NOT SURE WHERE IM AT WITH MY CANCER

• By Ainsley
• Posted June 14, 2009 at 8:14 pm
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I'm in the same boat, paintergal. I was on chemo for the past 13 months--first 3 cycles were taxol, then switched over to doxil (caelyx) which was successful. Not sure what's happening right now, only that there's an area they're watching and my CA125 went up from 17 to 34. I realize it's still normal and it just could be a spike, but this will be my 3 relapse. A friend of mine just picked up some Essiac tea, I'm at the gym strenuously working out and cleaning up my eating habits . My oncologist says depending on what he sees that he may try to start me back on carboplatin which is frankly stressful to think about considering the reaction I had in 2007. I'm also looking for other alternatives. After 13 months, it was liberating being chemo-free this time (and needless to say I'm enjoying having my own hair this summer).

Good luck to you paintergal. I think we just both need a reasonable solution and keep the faith for something that will allow a longer period that's chemo free!

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• By zircons
• Posted June 14, 2009 at 9:00 pm
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Mine was diagnosed in 2006. I had chemo and have been in remission since chemo. My CA 125 is slowly going up. In March it was 34.6. I go tomorrow for my next check up and hope it has not gone up. My doctor thinks we should wait until I have symptoms before doing anything. I am not sure I agree with her. We will see on Tuesday when I get the results. I think I should, at least, get a CT scan. I feel great and am doing everything I want. I know how you both feel.

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• By paintergal
• Posted June 14, 2009 at 10:29 pm
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Thanks so much for the response. Im so conflicted. Part of me says,if its returned,then lets get back on chemo so I can fight this damn thing, but Im sooooooo......enjoying being off chemo. Its so wonderful to have my own hair and eyebrows....drawing on an expression every day was so annoying. I guess we both have to wait for whats down the pike......WAITING is the pits. Anywho. Stay Tough. I read that exercise has an impact on the ca125. I hope its true !! And Ive eaten so much broccolli, I just cant stand the stuff!!!!!! Take Care

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• By paintergal
• Posted June 14, 2009 at 10:36 pm
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Thanks for the reply. You know im not too sure about this wait and see if anythings onthe ct scans. My scans all have cysts on thembut theyre not cancer. My doc is adamant about waiting Im just not sure its the right thing for me. Anyway, I now have another month to play and be off chemo,which is a good thing...i hope, take care

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• By paintergal
• Posted June 14, 2009 at 10:36 pm
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Thanks for the reply. You know im not too sure about this wait and see if anythings onthe ct scans. My scans all have cysts on thembut theyre not cancer. My doc is adamant about waiting Im just not sure its the right thing for me. Anyway, I now have another month to play and be off chemo,which is a good thing...i hope, take care

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• By momanderson920
• Posted June 15, 2009 at 2:47 pm
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I am right there with you girls. Two months ago I had a CA125of 35, having risen from 8 back in August after chemo. I just had my bloodwork today and have no idea what to expect. A CT done 2 months ago showed no change. I am praying for a good report. I have not been as good as you girls...inconsistent exercise and eating some sweets, though healthy for the most part and tons of water. My onc won't start back chemo until I go over 100.

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• By sbender3
• Posted June 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm
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they are doing alot of single drug therapy on recurrent ovarian cancer. they have found that the single agent is many times as effective, if not more effective than pairing it up, plus, you are not exposed to more chemicals than you need. i did navelbine alone for a year, i did 7 weekly taxols, which did not work, and now i am on carbo once every 3 weeks, which has just been switched to once every 4 or 5 weeks. if and when it doesn't work, or if and when i need another treatment, doc is alread talking about avastin alone. every day we survive, something new and better can come along, or something that was there before and didn't work, might work the second time around. so hand in there....i just pray GOD will give us a cure, and his works will be seen and all will have to give him the praise!!!!! prayers to all.

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• By llj
• Posted June 15, 2009 at 6:43 pm
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Hi,

I just got home from teaching summer school and then tutoring in the afternoon. I don't write often, but my CA-125 has gone up also, from 12 to 31, so doc is watching. I go back July 8 (one month later) for another check. My doctor is thinking that we'll go with Avastin.

I hear so many encouraging stories from women who look at this as a chronic disease. Treatable, but a pain and a nuisance.

I'm with sbender3, I'll just keep plugging, and perhaps God will reveal a knock'em dead tx. There's so much good stuff going on out there; just this week and past week I've read about new things research is turning up, like uncovering that one corrupted gene for a particular cancer and expanding that research to include ovca and other cancers.

Meanwhile, this has opened lots of doors for me to share; I am awfully blessed with the wonderful famiy and support system I have! God be praised.

Lynda

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• By Trip
• Posted June 15, 2009 at 10:49 pm
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I wanted to let you know that I think eating right and exercising while you are in remission is the one thing that we can all do to help beat this monster. If it doesn't keep the beast away, it will make you strong so that you can fight even harder during treatment. Just, please, remember that you don't want to overdo the exercise and end up tearing your body, and immune system, down.

Regarding the Avastin alone. I had 6 months of carbo/taxol, which I ended up being resistant to, followed by 6 months of doxil/cytoxan and finally Avastin by itself. I have since been in remission for 3 1/2 years. So, Avastin alone, could be a good thing for you also.

I am so sorry that some of you are struggling with a rising CA125. I have been quite fortunate that mine has only gone up 4 points since I finished chemo. I read recently that there has been studies that show that starting chemo right away when the CA125 rises does not have any benefit over waiting until symptoms show. If it was me, I would want to wait until I absolutely had to. Think of all the extra time you could have to help rebuild your body for fighting.

My prayers are with you all,
Hugs,
Trip

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• By Jennali
• Posted June 15, 2009 at 11:41 pm
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Trip, that is what I have read, also. I have also read that on average, there is a 6 month lag between a rising CA1245 and the appearance of visible symptoms. My doc was cautious and waited. He does not treat the numbers.

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• By verlinda
• Posted June 23, 2009 at 11:59 am
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My oncologist told me that they've known for some time that starting treatment for a rising CA125 doesn't prolong life and that waiting for symptoms is fine. He said most women just can't stand not to do anything, and he understands that.

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• By paintergal
• Posted June 27, 2009 at 9:16 am
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Tks for all the replies,Im still WAITING for the next appt,its on July14th. In the meantime I have since scheduled a second opinion. I think its time to do that. This waiting is driving me crazy. Every time I have an ache or a twinge I think its cancer and I hate living this way. Im going in for them to fix the incisional hernia at the end of july,because i look like I swallowed a basketball. I hope nothing happens to stop that from happening. Im suprised the surgeon agreed to it,but I was very adamant about doing it.T

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• By paintergal
• Posted June 27, 2009 at 9:16 am
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Tks for all the replies,Im still WAITING for the next appt,its on July14th. In the meantime I have since scheduled a second opinion. I think its time to do that. This waiting is driving me crazy. Every time I have an ache or a twinge I think its cancer and I hate living this way. Im going in for them to fix the incisional hernia at the end of july,because i look like I swallowed a basketball. I hope nothing happens to stop that from happening. Im suprised the surgeon agreed to it,but I was very adamant about doing it.T

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