doctor visit, CTscan, new chemo

Help, I'm on a merry-go-round and can't get off!

Had my 10th... and final, as it turned out...treatment of Taxol today. Then saw my gyn/onc. (would have made more sense to see him first and skip the chemo, but...)

My CT scan showed that the lymph nodes that had shrunk have begun enlarging again, but are still under 2 cm. Doc reminded me that 10 years ago, they would not have even shown up. They are about where they were a year ago when I was diagnosed with the recurrence. In the interim, even though my CA125 has climbed, we had seen some shrinkage. He considers what I have a relatively insignificant amount of cancer, but we still need to treat it. Evidently the Taxol didn't scare it at all.

He said because of the way cancer divides and grows, it is better to attack it while it is small. There is more cell division going on when it is small, and therefore chemo is more likely to kill more cells...or cause them to commit suicide. Yeah, they really should, don't you think?

He also said that because my recurrence is limited to 2 groups of lymph nodes, there is not the urgency there would be if I had abdominal metastases. And the scan showed no activity anywhere else, thank god. So we can try whatever regimens we need to.

Next Wednesday I will start Gemzar/Carbo. I will be on a 28 day cycle, assuming my blood counts can take it. Day 1 Gemzar/Carbo, day 8 Gemzar alone, day 15 Neulasta, day 21 Gemzar/Carbo, day 28 Gemzar.

I just talked to my chemo nurse, and she said that Gemzar hits platelets and white cells pretty hard. I already know I will be getting Neulasta. For platelets, I'm pretty sure from what I've read on here that I have to just wait it out.

My doc said that he is hopeful that since I have tolerated all my chemos so incredibly well that I can tolerate the Gemzar/Carbo well, also. What I've read is a little scary, but I gotta give it a chance.

Sure wish the Taxol would have worked. At least it didn't make me lose my hair for nothing. I would have been really unhappy about that.

I'm doing okay. A little temporary discouragement, but I'll rebound.

I still hate this disease.

Good luck to us all.

Jennali
IIIC survivor since Nov 26, 2007

By koh847
Posted October 28, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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Hey Jenn...sounds like you received pretty good news today, that is great. Very limited and managable. Good luck on this next chemo...I pray that it will knock the rest of the cells out for good!

All the best,
Kim

By Cheryl4Teal
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:04 pm
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I think its pretty good news too. Seems it can be taken care of for you. Thats a good thing. Im gonna keep you in my prayers, and hope you take it well. Youve come this far. Good luck to you....
Hugs Cheryl

By lifeisgrand
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:17 pm
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It's hard to think of cancer in terms of "relatively insignificant" but considering the alternative it sounds like the best news you could get. Will definately have you in my prayers. God bless. Now go seek out those little monsters and destroy!

By Jennali
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:24 pm
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Yeah, almost sounds like "a little bit pregnant", I guess!

Still, I am so thankful that I have no tumors, no signs of cancer in my abdomen and no sign of mets to liver or lungs. I am so fortunate.

Even though it is a little discouraging to be embarking on yet another chemo journey, it's what I have to do.

Thanks for the good wishes and prayers.

By Shearaw
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:33 pm
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Jenn, You are a role model for us all. Hate the disease, but don't let it get in your way of beating it back down and finding healing for yourself.

By Brown_Eyes
Posted October 28, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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I will be praying for you, for us, for patience with these constant changes and forced adaptations to new information. It's hard.

By Patricia123
Posted October 28, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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Good luck to you,,I admire your incredible resilience. Hang in there,,the Taxol gave you a year and that is a good thing.

I do chuckle at the cancer cells "suiciding",,we need to all yell "jumP every once in a while.

By Jennali
Posted October 28, 2009 at 11:47 pm
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Heck, I am no superwoman. That title would go to the women on here who have been fighting for many years and are still hanging in there.

Actually, Patricia, the Taxol was the third chemo I have had in the last year! My doc thinks they have contributed to stable disease, but they sure haven't made anything go away. I have to push aside those fears that I might be chemo resistant. I'll just loll here in the land of denial.

By FavoriteAunt
Posted October 29, 2009 at 8:50 am
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I follow your journey because we've been on a similar one this past year. You got a good explanation from the doctor, which doesn't always happen. It sounds like you've done fairly well and while the thought of another chemo - with all it's ups and downs - is not fun, at least there are more to try. I'm like you and feel comfort that they can still try different things.

You are a trooper and will get through this next round. Maybe we can all learn something from it. And, like you and everyone, I hate this disease too! Like one of the ladies said - cancer is hard work!!

Good wishes and prayers coming your way.

By Mom82
Posted October 29, 2009 at 9:24 am
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Hi Jennali, as I said in the other thread, why wait, check out the Block Center. Read those books I keep mentioning. Believe me it is worth it. You will look at this in a very different way. I don't remember in which book I read about chemo resistance, but one of them explains it.

By godshome
Posted October 29, 2009 at 10:23 am
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I am on the clinical trial with carbo/gemzar avastin--I have had 3 treatments-- my WBC was 1.0 and my PLT was 18 which was critical low--I had to have 2 pints of blood and I feel terrible---But I had a CT done on Monday and the results on Tuesday were NO evidence of a recurrent or metastatic intra-abdominal malignancy is noted. Praise God--this is my 2nd round with chemo--I was ready to throw in the towel many of times--I had even gone so far as to tell my husband to take me and my blind saint bernard dog to the vet and have us both put to sleep--So what I am trying to say is as hard as chemo is it does work--God is bigger than any problem we have--We must do what we have to do for any chance of life--I am going to the mountains this weekend to enjoy gods work.

By pat813
Posted October 30, 2009 at 7:12 am
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Jennali,
I am is similar situation, finished what i thought was last treatment of taxol/carbo/avastin and just had CT on Monday. The report showed enlarged lymph nodes, I am scheduled for PET today for further review.

My question...when you met with Onc was chemo only option he/she gave you to treat pesky lymph nodes? Did they bring up radiation or additional surgery? I am in clinical trial for Avastin and don't want to leave trial for another chemo cocktail?

By godshome
Posted October 30, 2009 at 8:58 am
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I was told by my onc that radiation was not an option as to where my lymph node was--I am only hoping I am getting Avastin and that is what has helped -- So I will continue for 3 more treatments before I find out--I only wish our insurance companies would let all ovc patients try avastin--Without the questions of a trial--All we want is hope

By kibbitzqueen
Posted October 30, 2009 at 10:13 am
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Jennali

Sounds like a little positive news... considering! Gezmar is not an option for me because I have Thyroid issues which have given me heart issues! Go Figure! So you're lucky you have an additional avenue to run down!

Which chemo makes them commit suicide? Do you know how that happens? (little guns around a Russian roulette table?) LOL

I had a chemo once that worked as 'retro active cell abortion'. As the cells reproduced, they produced defective offspring until they couldn't reproduce cells that could reproduce anymore (did that make sense?) . Essentially, the family tree would go straight up! Man, wish I could remember which one it was. Ahh.. I guess irrelevant at this point!

Neulasta always made my bones ache! Only my last dose of chemo did I get the suggestion to use Tylenol before hand. If you didn't know that... it's an invaluable nugget of information!

Keep your head up Honey! Things ARE looking up! Perhaps not EXACTLY how you think they should but it IS good news nonetheless!

I agree with Sue_Shustar This 'cancer stuff' is hard work!

Good news for you! Take it and celebrate the small victories! Do the happy dance with your kids! Being silly is good for the soul!

((*HUGS*))
~Kibbie

By quacker
Posted October 31, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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I was on Gemzar and carbo and had a rough time with low platelets and low hemoglobin until I started using an herbal tonic from Oregon. Never needed Procrit again once I started using it. It's called "red root" and is available from the Centre for Natural Healing.

By jeaniet
Posted October 31, 2009 at 2:38 pm
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Hey Kibbie-----could you elaborate a little about your thyroid issue and why you can't take Gemzar? I am on Gemzar (just since Sept), and have been taking Levothyroxine for years, so I would like to know what info you have.
thanks
Jeanie

By Jennali
Posted October 31, 2009 at 5:01 pm
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Pat813,
Sorry not to answer your question earlier. My gyn/onc did not offer any options other than chemo. He has already told me I am not a candidate for radiation. He had told me last year that even a biopsy would be risky because of the location of my lymph nodes, so I assume any surgery is out of the question, also.

There is an integrative medicine doctor north of Atlanta whom I may consult with. She is an M.D., but also trained in complementary medicine. I have read and researched on my own, but am thinking perhaps I could use some expert guidance. My gyn/onc has no problem with my seeing her. He did say he didn't want me to take antioxidants. I have read otherwise, of course, and am in a quandary about that. Even within the field of alternative medicine, there is some disagreement about that. Perhaps I will keep them in my diet, but avoid supplements while I am in treatment. Don't know yet.

Kibbie, not sure which chemo makes the little monsters commit suicide, but I think they all should. Your image made me laugh!

Thanks, all.

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