Advice needed on recurrence please

mbur
mbur Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am a 2 year survivor of OC. 2 years ago I had Carboplatin to shrink the tumour before surgery. Last year I had surgery and chemo Carboplatin/Taxol after which my CA125 was down to 10. After six months remission CA125 began to rise, ct scan and other tests shows a tumour next to my bowel. Surgery is too dangerous as the tumour is to close to bowel and I have already had major complicated surgery. I have been advised to have chemo Carboplatin/Taxol every 3 weeks for 3 cycles to shrink tumour. Chemo will not get rid of the tumour just shrink it back hopefully and give me more time. I wonder if it is worth it because the chemo will make me ill for months and may not work, if it does work the tumour will just start to grow again after chemo. Chemo causes problems with my blood counts and platelets, in the past I have needed blood transfusions and epo injections, so they won't be able to keep me on chemo for long periods. I am feeling fine at the moment and enjoying life. Does anyone know of any other treatment available? I would be interested to hear how others have got on with chemo given to control the cancer. I don't want to give in to this, I am a fighter. All advice would be appreciated. I live in the UK. Thank you.

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    Hust wanted to send you a hug and many prayers. Maybe this chemo will shrink the tumor enough that they can operate. Bonnie
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #3
    I wish I could give you some sound advice on this. I am a 5-year survivor but don't have much experience with other treatments. Please search through this website and certainly don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Please keep us informed and you can be sure you are in my prayers.
    Monika
  • gdpawel
    gdpawel Member Posts: 523 Member
    #4
    Gemzar/Platinum Combination

    If a recurrence occurs more than six months after remission induction, such patients are classified as platinum-sensitive and tend to respond to repeated platinum-based therapy. Patients who fail induction or relapse within six months of induction therapy are considered to be platinum-resistant and are usually treated with alternative drugs.

    Women with recurrent ovarian cancer have several options for palliative treatment following failure (which is common) of taxane and platinum-based chemotherapy.

    Carboplatin and Gemzar are effective for Recurrent Platinum Sensitive-Ovarian Cancer researchers from Turkey have confirmed that a regimen of carboplatin and Gemzar (gemcitabine) is effective for the treatment of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. The details of this phase II study were reported in the February 2005 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.

    Researchers conducted this multi-center phase II study to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of Gemzar and carboplatin for the treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Participants in the study included women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer whose disease had recurred more than six months after discontinuing first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

    Each patient in this study received treatment with Gemzar 1000mg/m2 on day 1 and 8 along with carboplatin AUC 4 on day 1, every 21 days for up to 6 cycles. Results of the study found that of the 40 enrolled patients, six (15%) had a complete response and 19 (47%) had a partial response. The overall response rate was 62%. The average duration of the disease response was 7.8 months and the average time to progression was 9.6 months. The average time to treatment failure was 9.3 months. The most severe side effects included low blood cell counts. Other side effects were mild.

    It was concluded that the combination of Gemzar and carboplatin is a feasible treatment option for patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.

    Phase III studies will be necessary to determine if this is the optimal regimen for women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

    Reference: Kose M, Sufliarsky J, Beslija S, et al. A Phase II Study of Gemcitabine Plus Carboplatin in Platinum Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer. Gynecologic Oncology. 2005; 96: 374-380.

    http://weisenthal.org/gem_cp.htm
  • mbur
    mbur Member Posts: 5
    #5
    UPDATE AND THANKS

    I would like to thank you for your support.

    Monika I see you may have problems of your own, my thoughts and prayers are with you and with Bonnie.

    I would also like to thank gdpawel, Gemzar/Platinum Combination is something I have been doing research into and plan to ask my Oncologist about.

    UPDATE - The chemo they had planned for me carb/taxol was due to start last week but I cancelled it as I was not sure about it. I will be seeing my oncologist again this week to discuss the matter further. I will let you know how I get on.
  • mbur
    mbur Member Posts: 5
    #6
    mbur said:

    UPDATE AND THANKS

    I would like to thank you for your support.

    Monika I see you may have problems of your own, my thoughts and prayers are with you and with Bonnie.

    I would also like to thank gdpawel, Gemzar/Platinum Combination is something I have been doing research into and plan to ask my Oncologist about.

    UPDATE - The chemo they had planned for me carb/taxol was due to start last week but I cancelled it as I was not sure about it. I will be seeing my oncologist again this week to discuss the matter further. I will let you know how I get on.

    UPDATE

    My oncologist had been misinformed, he thought they wanted to shrink the tumour back for surgery but they have no plans for further surgery so they are going to try and control the cancer with chemo. As I am well at the moment they are going to check my CA125 regularly and will try carboplatin on it's own when needed. Thanks again.

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