CA125 up again!!

JulieBelle said:

Thanks Rose

Yes it was a bit of a shock.   I am hoping that my infected portocath may have contributed to this rise.   I had surgery on Monday to have it removed and will have another installed in a week or so on the other side.  In the meantime I will have to put my skimpy veins into the kind care of A & E Drs in the hope that they can put in a cannula for my next treatments.   I have Avastin tomorrow then a week off before starting something new.

Hope you are keeping well.

P S Love your poetry!

Julie x

Hi Julie,

Yes, I have been through a lot which seems to be the nature of the beast.  Alot of us go through so much and people always ask "how do you find the strength" but as we all know....you do what you have to do.  I was diagnosed with Stage iV Ovarian Cancer Aug 6,2010.  I had been chasing GI problems with my Gastro Dr for a year.  They said IBS, Hiatal Hernia etc.  all the common mis diagnosis.  Finally after putting me thru a battery of tests for Gluten intolerance, Gerardia etc I finally went to the ER and they did a CT scan.  It was pretty glaring!  Besides my ovary it was in my bladder, uterus and peritoneum with a fair amount of ascities.  The unfortunate part is after surgery and debulking it doesn't show up well on a ct scan because I have frosting or seeding throughout the peritoneum so it is hard to see.  We use the CA125 as a way to monitor me even though it isn't that reliable, also by how I feel.  If I have pain or a bowel obstruction I feel it.  With Altima you have to take vitamin B daily and you get B-12 shots.   Infusion time is about 1/2 hr.   Pretty quick compared to other chemos I have been on.  Please let us know what your DR decides for you and if he would consider Altima for you.  I hope you find the right one to knock it down again with minimal side effects!   Please keep us posted.   I will let you know my results next Wed.    Love, light and positive, healing energy always!!!!   Michele

Nflinchum said:

CA 125 up again!

Hi Ladies,

I am having many issues as well as all of you are. I had bloodwork Tuesday and my CA 125 test results had jumped from 1552 to 2900 after my 3rd chemo of Carboplatins. Now my Dr. has decided to give me the PET Scan next Friday. I meet with Dr. on the 18th to discuss the results and what my treatment plan will. It is really discouraging. I am having major digestive problems along with neuropathy. I have problems sleeping and I never feel 100%. I try to be upbeat and positive. Has your doctor given you ladies a prognosos. Also I have gained so much weight and can't see to get it off. Take care and I will keep you ladies in my thoughts and prayers.

Nadine

 

Hi Nadine,

I am so sorry to hear that your marker is going up while on your treatment.  Hope he can find out what is going on after your pet scan.  I am not sure what digestive issues you are having but that can sometimes make your CA125 jump. Mine would jump when I had diverticulitis and with bowel obstructions.  It may be something else causing yours to jump. I think your Dr needs to find a different cocktail for you.   I was pretty sick in June and we all thought I was on my last leg.....then I went on this Altima and I was able to recover again.  The DR had said that the Altima had a 10% chance of working.  So far it has been good to me.  I am not sure if you DR has put you through Gemzar and other chemos.  They had a better chance of working and Gemzar worked for me for awhile.  You may have other options.  As for gaining weight, maybe you have some fluid retention or ascities.  The pet scan should let them see that.  I never feel 100% but probably because I have been on chemo for three years now! Nueropathy is horrible. I have it pretty bad.  I use Pol cream and take some Alpha Lapoic Acid but nothing really helps that much or is reversing it.   Please let us know how your scan goes.  Wishing you strength to get thru this and to find something that will work better for you!  Please keep us posted.  Sending you well wishes and positive energy always!    Michele 

Hi Michele,

thanks for responding. I had the PEt scan Friday. I go to the dr wed the 18th. The digestive problems I have are really bab indigestion. I take nexium 40 mg twice a day. The first time I had 9 treatments of carboplatin, taxotreatment testaments Of avastin. My CA'S came down to 48 and may CT scan showed no visible cancer to the eye. I think there were still cancer cells iadobo tummy. It came back 9 months later. The dr put me on carboplatins 4 treatments. I have had 3. Due to have another one wed. depending on results of the pet scan. It will be interesting to see what the dr puts me on next. Thanks for the info. I will post what happens next. Take care and you are in my prayers.

nadine