Shingles and increased CA-125

24

Comments

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #22
    My UPSC is back

    My oncologist called this evening to let me know the lymph node biopsy showed UPSC cells. She wants me to start chemo again. I had 3 rounds of taxol/Carbo before so she said it should be effective to use again. The nurses will get everything set up and call me tomorrow. I do feel less anxiety knowing what’s going on and having a plan than being in that in-between not knowing. I know pretty well what to expect as far as side effects, so I’m ready to start the fight again.

    Thank you ladies for being here!

    Donna

  • Armywife
    Armywife Member Posts: 451 Member
    #23
    dgrdalton said:

    My UPSC is back

    My oncologist called this evening to let me know the lymph node biopsy showed UPSC cells. She wants me to start chemo again. I had 3 rounds of taxol/Carbo before so she said it should be effective to use again. The nurses will get everything set up and call me tomorrow. I do feel less anxiety knowing what’s going on and having a plan than being in that in-between not knowing. I know pretty well what to expect as far as side effects, so I’m ready to start the fight again.

    Thank you ladies for being here!

    Donna

    Donna

    Your positive attitude is so inspiring.  We are here for you!  Go get 'em!

     

  • Forherself
    Forherself Member Posts: 1,013 Member
    #24
    Not what we wanted to hear but

    at least now you can get going on treatment.   UPSC is so upredictable.   Give it all you've got.  We are here for you.

    Hugs to you.   

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #25
    zsazsa1 said:

    This darned disease.  I'm

    This darned disease.  I'm hopeful that you'll respond to the carboplatin/taxol combination - it's been two years, so it should be effective.  You should ask for them to test the tumor for her2/neu status - it may be appropriate to add herceptin.  It was recently shown to double remission time in Stage III/IV UPSC, so if your tumor cells have the receptors for it, it would likely help.  For me, it has had no side effects.

    Thank you

    Thank you! I will ask my oncologist about that. 

    And I do appreciate all suggestions for things I need to learn or ask about now.

    Donna

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #26
    Well, it was disappointing to

    Well, it was disappointing to wake up to this, this morning. Hopefully because of the shingles, it's been caught early enough to beat it back quickly for you. I hate the thought of you having to go through chemo again (or anyone for that matter). UPSC is such a stubborn bas***d!

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #27
     Donna, so sorry for this

     Donna, so sorry for this news. This is such a hateful cancer! I'm glad they caught it early and hopeful chemo will take care of it. Your head is in the right place and you know we will be here for you throughout your treatments. Please keep in touch.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • cmb
    cmb Member Posts: 1,001 Member
    #28
    Testing

    Well, if there was ever a positive side of getting shingles I guess the early detection of your recurrence is it. But I'm still sorry to learn that you must start chemo again, although as you said, you know what to expect now. Testing the cancer cells, as has been suggested, is a very good idea so that you and your doctor understand all the options available.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #29
    Dang it, Donna.  I'm sorry to

    Dang it, Donna.  I'm sorry to hear this news.  I'm glad your doctor didn't play a 'wait and see' game and got in to check it out so you can get on top of it.  Please keep us posted.

     

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    edited August 2019 #30
    It’s really starting to sink in now

    We live 212 miles from my oncologist. This coming Monday I get prelabs and my port put in. Then chemo starts on 8/29. I do have the best chemo nurses! But before all this, on the 22nd, my husband and I are taking the two granddaughters (ages 6 & 8) to Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee for an all day fun trip!

    Thanks for being here! Donna

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #31
    212 miles from the oncologist

    212 miles from the oncologist!  That's rough - not easy to make that drive (or ride) when going through treatment.  I'm hoping that your infusion center is closer?

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #32
    This darned disease.  I'm

    This darned disease.  I'm hopeful that you'll respond to the carboplatin/taxol combination - it's been two years, so it should be effective.  You should ask for them to test the tumor for her2/neu status - it may be appropriate to add herceptin.  It was recently shown to double remission time in Stage III/IV UPSC, so if your tumor cells have the receptors for it, it would likely help.  For me, it has had no side effects.

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #33
    I just edited my comment from

    I just edited my comment from the D word to darned.  I just didn't want anyone who came across it to think that I was foul-mouthed!  I never thought of the D word as being controversial.

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #34
    zsazsa1 said:

    212 miles from the oncologist

    212 miles from the oncologist!  That's rough - not easy to make that drive (or ride) when going through treatment.  I'm hoping that your infusion center is closer?

    Infusion center & oncologist same place

    We (my husband drives me) make the trip from SE Missouri to St. Louis because my first and closer GYN/onc couldn’t decide if I needed chemo or observation. He also made a few comments concerning his decisions and then denied saying them. So 5 months after my surgery, we sought a second opinion as I was concerned about observation only. Barnes in St. Louis was ranked in the top 15 cancer centers. My new GYN/onc got me set up for chemo and brachytherapy. The drive is not bad after you make it a few times. We have relatives we can stay with if needed. 

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #35
    zsazsa1 said:

    I just edited my comment from

    I just edited my comment from the D word to darned.  I just didn't want anyone who came across it to think that I was foul-mouthed!  I never thought of the D word as being controversial.

    No problem

    I read it before it was censored and didn’t think anything of it. 

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #36
    I agree about great chemo

    I agree about great chemo nurses!  They are the ones who are with you there - giving you your juice.  I kept a list of all the nurses who helped in my chemo and then I went and bought a Caswell Massey bar of soap for each of them.  A little expensive, but after it was over I stopped up with a name tag tied to each one.  They were angels.

    Keep us posted, Donna.

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #37
    Update on recurrence treatment

    My first chemo was on a day when my oncologist was not at that clinic, so I decided to wait to post until I knew more. That first chemo was harder than I expected. Side effects started on the trip home and lasted about 8-10 days. Yesterday the chemo went much better and I’m still feeling pretty good!

    My prognosis: 

    Since the cancer is in the lymph nodes, the treatment is chemo and it already seems to be working! The cancer marker (CA-125) went from 78.5 to 39.5 after first treatment. I will get a a CT scan after the 3rd chemo and then probably 3 more rounds of chemo.

    Dr. Hagemann, my gynecologic/oncologist is having molecular genetic studies done on my original tumor to find out if I have HER2/neu genetic marker. If so then I can take Herpecetin (This is a monoclonal antibody, which is a man-made version of a very specific immune system protein.) This could help me stay cancer free longer.

    The down side is that even if we beat it again, this cancer will come back. The uterine serous cancer is very similar to the ovarian serous cancer, a very sneaky aggressive cancer.

    So my mind set now is to think of this as a chronic illness and try to live my life the best I can. I’m sure my thinking will change often :-)

    I need you ladies now more than ever! Thank you for being here!

  • cmb
    cmb Member Posts: 1,001 Member
    #38
    Update

    I'm glad the latest infusion wasn't as tough as the first one, at least not right away. Feeling bad for 212 miles on the return trip home must have been very difficult. Also glad that your doctor is doing the tumor testing. That will help for any future treatment that may be necesary.

    I hope this last treatment and the next one continue to work well for you so that your next scan shows good results.

  • Forherself
    Forherself Member Posts: 1,013 Member
    #39
    Molecular genetic testing

    I am glad to read you are having this done.  It is sounding more like they are going to change the classification of endometrial cancer based on genetic testing.  They can better predict treatment   I think a chronic illness is a good way to think of this.  And the more the treatment is tailored to your specific markers the better it will work.  They are learning so much right now.  And I think endometrial cancer is finally getting some attention.   Hang in there.  We are all here for you.  Prayers for a long NED after you treatment.

  • dgrdalton
    dgrdalton Member Posts: 161 Member
    #40
    No Time For Cancer, I found

    No Time For Cancer, I found it interesting that you gave soap to your chemo nurses. One of my hobbies is making goat milk soap. My chemo nurses got some of my homemade soap after my frontline treatment. I’ve already made some lavender soap to have ready to give them for Christmas this year! They are jewels!

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #41
    dgrdalton said:

    No Time For Cancer, I found

    No Time For Cancer, I found it interesting that you gave soap to your chemo nurses. One of my hobbies is making goat milk soap. My chemo nurses got some of my homemade soap after my frontline treatment. I’ve already made some lavender soap to have ready to give them for Christmas this year! They are jewels!

    That's neat

    i only use goat milk soap. It doesn't leave a tacky residue on my skin like commercial stuff does. Gotta stock up for winter from my  farmers market vendor tomorrow. 

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