remission

froggy1
froggy1 Member Posts: 205
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello Ladies,
I have a question about remission. What determines the start of remission? Is it the first clear scan, the end of a cycle of chemo, the good CA125? I am considered in remission now, but 'am doing a maintenance chemo, so not sure if that "counts."(???)
When remission is mentioned, there seems to be a definitive time period and I was wondering how the magic number is calculated. I would hope I don't have to calculate the end of it! HaHa
Love, Froggy

Comments

  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #2
    Froggy,

    I am going by what my doctor told me. I had my last chemo August 2008, then CTscan, physical exam and blood work in November 2008 - no evidence of disease. I asked her then was I in remission and she said yes. I did have two cycles of maintenance after, but discontinued as it was almost as bad or worse on my bone marrow than chemo!

    Don't know if that helped and I know we are all so different even with the same diagnosis. And most of us have different doctors.....................

    Love,
    Libby ☺
  • beckyracn
    beckyracn Member Posts: 322
    #3
    LPack said:

    Froggy,

    I am going by what my doctor told me. I had my last chemo August 2008, then CTscan, physical exam and blood work in November 2008 - no evidence of disease. I asked her then was I in remission and she said yes. I did have two cycles of maintenance after, but discontinued as it was almost as bad or worse on my bone marrow than chemo!

    Don't know if that helped and I know we are all so different even with the same diagnosis. And most of us have different doctors.....................

    Love,
    Libby ☺

    My declaration of remission
    My declaration of remission came 3 months after my last treatment and after my 1st clear scan. Libby's right...I guess it depends on our doctor.
  • jane65
    jane65 Member Posts: 277
    #4
    Froggy1
    Hi,
    I'm taking a chemo break now.

    My May scan was clear, and my CA within normal range although slowly creeping up. I asked my oncologist if I'm in remission and he said no, there are microscopic cancer cells in my body and we'll repeat the scan and CA next month, if that is ok, we'll repeat the CA in August and probably start chemo then.

    I'm staged 4B with mets. to the lymph nodes and he said he expects me to be on chemo the rest of my life.

    Depressing, but that's life.

    Jane
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    #5
    With 2 NED CT-Scans & a CA-125 under 35, Onc said "REMISSION".
    When my 1st 2 'post de-bulking surgery' CT-scans were NED, and my CA-125 dropped down under 35 after my 3rd round of chemo, my oncologist said "You're in remission!" But I still had to push on and do 3 more rounds of chemo, 28 rounds of external radiation, and 3 rounds of internal radiation, 'remission' or not! So I think it really depends on the oncologist.

    But my last CT-scan showed a tiny 2.7 mm nodule on my lung, so I think I've lost my 'remission' status already, even though tomorrow I will have my final round of internal radiation, and be DONE with my initial treatment protocol at last. I will then get a 6-week break from treatment before any more diagnostic bloodwork or imaging. So, after tomorrow, I am NO LONGER IN TREATMENT, for 6 weeks anyway. But I think only a NED CT-scan and stable CA-125 in mid-August will win me that 'remission' status again from my oncologist.

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