Tamoxifen pre-op

softD
softD Member Posts: 69
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi there,
was wondering if anyone has had to take Tamoxifen as a pre-op measure to try
hold back the rate of recurrent cancer growth, whilst waiting for surgery?
I am waiting for my surgeon to return from holidays (3weeks away yet) to do a laparoscopy/ laparotomy? and probably follow with more chemo
My oncologist has prescribed double dose Tamoxifen until I get to surgery. My ca125 is increasing, and the hope is to hold the cancer back if possible.
My ct/pet was inconclusively clear?!! recommend rescan in 6 weeks, but onc says to go straight to surgery for 'look see'.
I'm feeling the best I have been in 2 years...so bit of a bummer really! :(
I hope everyone is feeling ok,
lots of love Carolyn xxxx

Comments

  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #2
    It's a good move
    My mother was put on Tamoxifen last September, and it held her CA125 down for 5 months. She had no diagnosed tumor activity at that time, but her CA125 was stuck around 30. Because of symptoms that pointed toward a gall bladder problem, she also had a laparascopic surgery done jointly by the general surgeon and her onc/surgeon in March. They clipped a number of adhesions but found only one small spot of cancer in the abdominal cavity,which they were able to remove.

    All in all, I think that both interventions -- Tamoxifen and laparascopy -- were beneficial without too many side effects. She had some hot flashes from the Tamoxifen but it helped her hair grow. Recovery from laparascopy about a week, perhaps slightly longer.

    Hope this info helps. Good luck!
  • softD
    softD Member Posts: 69
    #3
    Barbara53 said:

    It's a good move
    My mother was put on Tamoxifen last September, and it held her CA125 down for 5 months. She had no diagnosed tumor activity at that time, but her CA125 was stuck around 30. Because of symptoms that pointed toward a gall bladder problem, she also had a laparascopic surgery done jointly by the general surgeon and her onc/surgeon in March. They clipped a number of adhesions but found only one small spot of cancer in the abdominal cavity,which they were able to remove.

    All in all, I think that both interventions -- Tamoxifen and laparascopy -- were beneficial without too many side effects. She had some hot flashes from the Tamoxifen but it helped her hair grow. Recovery from laparascopy about a week, perhaps slightly longer.

    Hope this info helps. Good luck!

    Thanks Barbara,
    that's great
    Thanks Barbara,
    that's great that it helped your Mum, and held the cancer for a while. Of course I
    would rather go straight to surgery, but as my surgeon is away, this is probably the best option for me, at the moment.
    I chose to wait, as he is the surgeon who did my original debulking, and I feel more comfortable having the same Dr again. My onc agrees I should wait. I've enjoyed 22mths
    of remission, so hopefully I can get back there again soon.
    Thankyou, for telling me about your mum's experience with Tamoxifen, it makes me feel
    better while I'm waiting, and hopefully it will work for me too.
    ..it's going be a loooong 3 weeks!!

    Take care,
    love Carolyn xx
  • groundeffect
    groundeffect Member Posts: 639 Member
    #4
    Tamoxifen
    Hi Carolyn,

    I took tamoxifen for more than a year after my CA-125 started rising, but there was no other indication of a recurrence. It went as high as 284 before taking effect, but then pushed it down until it leveled off to in the 60's, and a small tumor was detected then. My oncologist (not the one who prescribed the tamoxifen) took me off tamoxifen, and I had the surgery within a month.

    It did cause me to have hot flashes, but that was the only side effect I had.

    Good luck, and I wish you the best outcome!
  • softD
    softD Member Posts: 69
    #5
    groundeffect said:

    Tamoxifen
    Hi Carolyn,

    I took tamoxifen for more than a year after my CA-125 started rising, but there was no other indication of a recurrence. It went as high as 284 before taking effect, but then pushed it down until it leveled off to in the 60's, and a small tumor was detected then. My oncologist (not the one who prescribed the tamoxifen) took me off tamoxifen, and I had the surgery within a month.

    It did cause me to have hot flashes, but that was the only side effect I had.

    Good luck, and I wish you the best outcome!

    Groundeffect
    Thankyou for your post, I hope you had a good result from your subsequent surgery.
    Makes you wonder if there are any benefits to being on the tamoxifen when u end up having the surgery anyway? , or is it better just to go straight to surgery? Hmmm??
    My only reason for taking Tamoxifen is to hopefully slow the cancer till I can get to surgery (another 3 weeks away yet). I would rather have the surgery asap!
    Did you do chemo again after your surgery? I hope everything is going better for you now.
    Take care,
    Carolyn xx

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