My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 4

suri2011

Hi All,

Couple of days ago my mother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer stage 4. Can anyone please let me know how the treatment procedure will start.

Is it Chemotherapy then surgery or Chemotherapy and then followed by surgery.

My mother treatment will be starting from 26th onward and doctor yet to see her CT scan reports. I am eager to know.

Till today she is not having any symptoms apart spotting for couple of days.
Please share your experiences with me.

Thanks,
Suri

longtermsurvivor

It depends
Ovarian cancer is staged surgically. If she is stage 4, there would need to be proof that there is spread to lung, or liver, or other distant sites. This proof would generally be obtained by tissue sample.

The primary thrust of treating ovarian cancer is debulking the tumor(s), thereby lessening the tumor burden enough to increase chances of positive response to chemotherapy. That generally, but not always, puts the surgery ahead of the chemo. Sometimes thought, after proper tissue diagnosis, formal debulking will wait on a course or two of chemotherapy, attempting to lessen tumor bulk in order to make debulking surgery more successful.

All of this, of course, depends on your mom's exact clinical situation. That's the kind of thing you'll be talking to the gyn oncologist about.

Hope this helps.

LaundryQueen

longtermsurvivor said:

It depends
Ovarian cancer is staged surgically. If she is stage 4, there would need to be proof that there is spread to lung, or liver, or other distant sites. This proof would generally be obtained by tissue sample.

The primary thrust of treating ovarian cancer is debulking the tumor(s), thereby lessening the tumor burden enough to increase chances of positive response to chemotherapy. That generally, but not always, puts the surgery ahead of the chemo. Sometimes thought, after proper tissue diagnosis, formal debulking will wait on a course or two of chemotherapy, attempting to lessen tumor bulk in order to make debulking surgery more successful.

All of this, of course, depends on your mom's exact clinical situation. That's the kind of thing you'll be talking to the gyn oncologist about.

Hope this helps.

Few symptoms
I guess you could look on the bright side that your mother even got diagnosed at all since her symptoms are few. Usually, there is an accumulation of fluid in the belly that causes constipation, digestive problems & general discomfort.

More people have surgery first. That decision is up to the doctor. The outcome is apparently the same whether it is chemo first or surgery first.

With chemo, your mom's hair will fall out about two weeks after the first treatment. I wore a wig during the day and a knitted cap at night. When I went to the wig shop, it took a week to order the wig I wanted. Some insurances will pay for the wig with a doctor's prescription.

The pain meds given after surgery cause constipation. Fiber products aren't usually strong enough--keep some milk of magnesia or senekot on hand. Constipation causes more misery & it is best to prevent it from happening.

Stay in touch with us. We are here to support you.

suri2011

longtermsurvivor said:

It depends
Ovarian cancer is staged surgically. If she is stage 4, there would need to be proof that there is spread to lung, or liver, or other distant sites. This proof would generally be obtained by tissue sample.

The primary thrust of treating ovarian cancer is debulking the tumor(s), thereby lessening the tumor burden enough to increase chances of positive response to chemotherapy. That generally, but not always, puts the surgery ahead of the chemo. Sometimes thought, after proper tissue diagnosis, formal debulking will wait on a course or two of chemotherapy, attempting to lessen tumor bulk in order to make debulking surgery more successful.

All of this, of course, depends on your mom's exact clinical situation. That's the kind of thing you'll be talking to the gyn oncologist about.

Hope this helps.

stage 4
Thanks for your reply.

It was spread to Liver, the doctor wants to start Chemo first followed by surgery.

lulu1010

suri2011 said:

stage 4
Thanks for your reply.

It was spread to Liver, the doctor wants to start Chemo first followed by surgery.

worked for me!
So far anyway. I had 4 rounds of Carbo and then laproscopy surgery and back to chemo for another 6 months of Carbo/Taxol. I have been off chemo for 6 months. I am doing well and on a trial vaccine to delay reoccurances. I was stage 3c. It is a hard thing to go thru but those chemo nurses can be very helpful and you just take one day at a time.

suri2011

lulu1010 said:

worked for me!
So far anyway. I had 4 rounds of Carbo and then laproscopy surgery and back to chemo for another 6 months of Carbo/Taxol. I have been off chemo for 6 months. I am doing well and on a trial vaccine to delay reoccurances. I was stage 3c. It is a hard thing to go thru but those chemo nurses can be very helpful and you just take one day at a time.

started Chemotherapy
Hi All,

Chemotherapy started for my mother with Carbo/Taxol. After that she was having frequent urination for 2 days and her muscles got tighten all over the body. After taking some medicine she got some relief. Is this common thing after the first dose of Chemo?

Please let me know.