stage 3c ovarian

cloecho

diagnosed fall 06 8 rounds of chemo-not succesfull -pet scan last week - spread to lymph nodes -moved to maintainence stage-would like to hear from survivors who have encountered similar problems . what will my future look like re treatment or possible remission ?

floridajo

Hi,
I had 6 rounds of carbo/taxol after debulking surgery, then I had a sls and reversal of colostomy. Although my ca-125 and ct scans were clear I still had quite a bit of residual disease. So then they started on Doxil for 6 cycles. That put me in remission for 13 months...Currently I am on Gemzar and it seems to be working for me at this time. So I can say to you that remission is always possible, and it can also be treated like a chronic disease with you having chemo when needed. I have found that the chemos for recurrences are so much more gentler than carbo/taxol. I'm tired a lot, and have some nausea at times..but for the most part I feel good, and have my hair!!!! On my last ct scan the Ovca had spread to some lymph nodes as well as in other areas throughtout the abd area. Good luck, I am also stage 3c, and was dx. in Nov. 04. I was told that cure is off the table for me, but I'm still here..fighting and winning the battle with little remissions here and there. It's not how I envisioned my life...but I will not let it take me down with out a fight!!! Good luck..I'll be praying for you..((((hugz)))..Joanne

mccarty

I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer in August 2004. I had 6 chemos, followed by 12 low dose Taxil/Carbo. So far, I'm in remission, but I've been told I can never be cancer free. So, it'something I have to live with. There is always a chance of remission, so, just hang in there and I'll add you to my prayer list. Glenda

cloecho

floridajo said:

Hi,
I had 6 rounds of carbo/taxol after debulking surgery, then I had a sls and reversal of colostomy. Although my ca-125 and ct scans were clear I still had quite a bit of residual disease. So then they started on Doxil for 6 cycles. That put me in remission for 13 months...Currently I am on Gemzar and it seems to be working for me at this time. So I can say to you that remission is always possible, and it can also be treated like a chronic disease with you having chemo when needed. I have found that the chemos for recurrences are so much more gentler than carbo/taxol. I'm tired a lot, and have some nausea at times..but for the most part I feel good, and have my hair!!!! On my last ct scan the Ovca had spread to some lymph nodes as well as in other areas throughtout the abd area. Good luck, I am also stage 3c, and was dx. in Nov. 04. I was told that cure is off the table for me, but I'm still here..fighting and winning the battle with little remissions here and there. It's not how I envisioned my life...but I will not let it take me down with out a fight!!! Good luck..I'll be praying for you..((((hugz)))..Joanne

dear joanne
thank you very much for your information it was very helpful. I will pray for you. cloecho

cloecho

mccarty said:

I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer in August 2004. I had 6 chemos, followed by 12 low dose Taxil/Carbo. So far, I'm in remission, but I've been told I can never be cancer free. So, it'something I have to live with. There is always a chance of remission, so, just hang in there and I'll add you to my prayer list. Glenda

dear glenda
thank you for your words of encouragement , I will pray for you

paula2

I'm curious to know how your doctor defines maintenance stage for you and if you are on another chemo now? Some people don't respond to carbo/taxol, and I think there is a protocol to try drugs like Doxil, Gemzar, etc.

I am in maintenance, meaning that an effort is being made to control the spread of the disease, by using the chemotherapies available for ovca, each until it doesn't work anymore. I have been lucky to have remissions from 5 weeks back to the original 3and 1/2 years. Tamoxifen gave me 6 mos. but not everyone has estrogen receptive cancer. It was fantastic to be able to take a pill and the least amount of side-effects. With a 4th recurence, I started Topotecan in January and it is doing a pretty decent job of keeping the growth to a minimum. When the ca 125 goes up, I tend to freak out a little, but mostly it is hovering around 25 and with almost no side effects. I use guided imagery to assist the healing...an excellent cd available from "health Journeys" by Bellaruth Naparstek. You are in my prayers. Good luck to you!
Paula2

cloecho

paula2 said:

I'm curious to know how your doctor defines maintenance stage for you and if you are on another chemo now? Some people don't respond to carbo/taxol, and I think there is a protocol to try drugs like Doxil, Gemzar, etc.

I am in maintenance, meaning that an effort is being made to control the spread of the disease, by using the chemotherapies available for ovca, each until it doesn't work anymore. I have been lucky to have remissions from 5 weeks back to the original 3and 1/2 years. Tamoxifen gave me 6 mos. but not everyone has estrogen receptive cancer. It was fantastic to be able to take a pill and the least amount of side-effects. With a 4th recurence, I started Topotecan in January and it is doing a pretty decent job of keeping the growth to a minimum. When the ca 125 goes up, I tend to freak out a little, but mostly it is hovering around 25 and with almost no side effects. I use guided imagery to assist the healing...an excellent cd available from "health Journeys" by Bellaruth Naparstek. You are in my prayers. Good luck to you!
Paula2

paula 2
thank you very much for the information. i am platinum resistant.carbo platinum taxol didnt work cancer spread.i am now on topotecan the first chemo drug that they are trying.i dont know if it is working or why one chemo drug is used over another. i will be going for a second opinion on june 7. i will pray for you

cloecho