PPC, interested in IP chemotherapy, need some answers!

Mum2bellaandwilliam
Mum2bellaandwilliam Member Posts: 412
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi everybody,

I am new to all this, and I would like to thank Tina for sharing a link with me to this page.
My mother has been diagnosed with PPC, we were first told that it was ovarian , she has had 3 lots of chemotherapy and has had surgery all good so far, surgeon said there was no visible trace of the beast left after her operation,he that told us that it was PPC as her ovaries were clear.
I am interested in IP chemotherapy, she is having IV it is all they seem to do in the uk, but from what I have read , and please correct me if I am wrong , you have to have it done at the time off the operation? If not scar tissue forms from the operation and it is no more beneficial than IV chemotherapy?
Please give me thoughts, I am desperate for mum to have the best treatment available , I must say the NHS have been superb and I cannot fault what they have done for her (apart from one rude consultant, but that's another story!) Also I am not sure if this has any bearing but she is high grade seous, stage 3, all other organs were clear when the op was done, I added this as I am sure that I read they could only do IP on low grade, please ,let me know if what I have read is out of date, thanks ladies x

Comments

  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #2
    Not positive, but I think IP
    Not positive, but I think IP is only an option within a short time after surgery. They usually place the port at the same time as the de-bulking is done. I don't know anyone who did IP chemo after they had finished the IV regimen. And if your mom is NED, I doubt any physician would recommend the IP; it is a very agressive and often hard to tolerate treatment - not a "maintenance" protocol.

    Carlene
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #3
    I asked my gyn/onc about IP
    I asked my gyn/onc about IP therapy (diagnosed stage IIIc in January). He told me that, in my case, he thought the risks outweighed the benefits. I finished IV chemo in June and my CT was NED in July. I'll let you know next week if the status remains quo ;)
  • MK_4Dani
    MK_4Dani Member Posts: 314
    #4
    I had IP chemo
    I was dx IIIC OVCA. I did 6 treatments IP with carboplatin every three weeks. I am told by the ONC nurses I am one of the few to complete all the treatments with no major problems. I was in good health, 45 yrs old. I did require three blood transfusions when red blood count went too low. The port was place on my rib cage about 6 weeks after debulk surgery with first treatment a few weeks later. The port placement surgery was painful for a few days. Felt like a broken rib. It is a very tough treatment...lasts 6 hours and you have to stay laying down and move from side to side every half hour. You feel bloated for a few hours after as the fluid is being absorbed. I am NED going on 6 months.
    I have read on the internet that there are treatments with heated chemo during the surgery in the belly but have not heard of someone actually receiving this treatment. Hope this info helps. Feel free to ask more questions.
    Mary
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #5
    Hello there
    Welcome to the boards and I hope you are able to find some answers. I told you - these ladies here are great. What they don't know about ovca, PPC etc isn't worth knowing. Please keep us informed about your mum, love Tina xxxx
  • softD
    softD Member Posts: 69
    #6
    IP Chemo
    Hi there,
    I had IP Chemo (ovca 3c)and did all 6 cycles of the treatment. It was pretty tough going
    and not everyone is able to complete all the cycles, usually for reasons of intolerance to the chemo and/or breakdown of the portacath.
    My IP port was placed at the time of my original de-bulking surgery (tied to the rib). I have had 20 months of remission, and am now awaiting surgery and more chemo for my 1st recurrence :(
    Apparently the IP Chemo is a once only treatment,as after the initial surgery, adhesions etc can cause a pooling of the chemo into pockets, rather than bathing the whole abdomen, and is therefore not beneficial to the patient. I will receive my next lot of chemo all IV, even though I will have the same carbo/taxol treatment.
    Hope this helps..
    and your Mum goes well with her treatment,
    Take care,
    Carolyn x
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #7
    IP
    I had my IP port placed AFTER I recv'd 5 rounds of IV therapy. Since my inital debulking left me with a temporary illeostomy I was not able to receive IP chemo until my ostomy was reversed. I had 5 rounds of IV carbo/taxol, surgery to reverse the ostomy, place the IP port and take a 'second look'. Several weeks after the surgery I recv'd 3 rounds of IP cisplat/taxol. I was dx'd with stage IV high grade papillary serous ovca. Good luck to your Mom!

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