout she has been taking COQ10 and being given Reiki (although Reiki not at the same time as chemo) which she believes has been helping her. She also takes bicarb of soda in water every morning as well as flaxseed oil. 

Hope your mum responds well - let me know if you need any other info.

Jen 

I just want to thank everyone for the messages of support and the helpful info you have posted. It makes a big difference to hear from people who have first hand experience fighting this. There is plenty of helpful advice in here that I will pass on to my mom.

Hi - First - do not get discouraged.  It's a long battle so steel yourselves for the long haul.  I was diagnosed in 2001 with III-C ovarian with 2.5 quarts of acites in my abdomen.  I went through the debulking surgery but that is the  only surgery I have had. I never lost weight, in fact, I gained a fair amount of weight and just now have started to lose a little.  I have had countless rounds of chemo - taxanes, Avastin & cytoxin, and am currently on Doxil and Zomeda.  The most important part of my treatment has been maintaining a positive attitude.  This will go almost as far as the chemo treatment. 

 Encourage Mom to eat well and focus on the positives in her life.  For me it has been a long but worthwhile battle and I have a lot further to go yet.  Wishing you all the best.  Stay strong, stay well.