Reoccurrance

My name is Laurie, I was orginally dignosied in Oct. 2004 with stage 1c ovarian cancer. After 6 rounds of taxol/carbo- I was finished-or so I thought! my CA125 was down to 6 in June. My CAT scans in August and Oct were clean. But in the beginning of Nov 2005-my CA125 jumped to 65. So it was felt that something was going on inside of me. After surgery in Dec, they found a small node on my adom. wall- all others clean. I am to start on Doxtill -6 rounds- at the end of the month-27th of Jan. I would like to get input as to how others have done on this treatment. I teach at-risk preschoolers and plan on continuing to work-is that realistic? I hope to hear from others who have gone through this same situation.

Laurie,
Sorry to hear about your reoccurance. I am also in the same type of situation. I was 1st diagnosed at 25. They removed the diseased ovary and fallopian tube and I followed with Cisplatin (Taxol came out that year but was not available when I had the treatment). In 2003, my cancer had reoccured (8 years later)and was followed by a complete hysterectomy, debulking, staging and then followed by 6 rounds of taxol and carboplatin. I developed an allergic reaction to the carbo but managed to complete treatment by the drugs being administed slowly over a week (desensitization). Now, at age 36, I am three weeks out from my last surgery due to my 3rd reoccurance. I am due to start Doxil on 1/20/06. I am not as fortunate as you regarding the pathology report. My came back with all samples positive for the cancer. I worked through all my treatments and although it was difficult at times, it is possible. That will depend on you and how you feel. Even though I had very bad side effects, I took time off here and there when I needed to. I am lucky to work for such an understanding company. I also have a 12 year old and a 3 year old so my plate is full. My husband is a big help but you need to let people help you when you need it. You have a great chance of beating this at a stage I. I am at IIIC but I will never give up on this fight. The majority of complaints that i have heard with Doxil is with the hands and feet. It is so hard to tell what we will experience since everyone is different. I was ordered to get an ectocardiogram (sp?) before the chemo though since this drug is hard on the heart. If you are not scheduled for this you may want to ask your doctor. Let's keep in touch since we are going to be going through this at the same time. I wish you the best and look forward to hearing back from you.

Annabelle- thanks for your response. It is always helpfult to hear from others going through the same situation. I have had a hard time finding women dealing with ovarian cancer within my age range (40's). I have 3 daughters, 16, 14, &12. They are great helpers and I do have a wonderful husband. I start Doxill at the end of the month-let me know how you do on it also. Good luck with everything!! Being positive is the only way to go. For me working allows me to not have this disease control my life-I control it! keep in touch Laurie

Hello I am Jeanne. I was diagnosed Jan. 2002. I underwent a 8 hr. surgery. They found ovarian cancer. It spread throughout the peritoneal area and also I had fluid. I was drained of the fluid twice before the cancer was discovered. I had 7 rounds taxol/carboplatin. My remission lasted only 14 short lived months and it returned. I went on taxotere/carboplatin. I had zero white blood cell counts from the taxotere on my 3rd cycle. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. Then I was put on doxil and it didn't bring my cancer into remission. I am on gemzar now. It brought my levels down from 900 something to 222 now. My cancer is not curable. The chemotherapy only keeps it from spreading the doctor said. I am taking my 49th chemo session tomorrow. I stay tired and nauseated alot. Is it worth it? I am about to give up the chemo and live my days out with quality time. If only they had a cure for ovarian cancer or another chemotherapy drug that would work? I am 57 and have 3 sons and numerous grandchildren. I lost my mom and husband in 2004. I have a pomeranian who keeps my depression lifted. He is my little guardian angel right now. Good luck!!

I am on Hycamtin, and it seems to be working. It has less side effects than some otner one I was on.

My wife was taking doxil & she has ovarian cancer, which has gone to her liver. Doxil along with most of their other chemo treatments do not cure you from ovarian cancer,[they only effect the dividing cells, not the others] so you should look at other programs that do. Virotherapy targets only the cancer cells. The Mayo clinic has an engineered measles vaccine that is very effective, which is in a phase 1 clinical trial. Very few side effects. There is a waiting list, so be sure & sign up ahead, before things get worse. This is a very hard cancer to beat, so you need something like this. There is also clinical trials using Herceptin for ovarian cancer. It is an antibody that targets breast cancer & is FDA approved, but is in clinical trials for ovarian. They can run a blood test to see if it will match. Some ovarian is related to breast cancer. These are some of your best options.
Sincerely,
Benjamin {Former Medical Researcher]

My wife was taking doxil & she has ovarian cancer, which has gone to her liver. Doxil along with most of their other chemo treatments do not cure you from ovarian cancer,[they only effect the dividing cells, not the others] so you should look at other programs that do. Virotherapy targets only the cancer cells. The Mayo clinic has an engineered measles vaccine that is very effective, which is in a phase 1 clinical trial. Very few side effects. There is a waiting list, so be sure & sign up ahead, before things get worse. This is a very hard cancer to beat, so you need something like this. There is also clinical trials using Herceptin for ovarian cancer. It is an antibody that targets breast cancer & is FDA approved, but is in clinical trials for ovarian. They can run a blood test to see if it will match. Some ovarian is related to breast cancer. These are some of your best options. I know of more if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Benjamin {Former Medical Researcher]

Dear Laurie,

Your situation sounds like mine. I took Taxol/carboplatin for six months. My CA-125 was down to 27. After 1 year it went back up to 247, they did a CT scan, it had gone from my peritoneum to my liver. I am now on Doxil, and my CA-125 has come down to 47, but my doctor wants get it down to below 24. My side effects were not associated with my hands or feet; I developed sores in my mouth. If that happens to you just be careful with not drinking really hot liquids or eating anything that irritates your mouth, because the irritation will not heal quickly, and will develope into sores.

As far as continuing to work, with me, the day I had chemo, I couldn't work, I was really tired. The next day I felt better, but I don't know if I could have worked (I'm retired, long story), but the third day, I felt fine. So I would have been able to work. But everyone is different, so you'll just have to take it as it comes.

I hope you do as well as I did, I haven't had much trouble with side effects on any of my treatments, and I was at the same Stage as you are.

Good luck, Peggy

laurie

everyone is different. I just retired on disability because chemo takes so much out of me that working is hard and drains all my energy and I have none left for my family and spiritual life. For me it was a priority choice. I have worked for years and had all the alcolates that comes from a successful career. I want my energy for family and faith and discovering new things. I plan to write a book when I am feeling good enough to work. The important thing is to keep active in some way and not perserverate(is that spelled right, not my strength) on ov.