recurrence

Dynamo
Dynamo Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
After a year cancer free, my cancer is back. I went from a CA125 of 18 to 101. My doctor ordered a CT scan which was completely normal, but the CA125 went up to 175. I start chemo again on Friday. I will get a regime of CarboP and Gemzar this time. He said that I will not lose my hair! Don't quite know how that is. The literature on both lists hair loss as a side effect, but the nurses also say I will not lose my hair. Anyone know anything about this? Also, I will continue working through the treatments this time. My husband has been laid off since Jan last year and I cary the medical insurance so I have no choice. I teach school and it can be draining. Have any of you worked through treatment? How did it go?
Dynamo

Comments

  • Mawty
    Mawty Member Posts: 133
    #2
    Hi Dynamo,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your recurrence. I haven't had Gemzar, but I recurred recently and am on carbo/Doxil. I've worked through both treatments. I do miss a few days around the time of the chemo treatment, but then I try to work full time as much as I can. I don't want to lose my job, although they probably wouldn't fire me. But with so many layoffs these days one can't be sure.

    Until a month ago, I was the only one carrying insurance, and it frightened me to death that something would happen and we'd have nothing. Thankfully, my husband now also has coverage and he is my secondary carrier. We really thanked the Lord for that one!

    I hope this will go well for you. I don't know about hair loss, but I would think if the nurses are saying you won't lose your hair, you won't. I think the oncological nurses really know their stuff.

    Blessings through your treatment.

    Marty
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    Mawty said:

    Hi Dynamo,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your recurrence. I haven't had Gemzar, but I recurred recently and am on carbo/Doxil. I've worked through both treatments. I do miss a few days around the time of the chemo treatment, but then I try to work full time as much as I can. I don't want to lose my job, although they probably wouldn't fire me. But with so many layoffs these days one can't be sure.

    Until a month ago, I was the only one carrying insurance, and it frightened me to death that something would happen and we'd have nothing. Thankfully, my husband now also has coverage and he is my secondary carrier. We really thanked the Lord for that one!

    I hope this will go well for you. I don't know about hair loss, but I would think if the nurses are saying you won't lose your hair, you won't. I think the oncological nurses really know their stuff.

    Blessings through your treatment.

    Marty

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Dynamo
    Dynamo Member Posts: 8
    #4
    Mawty said:

    Hi Dynamo,

    I'm so sorry to hear about your recurrence. I haven't had Gemzar, but I recurred recently and am on carbo/Doxil. I've worked through both treatments. I do miss a few days around the time of the chemo treatment, but then I try to work full time as much as I can. I don't want to lose my job, although they probably wouldn't fire me. But with so many layoffs these days one can't be sure.

    Until a month ago, I was the only one carrying insurance, and it frightened me to death that something would happen and we'd have nothing. Thankfully, my husband now also has coverage and he is my secondary carrier. We really thanked the Lord for that one!

    I hope this will go well for you. I don't know about hair loss, but I would think if the nurses are saying you won't lose your hair, you won't. I think the oncological nurses really know their stuff.

    Blessings through your treatment.

    Marty

    Thanks so much for your
    Thanks so much for your input. I am having my chemo treatments on Fridays so that I have Sat and Sunday to lay around and hopefully will be able to go in on Monday again. My daughter is a licensed teacher who is a stay at home Mom and has offered to take over for me on days I cannot go in. The school is all for it.
    Dynamo
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #5
    Hugs
    Dear Dyanamo, sorry to read you recurred but to go a year is great news and usually means you well respond well to chemo again. I have had both of these of drugs (although not as combo) and have not lost my hair, in fact I have been on carbo for a few months now and my hair is growing back in. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • Dynamo
    Dynamo Member Posts: 8
    #6
    BonnieR said:

    Hugs
    Dear Dyanamo, sorry to read you recurred but to go a year is great news and usually means you well respond well to chemo again. I have had both of these of drugs (although not as combo) and have not lost my hair, in fact I have been on carbo for a few months now and my hair is growing back in. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    Thanks Bonnie for the
    Thanks Bonnie for the encouragement. I am confident things will be easier this time since the cancer is so early. Last time I had to undergo a six hour debulking surgery and my CA125 was 1780. This time a CA125 of under 200 and no tumors or tissue growth evident. My doctor says that often the second remission is longer. I pray that he is right on that.
    Dynamo
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #7
    Hello, Dynamo:
    Sorry to hear
    Hello, Dynamo:

    Sorry to hear about your recurrance. At least right now there's no surgery involved, and since the CT is normal it might just mean microscopic cells. Anyway, I also worked during chemo, both times. The first time I just scheduled chemo for Friday, took Friday off work (infusions lasted 7-8 hours), and then had the weekend to recover. The second time I was hit much harder by the chemo, and couldn't manage more than a day or two per week right after chemo, then a regular schedule between treatments. No doubt I was tired, moving a lot slower, but if I didn't go to work I didn't get paid. So, I was determined to be there.

    Praying for strength for you during these treaments/work combination. I always wanted to be a teacher! What grade do you teach?

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #8
    Teachers Rock!
    Dear Dynamo,


    I am so sorry to hear that your cancer is back after a year of NED. Frome what I hear, that darn dude is so fickle sometimes! Hopwdul come back around!

    I am also a teacher, and I'm writing this on the third day after my hysterectomy/Debulking surgery. I am convinced that Teal Warriors and Teachers must have some special extra something in their spirits that keeps them going even when it seems like they can't take another step. (As I sit here typing updates on the computer and celebrating, of all things, farts!) As for working through chemo, although I don't know any OVCA teachers who have, I have several friends who have told me about Breast CA survivors who have worked through chemo. My goal is to get back into the classroom hopefully by May at the latest, at least part time. (Okay, originally I was thinking March, but decided extra something in spirit doesn't mean living in a fantasy world!)

    Best of luck, HUGS and Prayers flying your way!
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #9
    working
    Hi Dynamo

    I am getting ready for my second round of chemo and am going to be taking Doxil. I too am going to try to work this time. It is encouraging to know pepole have managed this. I am single so the insurance is in my hands. I'm scheduling mine on Thursday then I can have a long weekend to recup. I wish you much luck and many prayers. Stay strong.
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #10
    carbo/gemzar
    Dynamo,

    I am on carbo/gem after a reaction to cisplatin. Carbo is much easier on me than cisplatin was. This is my first recurrence. Also did not lose my hair this time. I do believe it is the taxol that causes us to lose our hair so quickly.

    Gemzar, carbo and cisplatin usually is mild to moderate loss. I have been thinning out considerably but not bald.................. and I have had 11 treatments so far.

    I was already in the process of resigning my position at work so work has not been an issue with me. I could have worked first time around even with surgery and chemo and did fill in a few times in 2008. But I know it would have been difficult to work this time around. Maybe because my remission was so short.

    Who knows how long it takes for this "stuff" to really get out of our bodies??

    Living for Eternity,
    Libby

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