Friend has ovarian cancer

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Lighthouse_7
Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
She got the news a couple of days ago and I am from the breast cancer board. She was told that after surgery she will need chemo and radiation. I know it's early yet to determain her stage since what I've read tells me that is usually done after surgery.

I was wondering if the chemo drugs are similar to mine from breast cancer. I had ACT. I want to help her through this as much as I can but I can't speak for anything except what I know.

I will tell her about this site and hope that she will log on with her own questions.

Also, is it true that they usually don't do radiation for this cancer? I read that, but I always take anything I read on the internet with a little grain of salt.

Thanks so much for any help you can provide until I get her on here.

Lighthouse_7 (Wanda)

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  • asuprpixie
    asuprpixie Member Posts: 14 Member
    #2
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    I am a 3 year ovarian cancer
    I am a 3 year ovarian cancer survivor. I believe the 'chemo cocktail' is different for BRCA. I had the combo of Carbo/Taxol. I have not heard of any one with OVCA do radiation.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #3
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    asuprpixie said:

    I am a 3 year ovarian cancer
    I am a 3 year ovarian cancer survivor. I believe the 'chemo cocktail' is different for BRCA. I had the combo of Carbo/Taxol. I have not heard of any one with OVCA do radiation.

    Thanks asuprpixie
    This help a lot. The "T" in my ACT chemo was for Taxol too.
    Congratulations on 3 years and God bless!
    Wanda
  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #4
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    Lighthouse_7 said:

    Thanks asuprpixie
    This help a lot. The "T" in my ACT chemo was for Taxol too.
    Congratulations on 3 years and God bless!
    Wanda

    I was diagnosed Sept, 2009,
    I was diagnosed Sept, 2009, stage IIIc, grade 3. I don't know anyone with OC who has received radiation, either. It's not something US doctors usually do.

    If she hasn't had surgery yet, tell her to find the BEST gyn/onc she can. Travel if she has to. Picking a talented surgeon is one of the few things we can do for ourselves to increase our odds.

    Carlene
  • davevg
    davevg Member Posts: 114
    #5
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    Hissy_Fitz said:

    I was diagnosed Sept, 2009,
    I was diagnosed Sept, 2009, stage IIIc, grade 3. I don't know anyone with OC who has received radiation, either. It's not something US doctors usually do.

    If she hasn't had surgery yet, tell her to find the BEST gyn/onc she can. Travel if she has to. Picking a talented surgeon is one of the few things we can do for ourselves to increase our odds.

    Carlene

    My wife was diagnosed in
    My wife was diagnosed in 2009, stage IIIc, grade 3 clear cell. Her Dr was very aggressive IV/IP Cisplatin (IP), Taxotere (IP) and Taxol(IV). Finished all of her treatments but just barely and only had to move one out due to low blood counts. She also had to have three blood transfusions as well. Five or six months back she had a localized recurrence and had Whole Abdomen Radiation (WAR). This is not very popular here in the US but is up north in Canada. As far as I know it is only used for localized recurrence only even up there. Last visit 3 weeks ago her CA125 was up and liver level down so not so sure just how good it is. We're both a little scared at this point.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #6
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    davevg said:

    My wife was diagnosed in
    My wife was diagnosed in 2009, stage IIIc, grade 3 clear cell. Her Dr was very aggressive IV/IP Cisplatin (IP), Taxotere (IP) and Taxol(IV). Finished all of her treatments but just barely and only had to move one out due to low blood counts. She also had to have three blood transfusions as well. Five or six months back she had a localized recurrence and had Whole Abdomen Radiation (WAR). This is not very popular here in the US but is up north in Canada. As far as I know it is only used for localized recurrence only even up there. Last visit 3 weeks ago her CA125 was up and liver level down so not so sure just how good it is. We're both a little scared at this point.

    Thanks Charlene,
    I hope she
    Thanks Charlene,
    I hope she shops for the best doctor like you said but her primary has recommended a doctor in Rhode Island and that's where she's going next week. He might be great but I just think that since we live so close to Boston that she should go there. I can't tell her that because she trusts her primary and that might be overstepping my bounds. Thanks for responding, I appreciate it. Dave I will say a prayer for you and wife and I wish you both the courage and strength to get through this. Taxotere AND Taxol, wow, I thought you either had one or the other (in breast chemo anyway). I did read that the US doesn't do radiation and from what you have all told me, I see that's true.

    I can feel the same love and compassion here as I do on my site and it reflects the strong ties that bind us Kindred Spirits throughout this monster that is cancer.
    My best to you all.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #7
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    Radiation
    Hi Wanda, I had ovarian, uterine cancer and appendix cancer. I had the chemo for the ovarian cancer which was carbo-taxol and I had internal radiation for the uterine cancer. That radiation treatment was called Brachy Therapy. I had stage 1 uterine cancer and that is why they used the Brachy Therapy. The radiation Dr. said they could have used the radiation of the whole pelvic area but it wasn't necessary. It could be that they are suspecting that your friend also has uterine cancer. From what I have read as far as Doctors the best success in surgery is done by a gyn-onc. surgeon and having the big debulking surgery done. The staging is normally done after the surgery to determine just how far the cancer has spread. I am by far an expert at any of this , it is just my experences that I have personally had. Hoping good things for your friend. Sharon
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #8
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    Susan53 said:

    Radiation
    Hi Wanda, I had ovarian, uterine cancer and appendix cancer. I had the chemo for the ovarian cancer which was carbo-taxol and I had internal radiation for the uterine cancer. That radiation treatment was called Brachy Therapy. I had stage 1 uterine cancer and that is why they used the Brachy Therapy. The radiation Dr. said they could have used the radiation of the whole pelvic area but it wasn't necessary. It could be that they are suspecting that your friend also has uterine cancer. From what I have read as far as Doctors the best success in surgery is done by a gyn-onc. surgeon and having the big debulking surgery done. The staging is normally done after the surgery to determine just how far the cancer has spread. I am by far an expert at any of this , it is just my experences that I have personally had. Hoping good things for your friend. Sharon

    Thanks so much Sharon. I
    Thanks so much Sharon. I told her about this site and I think she will join.
    Thanks again.
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #9
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    June 4th 2011
    was when I was told I was stage four ovarian cancer. I am on taxol/carbo and avastin. I know they use to use avastin until it was pulled for breast cancer. My doctor does not use radiation for cancer. Tell your friend that this site is great for finding hope in such a dark place. I love these ladies so much they have helpped me in so many ways but mostly to help me know I am not alone. They are truly my teal sisters please see if you can get her to come on this site.

    Anne
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #10
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    AnneBehymer said:

    June 4th 2011
    was when I was told I was stage four ovarian cancer. I am on taxol/carbo and avastin. I know they use to use avastin until it was pulled for breast cancer. My doctor does not use radiation for cancer. Tell your friend that this site is great for finding hope in such a dark place. I love these ladies so much they have helpped me in so many ways but mostly to help me know I am not alone. They are truly my teal sisters please see if you can get her to come on this site.

    Anne

    Thanks Anne
    I will tell her today.

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