taxol /carbo

cheerful said:

Dear Hopeful 56: 

I had Stage 1 of UPSC in February of 2011.  I had 6 rounds of carbo/taxol and did not have neuropathy as I did NOT have my lymph nodes removed during surgery nor did I have my omentum removed either. I did have a hysterectomy consisting of my ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix being removed during the hysterectomy.  The surgery was 3 1/2 hours long. My regular gynecologist who did my surgery at the time did not know it was cancer until after the surgery from the pathology report.  I surmised that it was cancer and mentioned this to him in August of 2010 and I was so right since I had bleeding that lasted for 6 months.  I did have some tests done before my surgery as they tried an endometrial biopsy and another test, but they were unsuccessful since I had a large fibroid blocking that area. So I decided on the surgery. After my surgery and the pathology report came back, I was diagnosed with UPSC - stage 1 from an oncologist my gyn introduced me to after I was diagnosed with cancer which was in the hospital as I spent 2 1/2 days in the hospital.  My oncologist said since I did not have my lymph nodes removed it was technically Stage 1 as the cancer was a polyp of 5 centimeters long. My oncologist then (he is now retired) mentioned for me to go through very aggressive chemo treatments of 6 treatments of the carboplatin and taxol and 3 rounds of brachytherapy which I had done. I started chemo in April of 2011 and finished the chemo the end of August of 2011. I started brachytherapy towards the end of Sept. and finished in mid October of 2011.  For the last 5 1/2 years, I remained cancer free until October of 2016 (last year) I had a reoccurrence as a very small spot was found on my pelvic area and spleen from a Pet Scan I had done last year on the recommendation of my oncologist that since retired.  My new oncologist who just had joined the practice, recommended I get chemo of carboplatin, taxol, doxcil and avacin.  Anyway, my number last August of 2016 was 134 and by January of 2017 it was cut in less than half down in the 60s range. It was reduced by more than half.  I started Tamoxifen in December of 2016 and took it for about a week and it burned my eyes so I stopped the medication.  So I ended up not having to have chemo done since my CA number remained at 60 and each month thereafter up until May of this year it was between 60 and 40s range.  In May it went to a normal number of 26 and then in August it went down to 19 and I just had blood work done earlier this month (Nov.) and it was at 17.  So I have been at the normal range for this cancer since May of 2017 - 6 months. I also had a Pet Scan done in mid October (2017) and the Pet Scan showed NO evidence of cancer or even a trace of it. My oncologist is "Baffled" to say the least, however, my immune system kicked this cancer right out of me as I lost a lot of weight between 70 to 80 lbs. in 2015 and I feel much stronger and healthier. I am at a more normal range now for my weight I weigh close to 150 lbs.  I have since gained back maybe 20 of the lbs. since 2015. I also had my gallbladder removed in early 2016.  Anyway, I am now extremely grateful and very thankful and happy that the cancer is gone from me and I am hoping to live a more normal life. This past year for me has been very "nerve wracking" to say the least with all the doctor appts I have had monthly and blood work done every month.  I also had a port in just about a year ago in November of 2016 and I know my oncologist's office said if after a year your cancer is gone you can get the port removed so I probably will be getting the port removed in the next couple of months hopefully as I want to ask my doctor about this. I go back and see my oncologist this week and will see where I go from here with the cancer results I have had. He probably will see me I am thinking either once or twice a year just to check out how I am doing regarding this cancer.  Obviously, I wil be checked forthe rest of my life regarding the cancer I have had. I am hoping to continue to remain with No Evidence of Disease and wil hope for the best in the future.

I wish you the best in your decision to have the 3 treatments of carboplatin and taxol and I wish you a lot of luck as well.

After my 5th treatment back in August of 2011, I did need a blood transfusion and a Neulasta shot as my platelets at that time were really low.  Anyway, I am very glad I did have all of the treatments that my oncologist recommended back then.  I would go back and see your oncologist whenever he wants you to return. Only he knows what's best for you other than yourself for treatments and expertise in the area of our rare and aggressive cancer.  My oncologist the one that retired is extremely knowledgable about UPSC as he has over 30 years of experience. Sadly, my new oncologist mentioned to me that anyone that was diagnosed with Stage 1 back in the 1980s have all since passed away since the treatments then were not what they were now I really don't know even if chemo was given back in the 80s when our cancer came in existence. So the medical field for sure has come a very long way since then and it still is going really strong. Obviously now there are more new drugs they can use even when I had the chemo over 6 years ago.  

Cheerful

a/k/a Jane

Thank you Jane.  I appreciate you sharing.  I see my dr right before Christmas.  

Hope you are NED forever.

Hugs

Sandra