HIPEC Surgery and/or OVAX Trial

survivingandthriving
survivingandthriving Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi. I'm going to have the HIPEC surgery in two weeks, which will be followed up by an ovarian vaccine trial called OVAX. Anyone out there heard of someone having either one?

Thanks,
Julie

Comments

  • survivingandthriving
    survivingandthriving Member Posts: 5
    #2
    I'll check back later for posts.
    :-)
  • survivingandthriving
    survivingandthriving Member Posts: 5
    #3
    survivingandthriving said:

    I'll check back later for posts.
    :-)

    Just checking in...
    Is anyone interested in this procedure and the trial?

    My surgery is 4/19/10, and I would like to talk with someone who's had it. I saw a disussion board where people were talking about it but couldn't find it again after registering on the site, so I started this one...anyone? :-)
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #4
    HI, JULIE
    What is HIPEC surgery? Do you have OVCA? Is this vaccine a preventative or treatment?
    Haven't heard of any of this.
    Thanks!
    Monika
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #5
    survivingandthriving said:

    Just checking in...
    Is anyone interested in this procedure and the trial?

    My surgery is 4/19/10, and I would like to talk with someone who's had it. I saw a disussion board where people were talking about it but couldn't find it again after registering on the site, so I started this one...anyone? :-)

    sorry
    I have never heard of this either. I am interested to know what it is .
  • JoanC
    JoanC Member Posts: 231 Member
    #6
    I have heard of it!
    Julie,
    HIPEC is basically IP chemo only they heat the chemo.....suposse to be doing great things. The vaccine turns cancer cells on themselves I think. Sounds like you are going to get state of the art treatment. I wish success for you and good health.
    (((HUGS))) Joan
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #7
    I have heard of the heated
    I have heard of the heated chemo but for the 1st look surgery. A vaccine....keeping my fingers crossed for that! Keep us posted on this...very interesting subject.
    Mary
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #8
    MK_4Dani said:

    I have heard of the heated
    I have heard of the heated chemo but for the 1st look surgery. A vaccine....keeping my fingers crossed for that! Keep us posted on this...very interesting subject.
    Mary

    It's not a vaccine, in the
    It's not a vaccine, in the sense that we normally think of "vaccine". The drug (Avax) is supposed to vaccinate the body against cancer cells. The current clinical trial is for recurrent stage III or IV OVAC and involves surgery to remove as much tumor as possible, then IP type chemo, only the drug is heated.

    They have been using it (HIPEC surgery) for corectal cancer that has spread to the abdomen with very encouraging results.
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #9
    google
    Julie,

    I personally have not heard of any one having either, but if you google either great information will come up for you to read.

    That is what I usually do! Lots of good information to read when you have the time.

    Libby
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    #10
    HIPEC
    Where are you having your Hipec done? Did you cancer spread to the peritoneum?

    I have had uterine serous which spread to the peritoneum and they are considering hipec for me too. serous uterine is much like serous ovarian. Sounds like an extensive surgery. I reallly know nothing about an ovarian vaccine.

    Diane
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    Songflower said:

    HIPEC
    Where are you having your Hipec done? Did you cancer spread to the peritoneum?

    I have had uterine serous which spread to the peritoneum and they are considering hipec for me too. serous uterine is much like serous ovarian. Sounds like an extensive surgery. I reallly know nothing about an ovarian vaccine.

    Diane

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #12
    Hi,
    Thi Hipec sounds very
    Hi,

    Thi Hipec sounds very interesting.

    You say it is a trial study? What qualifications did you have to meet in order to be a part of this study?

    Can patients who have had a recurrence of ovca apply.

    I think I vaguely rememeber hearing of this, but am not quite sure. I will however; continue to check for trial studys/research on this.

    Thanks for putting this info out there.


    Sharon
  • jewels grandma
    jewels grandma Member Posts: 1
    #13
    hipec and ovax
    Hi I am new to this site and have only been on here once, in the chat room. I was hoping to talk one on one to some ladies who are going thru similar experience as mine. I was in remission for a year from ovarian cancer. Just found out it has returned and now is in the peritoneal cavity. Discovered the hipec thru my own via the computer. I have found a doctor in my state that does perform it. I had consoltation with her last week. She spoke to my oncologist and stated that they have a pretty good plan for me, but could switch my care over to I.U. if I wanted to. She said she couldn't promise anything with the hipec though because it is hard to get approval for the procedure because no data exists to back up that it is a better treatment. Although everything I have heard about it seems to give us more years to live. Also on the 30th of June my surgeon did a scope to see the size of my tumors now, and closed me back up not taking any out. He said there were so many and they were small, to time consuming to pick them out. He is sending me to oncologist to go for second round of chemo. I have just heard of the ovax yesterday. Am feeling very frustrated and upset. I want to fight this second time with all I can and I don't feel that I am getting the best treatment that I know is out there. My oncologist said that my cancer is going to keep coming back. I was so hopeful when I read about the hipec, but I am running into brick wall
  • survivingovca
    survivingovca Member Posts: 23
    #14
    jewels grandma said:

    hipec and ovax
    Hi I am new to this site and have only been on here once, in the chat room. I was hoping to talk one on one to some ladies who are going thru similar experience as mine. I was in remission for a year from ovarian cancer. Just found out it has returned and now is in the peritoneal cavity. Discovered the hipec thru my own via the computer. I have found a doctor in my state that does perform it. I had consoltation with her last week. She spoke to my oncologist and stated that they have a pretty good plan for me, but could switch my care over to I.U. if I wanted to. She said she couldn't promise anything with the hipec though because it is hard to get approval for the procedure because no data exists to back up that it is a better treatment. Although everything I have heard about it seems to give us more years to live. Also on the 30th of June my surgeon did a scope to see the size of my tumors now, and closed me back up not taking any out. He said there were so many and they were small, to time consuming to pick them out. He is sending me to oncologist to go for second round of chemo. I have just heard of the ovax yesterday. Am feeling very frustrated and upset. I want to fight this second time with all I can and I don't feel that I am getting the best treatment that I know is out there. My oncologist said that my cancer is going to keep coming back. I was so hopeful when I read about the hipec, but I am running into brick wall

    OVAX
    I was in the O-vax ovarian vaccine clinical trial. I had failed two types of chemo (Carbo/Taxol and Doxil), and found the trial in October of 2008. I did not have HIPEC with it, although I believe that is the procedure now (not positive about that though - check the clinicaltrials.gov website). Instead, I had four rounds of interperitoneal Taxotere after surgery. For the OVAX trial,they performed surgery, removed all tumors, and sent them off to be turned into a the OVAX vaccine which was then injected into my arm.

    In between the time I had surgery and started the vaccine (about two months), I grew more cancer. The vaccine effectively stopped any additional new cancer (once the treatment started). After the injections were done, I had four rounds of Avastin to take care of the nodules remaining. I have been out of treatment, and with no evidence of disease, since January of 2010!! I highly recommend the OVAX vaccine trial if you are a candidate for it! It has given me more time :)
  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #15
    jewels grandma said:

    hipec and ovax
    Hi I am new to this site and have only been on here once, in the chat room. I was hoping to talk one on one to some ladies who are going thru similar experience as mine. I was in remission for a year from ovarian cancer. Just found out it has returned and now is in the peritoneal cavity. Discovered the hipec thru my own via the computer. I have found a doctor in my state that does perform it. I had consoltation with her last week. She spoke to my oncologist and stated that they have a pretty good plan for me, but could switch my care over to I.U. if I wanted to. She said she couldn't promise anything with the hipec though because it is hard to get approval for the procedure because no data exists to back up that it is a better treatment. Although everything I have heard about it seems to give us more years to live. Also on the 30th of June my surgeon did a scope to see the size of my tumors now, and closed me back up not taking any out. He said there were so many and they were small, to time consuming to pick them out. He is sending me to oncologist to go for second round of chemo. I have just heard of the ovax yesterday. Am feeling very frustrated and upset. I want to fight this second time with all I can and I don't feel that I am getting the best treatment that I know is out there. My oncologist said that my cancer is going to keep coming back. I was so hopeful when I read about the hipec, but I am running into brick wall

    PPC
    What you are describing is similar to primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) only it is "secondary" peritoneal cancer since you were originally diagnosed with ovarian cancer. There is a new discussion board recently created for people dealing with peritoneal cancer. You might benefit checking in with them for more information.

    The doctors are treating peritoneal cancer like a chronic illness. Incurable doesn't have to mean terminal. Even people who show no evidence of disease still might have small cancer implants hidden from view so we're all "in the same boat" with you.

    (((hugs)))

    LQ

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