recurrent ovarian cancer

• By FavoriteAunt
• Posted October 24, 2009 at 8:16 am
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I know from personal experience that they do not always do another surgery. I consulted with my gyn/onc surgeon when I had my first recurrence and he said that most doctors are split about further surgery - if you ask 20 doctors you'll get 20 different answers. Each situation has to be evaluated individually, so maybe surgery is not right for her. It was not right for me either and we went with chemo.

There are many chemo combos to be tried, so if one doesn't work, another might. I've been on a few for the past 11 months - Doxil (worked for 6 months and then stopped), Topotecan (didn't work at all) and now Avastin & Cytoxan (only 2 treatments and no blood test yet). Unfortunately, it's hit and miss and you just have to keep trying. I c ertainly wish her the best of luck.

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• By jeaniet
• Posted October 24, 2009 at 11:55 am
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a second debulking works only if the cancer is confined to one area, and not spread out. I did get a second surgery, but my cancer was confined to lymph nodes, which they took out, but it took a highly experienced surgeon, so if they say a second surgery isn't an option, it probably isn't. But, you can always get a second opinion.
since the tumor is the problem, how about trying Avastin? it works specifically on the blood vessels to shrink the tumor.
Jeanie

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• By gpawelski
• Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:22 am
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Having a pro and con debate on the value of debulking surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer between a medical oncologist, who has published hundreds of papers arguing against debulking surgery and surgeon who works with an unique procedure, available only at his own institution but not anywhere else arguing in favor of the surgery, can be agonizing.

According to an article in Gynecologic Oncology, patients with recurrent ovarian cancer may have improved survival when treated with cytoreductive surgery compared to chemotherapy alone. However, patients who can have all of their visible cancer removed during surgery appear to gain the most benefit.

Complete surgical cytoreduction significantly lengthens survival of recurrent ovarian cancer patients, compared with salvage chemotherapy alone, reveal researchers who stress the need to assess tumor debulkability before surgery.

The possibility that secondary cytoreductive surgery may be beneficial to patients whose disease recurs with a disease-free interval of more than 6 months has been suggested by numerous researchers.

They concluded that cytoreductive surgery may improve survival compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Patients whose cancer is completely removed appear to achieve the greatest benefit from surgery.

Literature Citation:
Gynecologic Oncology 2005; 97: 74-79
J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:163-180

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• By SONGBIRD49
• Posted October 26, 2009 at 4:36 pm
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Dear family member, My second line of chemo was Doxil alone. It did absolutely Nothing for me except cause acietes. I only stayed on it 2 months because of the rising to the 3 digits of my CA which was also telling me it was not working for me. But this is not my first resistance to a chemo drug. We share the same type of cancer and mine also has metasized thru the abdominal wall and my liver is surrounded with tumors as is my spleen, a tumor on my lung and breast lymph node (all came after my debulking surgery staged at Stage 3. Before chemo even started they classified it as Stage IV advanced OVCA.
I have been on a chemo a year next month but it was not until August 09 they started me on Avastin w/Taxol for treatment and I am doing alot better. I never believed I had patience! LOL Ask your doc about Avastin for you.

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• By Loyd1957
• Posted October 29, 2009 at 8:54 am
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My sister-in-law was doing well on Carbo and Taxol for 4 years, then from initial diagnosis of Stage III OVC, tumors spready rapidly throughout intestines, bladder and liver. She had major surgery to remove some, but couldn't get all. He isolated the remaining tumors and began chemo again. He said she couldn't handle anymore surgery. She has a big tumor behind her stomach that is causing major issues and has been on Avastin for 2 rounds. It started out doing well, but now has leveled off. If Avastin doesn't kick in and start reducing the numbers, this will be last treatment. I think that many do well on Avastin and would ask your doctor about it. She seemed to become resistant to the platins. Be your own advocate. We even talked to doctor about taking her to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL because we are looking for last ditch efforts. She was not a candidate.

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