question for those who have had reoccurrence

LesleeInCT said:

1st Time Poster - Mom has METS (long post)
My Mom had grade 3 endometrical cancer (clear cell and another type - both estrogen/progesterine receptors). She went over a year with vaginal bleeding and her PCP said she had a bladder infection and vaginitis! If she had gone to GYN when bleeding started she wouldn't have been a gr 3. Anyway, fast forward almost 5 yrs and mom is bedridden with slurring words/dizziness/nausea/vomiting/blocked ears. I call her doc as soon as I sense slurring in her words and want him to see her asap in case she had a mild stroke. So she goes and PCP diagnoses her with 1) ear infection; didn't get better 2) then allergies (because of all her coughing complaints over the summer); didn't get better with allergy meds so he finally said 3) Vertigo - just deal with it. So after nearly 5 weeks of being bedridden and eventually dehydrated/confused and losing bodily functions I called the Ambulance as she was incapable of even crawling to the car. Once in the ER they found her heart in arrythmia, which prompted a chest xray where they found a huge mass in her lung, which prompted further testing a biopsy. While in the hospital waiting for the results and dealing with the heart rythm issue, the hosp doc thought she had lung cancer. But I still was concerned about her cognitive ability - she wasn't "right". Well 5 days later, she complained of a headache - literally, the doctors all turned at looked at each other - rushed her in for a CTScan and called head of Neurology in on a Sunday. He performed and read the scan and within minutes was rushed in for surgery to removed a 5cm brain tumor that was blocking the passage of fluid thru her brain - she was at risk for herniation and certain death if the surgery wasn't performed. Surgery was text book and there shouldn't be lasting side effects. She immdiately began to improve - her dizziness/nausea and slurring improved right away. It took another few days to get the biopsy results back - but when they did, the cancer was her Endometrial Cancer which mets to brain and lung. Her treatment is 3 weeks of radiation to the head (she ends that on Tues) then the Monday before T'giving begins Chemo (Taxol/Carboplatin)for 3 treatments. She responded well to that cocktail originally so they will attempt again. Now for those who are reading this - my Mom did NOT keep her followup appointments!!! In fact she hadn't seen her Onc for over 2 yrs. Had she gotten her follow up tests, she may not be in this sitsuation. She is a young 72 yr old who takes care of her 92 yr mother - which I have somewhat taken over. Mom was just released from Nursing home back to her house. I take her to treatments and help with meals. I don't have any siblings to rely on and Mom isn't married, so I have alot of responsibility. Luckily I hve a flexible job and live closeby.

The docs have said she has an average of 1 yr survival rate. Anyone else have this happen or have a realistic idea of survival?

Sorry for the long post!
my email is choclabs@sbcglobal.net

kkstef said:

Great news, Cathy
Hi Cathy....such wonderful news! Thanks for letting us know the outcome of your visit with your Dr.

Celebrate and keeping dancing with NED!!

Best wishes always!

Karen

cathyK said:

update
well got my phisical, ultrasound test and ca 125 , no detectable cancer ca 125 has been 10 to 20 .
thanks every one for your prayers, , so now , 1 year cancer free, was told by doc one 95% chance of recrurance , so again I say, I am striving for the 5% praying for ya all
cathy k

Becky444 said:

CA125
I'm 9 mths out from my initial treatment and have not had a recurrence...to this point. I, too, had no CA125 taken before my surgery so I have no idea if it is a good marker for me. The doctor seems to think it is a good marker & that is what she goes by. I also had her add a HE4 tumor marker in addition to the CA125 for my peace of mind. She wasn't too excited about it at first but looked into it & added that monitoring test as well. She said I was about a year and a half ahead of everyone else requesting that marker. Today I have my 9 mth ckup.

I wish you the best & continued good health!

Becky