A question to everyone fighting ovarian cancer!!!

My Aunt was diagnosed with Stage III C ovarian cancer in April of 2003. She has not went into remission yet. She had a hysterectomy after diagnosis and then started chemo because the cancer had spread to the abdominal wall. She finsihed that chemo and three months later her CA 125 was rising again, so they started her on chemo again. Now she is getting Topotecan. She has had a total of 44 treatments of chemo and her CA 125 is still around 1000. She said they told her she can't quit until is goes below 35. She is so tired. She goes back up to Hershey, PA on Nov 11th to talk to her oncologist. Is there anything I should be asking the doctor? She asked me and my mother to go along. If her count is not coming down then apparently this chemo isn't working, right? They are going to do a ct scan on the 22nd of this month. She had to beg to get that. She is having terrible back pain as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



Samantha

Hi Samantha,

As a stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor, I do agree that if the number is not coming down then that chemo is not working for her.

Did she initially receive 6 treatments of taxol and carboplatin?
That is the standard chemo for ovarian cancer.

You said that she is going back up to PA on November 11. Where is she now?? Living with you and your mom? How often does she see her oncologist and who is giving her treatment while she is away?

Has your aunt had an abdominal/pelvic cat scan recently?? If not, it may be time for one.

My opinion would also be to get another opinion. Does your aunt see an oncologist/gynecologist and a medical oncologist?? I know that I am carefully monitored by both teams.

Hope all goes well.
Rosalie

This has been a long haul for her without good results on the recurrence. If she doesn't have a gynecologic oncologist, she should consult with one. Also the CT scan will be revealing as to what she has and where. Do you or your aunt live close to an NCI Comprehensive or Clinical Cancer Center? They often have clinical trials. Wishing her the best.

s Samantha

Unfortunately about 30% of women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer do not have a good response to the standard chemotherapy. (taxol and carboplatin) For her it sounds as though even some other drugs are not bringing her into remission.
If she is treated in Hershey, she is fairly close to Fox Chase Cancer Center in Phila. I would highly recommend this hospital for a second opinion.
I would also request some chemo sensitivity testing be done on her original tumor. This could possible narrow the choice on what might be an effective chemo for her.
In the meantime she should seek aggressively relief from her pain. Ask to see the hospital's pain management doctor.
No one with a cancer diagnosis should live in pain!!!
Best wishes to her and kudos to you for being such a caring niece.

oxoxox karenann

First I want to thank you for responding. Rosalie and Karenann you two are angels!!! I dont post alot but I come to this site to see how everyone is doing.

My Aunt does see a oncologist/gyne at Hershey. We live about 45 minutes away from Hershey and to save her some traveling, they told her she could get her Chemo here where we live. Hershey is still in charge of her care and tell the oncologists her what treatments she is to have. She did initially have the taxol-carbo chemo and her count went up 2 1/2 months after she finished the treatments. After her surgery she stayed with my mom at her house. My Aunt lives alone, she has all her life. She has never been married. The only family she has is my mom, my sister and I. (Of course nieces and a nephew as well)

She is going to see her medical doctor Nov 2nd and I think she is going to ask about how they feel about the care Hershey is giving. It just seems as though she hasn't had a break since the diagnosis.

Samantha

Karenann mentioned an "epithelial" tumor type, but is that what your aunt has? If she has clear cell, it could be a bit more resistant. (Forgive me if I'm missing something here.)

I'm so sorry that the drugs that have been tried thus far haven't been working.

I would recommend reading the following books to see if they offer some help for attacking this cancer from another angle:

A Cancer Battle Plan -- Anne Frahm
Antioxidant Miracle -- Lester Packer
Beating Cancer with Nutrition -- Patrick Quillan
A Macrobiotic Approach to Cancer -- Michio Kuchi

Each offers a different selection of information that may help your aunt make some changes that will help her. I certainly can't guarantee anything. But if traditional medicine isn't working, she owes it to herself to explore alternatives.

Also, check out the Dietary Recommendations document on www.nutritional-solutions.net under the Lectures & Events section. It may be helpful to you.

s!