After treatment whats next

pat1070
pat1070 Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
i was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2/10. I had surgery but they could not remove any of the cancer. since then I have had 5 treatments & will receive the 6 this month. I have responded well to the chemo & CA125 is 40 with out the last 2 treatments. Will I feel better after the chemo is out of my system? i want to go back to work. I am a widow & I frankly need the money.Do they due blood tests to see if the cancer is back or do you wait for the systems to return. I have been reading your discussions for over a month & they have been a great help to me

Comments

  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    WELCOME, PAT
    Pat:
    Do they plan on doing any more surgery in hopes that the chemo shrunk the existing problem? As far as feeling better, the chemo does take a while to process through your system. But I assure you it will get better. As for tests, they usually continue CA125. I would imagine monthly for you for a while. They watch for a consistent rise in the numbers, with or without symptoms. Fluctuations in the numbers are normal, so a rise from time to time (as long as it goes back down) is usually not cause for concern. I hope you have a very good doctor who is keeping tabs on you, maybe with additional CT scans? Either way, let us know how you're doing. In the meantime, you're in my prayers. Sending HUGS, too!

    Monika
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    Hello Pat,
    I'm just

    Hello Pat,

    I'm just curious... did they explain why the cancer could not be removed specifically?

    What was your original ca125 before you began your chemo?

    As far as the chemo in your system, usually one will feel better once you've had a nice spell without chemo. It usually takes just as many months you received the chemo and/or even longer.

    If your doctor is going to follow-up ; they usually do so with periodic ca125 checks as well as cat-scans/pet-scans. These two tests usually gives an indication of how things are truly coming along.

    I hope all works out for the best for you.


    Sharon