On 4/6/2007
Daughterofduree wrote:
I have just found this site and want to share my story with everyone. My mother was diagnosed with PPC in 2001 at the age of 70. She went through a course of chemo and has been without symptoms since, although her CA 125 (as low as 25 when she completed chemo) has steadily climbed these past six years. She has had regular blood tests and CT scans every 4 months. Recently her CA 125 more than doubled from 800+ to 1700+ since her last test. Today she had a CT/PET scan and we are awaiting the results.
We know that she responded to chemo the first time and are optimistic that she will respond again. The doctor says there are at least three new chemo therapies that have been developed since her last treatment.
I am sharing this in hopes that someone will take comfort in knowing that it is possible to go as long as six years between chemo and recurrence and that there are new drug therapies available.
My thoughts are with all of you dealing with this dreadful disease and those who have lost loved ones to it.
Holly
Hi Holly,
My mother was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with primary peritoneal cancer, she had been suffering for years with burning in the upper abdomen and esophagus, acidy stomach, just general gastric problems, doctors here locally removed her gallblader, put a stent in her liver with no relief, it was only when she began to get fluid on the stomach did they do a ct scan....it showed "thickening" of the peritineum, her general practitioner diagnosed ovarian cancer, but sent her to a specialist in Vancouver Wa. Thank goodness he did.. What a wonderful Doctor, he knew exactly what it was, (ppc) he did surgery the next morning and removed a tumor that had grown completely across her stomach (It had not penetrated the colon which was very good news). Her chemo has been non stop up till current, she was going once a month since diagnosis, now that her ca-125 numbers are increasing she is going twice a month...the doctor has told her that she will always have to have some kind of chemo, so that the cancer can not run rampid, I am grateful for the 2 yrs since her diagnosis that she is still with us, your message gave me hope that she can hopefully continue more years.(although the latest ct scan showed lesions on the liver, one on a lung and now on the colon) It is very hard to keep the optimistic feelings going, so many hills and valleys. I am glad that your mother has responded well to chemo and that there was time between therapy...There are obviously many different chemo situations depending on the severity of the first diagnosis and many different outcomes that can't be predicted, reading your story today help me know that this terrible cancer can't keep everyone from living a longer , fulfilling life...my prayers for a positive out come are with you and your mom...just wanted to say thanks for posting and letting me tell my story. Victoria