Intraperitoneal Chemo

Maggie_mac

Since Dx and surgery 11/2011 (stage IVb) I have tried numerous chemo combinations.  After 3 rounds of taxol-carboplatin (6 sessions each) between 12/2011 and 6/2014, I was determined to be platinum resistant.  My CA 125 ran between 30 and 36 last summer.  Last December my CA 125 was 74, and I started on doxil.  After 3 infusions my CA 125 was 317.  In March we switched to cytoxan and avastin and by the end of May CA 125 was 487.  I then switched to topotecan and by mid -July it was 562.  I have now had 3 infusions of cisplatin, in hopes that my body had forgotten it is platinum resistant.  I haven't had my CA 125 run since starting on cisplatin. 

I am now looking for other options to talk about with my oncologist.  From my reading, many experts feel intraperitoneal chemo is under-used in ovarian cancer and since our UPSC acts so much like ovarian cancer it seems like an option.  Also, my cancer seems to be growing in the peritoneum and on the surface of other abdominal organs so I have no solid mass. 

I'm wondering if any of you have undergone this type of chemo and what your results were.  I would also appreciate hearing of any other successes you have had.  I'm being treated at the University of Penn and have always been happy with the level of care, but I'm wondering now if I should be looking for a second opinion.

Your comments are appreciated.  God Bless You All!

Maggie  

AWK

Your story is similar to mine.

I have never been NED Since Dx in April 2013 with UPSC.  My doctors have always encouraged second opinions and we have gotten three during the course of looking at various clinical trials.  have you had any genome testing done?  This isn't the same as genetic testing; i had it done and although the recommendations weren't clear cut it did identify a number of mutations I carry.  We used this in looking at clinical trials and I just started one at Cedars Sinai that is using aldoxorubicin and gemzar on sold metastatic tumors.  It is being used on a large variety of canceRs; my understanding is that so far I am the only UPSC in the trial.  you have to have been non responsive to I think two lines of treatment and the tumors must be inoperable.  There is another trial for cabozantinib that is in phase three.  

Daughters3

IP chemo

Hi Maggie! My mother just finished her debulking surgery for her 1st recurrence. It was a much bigger surgery than Drs thought based on her CT scan days ago. (She was staged 1a originally 2 years ago with small polyp only & complete hysterectomy). Lots of organs now gone. Her dr at the Cleveland Clinic put a port in during her surgery for IP chemo. He said he has had tremendous results! I truly hope this provides a treatment option fir you! I'll post in 6 weeks when she starts to let you know about it.  now we just sit & wait for pathology. Ahhhh! Ali 

pinky104

Maggie_mac

Not to change the subject, but I heard an article on TV news a couple of days ago about how double doses of chemo are now being recommended for the treatment of ovarian cancer.  Perhaps it should be considered for uterine cancers like UPSC also since they're so similar to ovarian cancer.  I suppose insurance companies wouldn't like the double drug bills.

Maggie_mac

AWK said:

Your story is similar to mine.

I have never been NED Since Dx in April 2013 with UPSC.  My doctors have always encouraged second opinions and we have gotten three during the course of looking at various clinical trials.  have you had any genome testing done?  This isn't the same as genetic testing; i had it done and although the recommendations weren't clear cut it did identify a number of mutations I carry.  We used this in looking at clinical trials and I just started one at Cedars Sinai that is using aldoxorubicin and gemzar on sold metastatic tumors.  It is being used on a large variety of canceRs; my understanding is that so far I am the only UPSC in the trial.  you have to have been non responsive to I think two lines of treatment and the tumors must be inoperable.  There is another trial for cabozantinib that is in phase three.  

Thank you for your reply, and

Thank you for your reply, and thanks too to Pinky and Daughters3.  After my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer I had genetic testing, but not genome testing.  My genetic tests were clean.  I'm not sure I've got this right, but I think genome testing is an analysis of the the tissue removed at surgery.  Please let me know if I've got this right.  I know this is not usually covered by insurance, but I plan on investigating further. I don't have any solid tumors, but the cancer seems to have spread to the surface of other organs in the peritoneal sac.  My July CA 125 was 562.  I don't know if the cisplatin I started then has had any effect.

Best of luck to you and all our sisters in their treatment.  God bless.

Maggie   

AWK

Maggie_mac said:

Thank you for your reply, and

Thank you for your reply, and thanks too to Pinky and Daughters3.  After my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer I had genetic testing, but not genome testing.  My genetic tests were clean.  I'm not sure I've got this right, but I think genome testing is an analysis of the the tissue removed at surgery.  Please let me know if I've got this right.  I know this is not usually covered by insurance, but I plan on investigating further. I don't have any solid tumors, but the cancer seems to have spread to the surface of other organs in the peritoneal sac.  My July CA 125 was 562.  I don't know if the cisplatin I started then has had any effect.

Best of luck to you and all our sisters in their treatment.  God bless.

Maggie   

You are right

They need genome samples or tissue to work from.  They can take a biopsy sample if needed.  And insurance may cover a large portion of it.  I had a lot of tissue from my original surgery to test.  Insurance pre authorized the test but is now claiming not covered. FoundationOne is dealing with the insurer directly on it and it should be resolved.  Good luck!