ct scan

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chris8588
chris8588 Member Posts: 57
in Ovarian Cancer #1

So I got my results of my ct scan on wednesday, the two lymph nodes that they found have not grown nor have they shrunk.  My oncologoist is telling me that I am stable.  There are no new nodes but for some reason my CA number is rising.  So we are going to do 3 more rounds of my current chemo which is Doxil then another scan.  He might also try CarboPlastin Gemzar next.  I guess its good news not bad news.

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  • Alexandra
    Alexandra Member Posts: 1,308
    #2
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    Stable is good news

    Doxil is known for not reducing CA125 for the first 3-4 rounds. Hang in there Chris.

    Sending you bear hugs and healing thoughts,

    Alexandra

  • wholfmeister
    wholfmeister Member Posts: 315
    #3
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    Definition of stable?

    I think you and I are in similar situations.  It's hard to feel like celebrating when the CA125 is rising (even slowly) and the plan is three more months of chemo.  But your CT report is good.  No change is 100% better than new growth!  Hang in there!

  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #4
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    wholfmeister said:

    Definition of stable?

    I think you and I are in similar situations.  It's hard to feel like celebrating when the CA125 is rising (even slowly) and the plan is three more months of chemo.  But your CT report is good.  No change is 100% better than new growth!  Hang in there!

    Dear Chris

    I know you wanted them to shrink but stable is good.  Please know that I'm cheering you on from the sidelines and sending positive thoughts and energy your way.  Please keep us posted.

    Hugs,

    Kelly

  • chris8588
    chris8588 Member Posts: 57
    #5
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    Alexandra said:

    Stable is good news

    Doxil is known for not reducing CA125 for the first 3-4 rounds. Hang in there Chris.

    Sending you bear hugs and healing thoughts,

    Alexandra

    Thanks for all the well

    Thanks for all the well wishes ladies.  Alexandra I have had 6 rounds of Doxil my numbers were going down then for some reason they went up again, even there is no new growth or shrinking of the lymph nodes.

  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #6
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    It sure would be nice if we

    It sure would be nice if we could have definitive answers and accurate tests for this disease. Focus on the good news.....STABLE...yeah!

    But also think about anything else going on that could cause the elevation of your CA125. Mine started to rise in Jan and double from 5 to 10 in a month. And continued to double every month. At the end of Feb I had a CT scan and ultrasound and both were negative. I was told to relax, and wait another 2 months and they would recheck my CA125. Well, i am a nurse practitioner and have the ability to have my docs I work with order CA125. So I did so i could monitor. It made me feel in control. So my CA 125 continued to rise from a 10 at the end of Feb to a 31 second week of April (still within normal ranges). I did seek a new gyn/oncologist because my daughter wanted me to get a second opinion. I continued to talk with my medical oncologist and had a meeting with my first medical oncologist who has since stopped active practice and focuses on genetics and research.

    I found a gyn/oncologist whom specializes in ovarian cancer and runs his own research lab with the University of Chicago. He agreed that watch and wait and wanted to see me in early June and get a CT PET scan then. He also presented my case tomhis team and two weeks later he called to update me on the team's reccommendations, which was to to wait unless I had symptoms. In those two weeks, I started geting low right pelvic pain. Intermittent and treated with Ibuprofen. I also continued with constipation, but this had been an ongoing problem since my first diagnosis 2 years ago. Of course, I had rechecked my CA125 and itnwas now 53. All of this was concerning to my gyn/oncologist. He orddred the PET CT and three identifiable tumors were seen (two in the pelvis, one behind the liver). My CA125 now was 94. I had surgery last week, and he was able to reduce the tumors, but not an optimal debulking. However, he also had to repair my bowel due to an obstruction. It wasn't a complete obstruction, but none the less probably contributing to my bowel issues. It could have also caused the rapid rise in my CA125.

    So be diligent and report all of your symptoms and work closely with your docs. Good luck. Kim

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