First Chemo

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leesag
leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Ok, just a quick update. First chemo was uneventful. Benadryl made me very loopy and sleepy ;)

I did get my CA125 results. I'm a bit conflicted.... It was 9824 before surgery and has only dropped to 7000 after surgery. Also, CT showed a 1.5 cm nodule on peritoneal wall.

Doctor M. still seems confident that we can beat this thing, but mentioned that we may need to consider other treatment options down the road.

On the other hand, I met a woman who was STAGE IV and has been NED for over 10 years after her first chemo. So, it's all in God's hands.

Besides, a CA-125 drop of about 3,000 is nothing to sneeze at, eh?

Leesa

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  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #2
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    Hi Leesa,
    You are absolutely
    Hi Leesa,

    You are absolutely right.

    There are many patients whose ca-125 numbers just won't budge right from the start.

    You're also right about it all being in God's hands; because how does one persons count drop significantly the first time (which is what we all want to see of course); and another's count just will not move?

    I hope one day that we claim being NED 10 years down the road. LOL!

    Three years and counting!

    Sharon :-)
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #3
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    That's a GREAT drop in your
    That's a GREAT drop in your CA125. Mine went from 4,000 to 2,200 after surgery - less than 2,000 points. And it actually went UP after my first chemo (to 2,400). But after that it was downhill all the way.

    I am so glad your first treatment was such a non-event. Dreading the chemo is often worse than the chemo, huh?

    That little bitty spot on the peritoneal wall will most likely shrink to nothing after a few more chemo sessions.

    By the way.....my shirt arrived today. It's a maroon color and says "I love the smell of chemo in the morning" across the front in white letters. Very chic.

    Carlene
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #4
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    Well done Leesa
    Nearly 3,000 drop in your CA125 is fantastic and you should be so pleased. Chemo will certainly tackle this and mine dropped from 1119 - 889 - 291 - 156 after each chemo. Mine orignial count was lower than yours but the significance of how much it dropped each time is really encouraging and there is no reason why yours can't do the same. I'm not good at maths but I think your CA125 is down by a quarter?????? Good result.

    Oh and being NED for 10 years - how fantastic is that??????? That would see me right if I could have that :)

    Take care Tina xxxxxx
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #5
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    Tina Brown said:

    Well done Leesa
    Nearly 3,000 drop in your CA125 is fantastic and you should be so pleased. Chemo will certainly tackle this and mine dropped from 1119 - 889 - 291 - 156 after each chemo. Mine orignial count was lower than yours but the significance of how much it dropped each time is really encouraging and there is no reason why yours can't do the same. I'm not good at maths but I think your CA125 is down by a quarter?????? Good result.

    Oh and being NED for 10 years - how fantastic is that??????? That would see me right if I could have that :)

    Take care Tina xxxxxx

    lower the doze of benedryl
    i too had trouble with benadryl and steriods, they cut in in half and did bettter
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #6
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    That is a great drop to the
    That is a great drop to the CA-125 before your first chemo. Uneventful chemo is good! Let us know how you are feeling. Remember the first chemo is the tough as it is a shock to your system...they get easier.
    MK
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #7
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    Hi Leesa
    I think the drop is great. Mine didn't really drop until after my 2nd chemo session. I do have a question though What is NED I see it all the time and have no idea what it means.
    Keep the faith.

    Cat
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #8
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    catcan said:

    Hi Leesa
    I think the drop is great. Mine didn't really drop until after my 2nd chemo session. I do have a question though What is NED I see it all the time and have no idea what it means.
    Keep the faith.

    Cat

    Hi Cat
    NED is wonderful...NED means No Evidence of Disease. It's what we are all working toward!

    ;)

    Hugs

    Leesa
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #9
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    You can do it!!!!
    My first chemo side effects did not hit for 72 hours. Doxil starts in 8 hours, but mild, so far. My first two treatments of taxol/carbo cut my CA-125 in half. I am praying that is going to be your story too!
    Take care, Saundra
  • Mawty
    Mawty Member Posts: 133
    #10
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    saundra said:

    You can do it!!!!
    My first chemo side effects did not hit for 72 hours. Doxil starts in 8 hours, but mild, so far. My first two treatments of taxol/carbo cut my CA-125 in half. I am praying that is going to be your story too!
    Take care, Saundra

    Doxil
    Hi Saundra - love your new photo. You're a beautiful women.

    I agree -- carbo/Taxol did start with the side effects at about 72 hours, and Doxil hits much sooner. 8 Hours sounds about right. But I'm not finding it easy at all. For some reason I am totally sick for 6 days. It's horrible. I'm so glad it's easier for you. I wish I could figure out what is making it so bad for me.

    Marty
  • Susan523
    Susan523 Member Posts: 231 Member
    #11
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    Hi, Leesa,
    Just to let you know; the chemo that I just completed (Taxol/Carbo + Avastin) didn't start bringing my CA down until after the 4th treatment! In fact, my CA was actually creeping UP about 10 points after the first 3 treatments.

    I have experienced that sometimes the chemo will make the CA drop quickly; and sometimes it just seems to take a while. (I have had 4 different sessions of chemo in the last 3 1/2 years).

    Have Faith, keep talking to God, and keep your chin up.

    And I do thank God that we all have each other here at this site to help us through these rough times; and to discuss things that sometimes our doctors don't seem to have the time to discuss.

    Hang in there! xoxo ~Susan

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