Maintenence Chemo

denuie
denuie Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am looking for information concerning maintence chemo. I was diagnosised with stage 4a ov/ca in Feb. Will finish my 6th round of chemo(carboplatin/taxotere) on the 15th of August and my oncologist is now introducing the possibility of doing monthly maintenence chemo. I am currently in remission (CA125 is 11) and have weathered chemo remarkably well. Can anyone give me any insite on maintenence chemo for ov/ca. Thanks
Denuie

Comments

  • ashuma1
    ashuma1 Member Posts: 12
    #2
    I have Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. My gynecologic oncologist is up on the latest clinical trails/protocols. I also started with 8 doses of carboplatin and taxol every three weeks (two extra doses due to severe bone marrow suppression so they had to lower doses slightly). Now I am starting on taxol-only every four weeks for 12 months. He taught gynecologic oncology at a Washington DC medical center before going into private practice and I know he keeps up with all the latest info. Best of luck and God bless to you.....
  • denuie
    denuie Member Posts: 2
    #3
    ashuma1 said:

    I have Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. My gynecologic oncologist is up on the latest clinical trails/protocols. I also started with 8 doses of carboplatin and taxol every three weeks (two extra doses due to severe bone marrow suppression so they had to lower doses slightly). Now I am starting on taxol-only every four weeks for 12 months. He taught gynecologic oncology at a Washington DC medical center before going into private practice and I know he keeps up with all the latest info. Best of luck and God bless to you.....

    Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd be interested in knowing how the monthly chemo works out for you. I'm not sure what my "drug of choice" will be as I had a severe allergic reaction to Taxol...so I'm pretty sure it won't be Taxol...LOL...God Bless and keep fighting!
  • dawnay
    dawnay Member Posts: 3
    #4
    I was in your exact same situation. When I finished chemo in June, my CA125 was a 8. Since your CA125 is so low, I do not recommand maintenence chemo. My doctor introduced me to the same thing just a precaution. But also, maint. chemo has serious permanent side effects. Permanent bone marrow depression and tingling in your fingers are 2 just to name a few. I'm currently having a CA125 done every 6 months just to make sure I'm ok, without maintenence chemo.
  • Airwayqueen
    Airwayqueen Member Posts: 14 Member
    #5
    Hello!
    I'm also in remission, but my doctor didn't suggest maintenance chemo. I have my blood workup done every three months and X-rays.

    Gayla
  • mirtle
    mirtle Member Posts: 32 Member
    #6
    I am currently doing maintenance chemo because I was diagnosed with Stage IV Ov/c in 1993 and it recurred in 2002. I had my CA125 checked every three months for 9 years. When it started to elevate, a laproscope and ct scans found nothing. Eventually, two small lesions were seen and I started on Doxil maintenance which had pretty mild side effects. Now that is no longer effective so I am back to Taxol/Carbo cocktails every third week. I am now STABLE (at least that's what they think, ha, ha). They are finding that Ov/C is more of a chronic disease. I don't want you to think that you can't be cured but I don't want to sugar coat anything either. I enjoyed 9 years of life that I probably would not have without the drugs. And right now I believe that maintaining this stability will keep me alive for awhile longer and that is great. Keep a positive attitude and go with what you feel comfortable doing. If maintenance will make you feel more secure -- do it. The side effects of the chemo can be annoying, but consider the alternative. Good luck!!
  • ConnieM
    ConnieM Member Posts: 9
    #7
    Dear Denuie:
    I am curious to find out what you decided to do?! Are you still in remission? I sure hope so.
    I was diagnosed in 1999 with stage IIID ovarian Cancer and have gone through 3 recurrences with surgery and chemos following. In October 2003 my tumormarkers were at 720 and I was staring another round of chemo straight in the eye again. But this time I decided to try something different. Why repeat what had not worked 3 times before??? I went to see Dr. Stephen Edelson in Atlanta and took his treatments. My tumormarkers are now below 20 and I am officially in remission, without any nasty side effects. I will never have regular chemo again.
    If you want to talk to the man, please give him a call at 404 841-0088. He has helped many cancer patients!
    ConnieM

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