Progression during platinum treatment- 2nd recurrence-Now what?

Barneygirl
Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello Ladies,
I am being treated for a 2nd recurrence after being in remission and platinum free for 5 years. I had my 6th treatment of Taxotere/Carbo yesterday and my CA-125 has gradually trended upward. 14, 8, 13, 14, 22 and it is now 35 (normal under 21 test). I have disease in the lymph nodes and that is why the CA-125 is on the lower end of the scale. The only drugs I've been treated with over the years are Taxol, Carbo & Taxotere. Does this mean I'm platinum resistant now? What other options are there if this is the case? I will have a ct scan tomorrow and meet with the doc in a few weeks. I'm really feeling bummed out today.

Comments

  • survivingovca
    survivingovca Member Posts: 23
    #2
    LOTS of options!
    In my first line of treatment with Taxol/Carbo in 2007, I grew cancer. I am definitely platinum resistant/refractive. I, too, was worried about my options. Thankfully, there are a lot of them out there! After my taxol/carbo fiasco, they put me on Doxil (which did not work for me, but works for many others). I then entered a clinical trial (O-Vax vaccine trial) which put me into a 1 1/2 year period with no treatment and no evidence of disease. Recently the cancer came back, and I had my third abdominal debulking surgery with HIPEC. I am currently on Alimta, not because I currently have cancer, but to 'kick it while its down' to hopefully give me some more treatment free time.

    My gyne/onc has given me a list showing what types of treatment my tumors are genetically likely to respond to. There were a lot of choices on that list. If you have tumor tissue from your last surgery (the hospital keeps tumors and slides), ask if they may be able to do some genetic testing. Even if Alimta fails, I have a long list of other treatments that my cancer may respond to.

    There is a lot of hope, and this certainly is not the end! Its been almost 5 years since my diagnosis - I have worked full time, lived, loved, laughed, vacationed, and enjoyed life during that time - and continue to do so now. I feel great!

    Once you have the results of the scan and a plan in place, I think you will feel better. Just try to take it one day at a time. There are plenty of us with recurrent cancer that continue to thrive.
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #3
    survivingovca said:

    LOTS of options!
    In my first line of treatment with Taxol/Carbo in 2007, I grew cancer. I am definitely platinum resistant/refractive. I, too, was worried about my options. Thankfully, there are a lot of them out there! After my taxol/carbo fiasco, they put me on Doxil (which did not work for me, but works for many others). I then entered a clinical trial (O-Vax vaccine trial) which put me into a 1 1/2 year period with no treatment and no evidence of disease. Recently the cancer came back, and I had my third abdominal debulking surgery with HIPEC. I am currently on Alimta, not because I currently have cancer, but to 'kick it while its down' to hopefully give me some more treatment free time.

    My gyne/onc has given me a list showing what types of treatment my tumors are genetically likely to respond to. There were a lot of choices on that list. If you have tumor tissue from your last surgery (the hospital keeps tumors and slides), ask if they may be able to do some genetic testing. Even if Alimta fails, I have a long list of other treatments that my cancer may respond to.

    There is a lot of hope, and this certainly is not the end! Its been almost 5 years since my diagnosis - I have worked full time, lived, loved, laughed, vacationed, and enjoyed life during that time - and continue to do so now. I feel great!

    Once you have the results of the scan and a plan in place, I think you will feel better. Just try to take it one day at a time. There are plenty of us with recurrent cancer that continue to thrive.

    Praying for you
    And hoping you meet with your doctor soon to get a plan in place.

    Kelly
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #4
    survivingovca said:

    LOTS of options!
    In my first line of treatment with Taxol/Carbo in 2007, I grew cancer. I am definitely platinum resistant/refractive. I, too, was worried about my options. Thankfully, there are a lot of them out there! After my taxol/carbo fiasco, they put me on Doxil (which did not work for me, but works for many others). I then entered a clinical trial (O-Vax vaccine trial) which put me into a 1 1/2 year period with no treatment and no evidence of disease. Recently the cancer came back, and I had my third abdominal debulking surgery with HIPEC. I am currently on Alimta, not because I currently have cancer, but to 'kick it while its down' to hopefully give me some more treatment free time.

    My gyne/onc has given me a list showing what types of treatment my tumors are genetically likely to respond to. There were a lot of choices on that list. If you have tumor tissue from your last surgery (the hospital keeps tumors and slides), ask if they may be able to do some genetic testing. Even if Alimta fails, I have a long list of other treatments that my cancer may respond to.

    There is a lot of hope, and this certainly is not the end! Its been almost 5 years since my diagnosis - I have worked full time, lived, loved, laughed, vacationed, and enjoyed life during that time - and continue to do so now. I feel great!

    Once you have the results of the scan and a plan in place, I think you will feel better. Just try to take it one day at a time. There are plenty of us with recurrent cancer that continue to thrive.

    Thanks.
    It makes me feel
    Thanks.
    It makes me feel better knowing there are other options out there, but I really thought this one was working. My ct scan 6 weeks ago, after treatment 3, showed that I was responding well, so I was surprised by the increase in my numbers. Hopefully I 'll know more today or tomorrow.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #5
    Barneygirl said:

    Thanks.
    It makes me feel
    Thanks.
    It makes me feel better knowing there are other options out there, but I really thought this one was working. My ct scan 6 weeks ago, after treatment 3, showed that I was responding well, so I was surprised by the increase in my numbers. Hopefully I 'll know more today or tomorrow.

    HUGS AND PRAYERS TO YOU
    I know what you're going through, and I'm sorry you have to deal with this. But everyone is right - there are still LOTS of options. You've received some good suggestions, better than what I could have provided. However, I will add one thought: it's possible that your CA125 is up for another reason. If your CT was good, I'm wondering if there's an underlying cause to the rise in numbers - infection, stress, etc., etc. Many reasons this could happen.

    I wish you well, and will pray for peace for you, and strength and love!

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #6
    Barneygirl said:

    Thanks.
    It makes me feel
    Thanks.
    It makes me feel better knowing there are other options out there, but I really thought this one was working. My ct scan 6 weeks ago, after treatment 3, showed that I was responding well, so I was surprised by the increase in my numbers. Hopefully I 'll know more today or tomorrow.

    I hope the oncologist has
    I hope the oncologist has good suggestions for your future treatments. I will be praying and waiting to hear what the plan is. Hugs
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #7
    Radioactive34 said:

    I hope the oncologist has
    I hope the oncologist has good suggestions for your future treatments. I will be praying and waiting to hear what the plan is. Hugs

    CT scan results are in and
    CT scan results are in and it looks like things are stable. Maybe slightly improved. Will re-check the CA-125 in 2 weeks and if it is still going up, we'll take a chemo break and look at clinical trials. If it goes back down, I'll get 1 or 2 more rounds of the current chemo. I feel better just having a plan in place and I'm happy with the CT scan report!
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #8
    Barneygirl said:

    CT scan results are in and
    CT scan results are in and it looks like things are stable. Maybe slightly improved. Will re-check the CA-125 in 2 weeks and if it is still going up, we'll take a chemo break and look at clinical trials. If it goes back down, I'll get 1 or 2 more rounds of the current chemo. I feel better just having a plan in place and I'm happy with the CT scan report!

    THAT'S GOOD NEWS!
    We'll take 'slightly improved' anyday! Get a good night's sleep - tomorrow will take care of itself!

    ((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #9
    mopar said:

    THAT'S GOOD NEWS!
    We'll take 'slightly improved' anyday! Get a good night's sleep - tomorrow will take care of itself!

    ((HUGS)))
    Monika

    great
    Hang is there. Hope your numbers start to decline...val
  • lovesanimals
    lovesanimals Member Posts: 1,366 Member
    #10
    poopergirl14052 said:

    great
    Hang is there. Hope your numbers start to decline...val

    Terrific news!
    I too am happy to hear about your CT scan report!

    Kelly

Discussion Boards