Just to say that my CA125 was 7 again last week, and so ibuprofen appears to be working for me again as an anti-cancer drug. You may remember I relapsed in March 2014 after having had 10.5 weeks off ibuprofen (due to misplaced worries about my stomach) in March - May 2013. I got full remission with my 3rd course of chemotherapy June - Nov 2014, very fortunately, and have been fine since then on ibuprofen, with omeprazole to protect the stomach, with low CA125 levels at each check-up. CA125 is a very good marker for my disease.
I see the consultant tomorrow, but that should go fine, as the CA125 is the main thing. I was first diagnosed in Sept 2009 with primary peritoneal cancer, a variant of ovarian cancer.
Frankly ibuprofen is what has kept me alive since I discovered its anti-cancer effect after my first relapse in 2010. See my previous posts. Anti-inflammatories and aspirin have a similar proven anti-cancer effect, though I think you have to be in remission for them to have a chance of working to prevent relapse - see my previous posts for more info. Aspirin appears better known for its anti-cancer effect, but many people are not aware of the anti-cancer effect of these simple inexpensive drugs. They do not work for everyone. See a link in a previous post I did, I think last year, re Aspirin.
Just thought I should keep you updated with how things are going for me.
Best wishes to everyone in this group. You are not alone.
Love,
Eileen x
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Thanks Yoshbosh. Just read about you. Are you taking aspirin or ibuprofen or similar? If not, it might be worth considering. Happy to discuss. I am a retired GP and so have some knowledge/understanding of the issue.
I take ibuprofen, one 400mg tablet 3 times a day after food, along with omeprazole 20mg capsules, 1 capsule daily, to protect the stomach. It is vital to take something to protect the stomach when taking something like ibuprofen longterm. Please have a look at my previous posts as they have a lot of information about ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs, and also aspirin.
Thanks Ricky. See above. I take ibuprofen 400mg tablets, 1 tablet 3 times a day, and omeprazole 20mg daily too to protect the stomach - this is essential.
Yes. Please look at my previous posts for more info. It is vital that you take omeprazole along with ibuprofen. And you must check with your GP or oncologist first, as ibuprofen or aspirin are not suitable for everyone, as they can have side effects. Please have a good look at my previous posts, as there is a lot of info there.
My onc has washed her hands of me seems to be the type to give you chemo and that's my job done ... but I was prescribed ibuprofen by her when joint pains attacked ... I'm also on omzoprazol to help with acid and sickness so it's all good 😊 my ca125 is 14 at mo should not complain at that as it's in normal range but want to keep it there .,,. Good luck for tomorrow 🤗
Thanks Shellygirl. Appointment went well this afternoon. I am to go back in 6 months, which is an improvement on 4 months! Had a glass of Prosecco when got home! Shared with husband - one of those small bottles!
Sounds good re ibuprofen. Would recommend you stay on ibuprofen and omeprazole.
If you are taking a quarter aspirin already, ie 75mg, I assume, then that is plenty. I ran into trouble when I tried both aspirin and ibuprofen, see previous posts. So I would just stick to aspirin if I were you.
Thank you for the update and excellent news. I had PPC and will be asking about aspirin (asthmatic so can't take ibprofen) as soon as complete avastin. I am stable as scans show residual disease and CA125 steady at 15. Do you think I would be suitable. Is stable residual disease same as remission. I was left with a 0.5cm deposit near my liver after surgery. Of course I will seek oncologists advice but would value your opinion. X
Well I went to royal london to have a liver specialist on hand. After op I was told they could have removed it but liver surgeon assured them last chemo would wipe it out. I think as it would have required complicated liver op they took the easy route. Little annoyed now. Also first scan was told NED and then told residual disease. Very confused and have questions for my next appt with oncologist. Thank you for replying.
Yes, don't hesitate to ask questions. It is your life, and you are entitled to ask questions. You would think that if the chemo failed to clear it, they would offer surgery.
Hi Eileen. So pleased you are doing well. I have messaged you before. I was told March 2015 I had a reacurrance of cancer in two lymph nodes. No biopsy done to prove that but they have increased in size. So with that and my rising ca125, doctors said cancer was back. Lymph nodes not operable on I been told so unable to be removed. I too been taking ibuprofen for a while. I was doing well. But had a lot of family stress, at my last clinic appointment my ca125 had risen to 75. Although it does seem to go up and down. So my oncologist said we should do something. I am now taking tamoxifen. That works with some women. I still taking ibuprofen though as well as tamoxifen. I just returned from holiday in Jamaica. I feel great, I try to stay positive and I am sure my levels rose before due to family stress. (I was caring for my elderly aunt and mother in law who was terminally ill with ovarian cancer). Sadly my Mother in law has passed away. But I think I was coping with too much. I am back in clinic this Friday for latest blood results. It will be interesting to see how tamoxifen along with ibuprofen is working eh! I am positive stress is harmful. I am trying to stay as chilled as I can. Love sue xxx
Good luck tomorrow, Sue. You have certainly had a lot of stress. Hope the tamoxifen has helped. Ibuprofen will have some restraining effect on the cancer, hopefully.
That's brilliant Eileen. I am still taking it but unfortunately I didn't get to NED following secvsecvond line chemo but I'm hoping that it will slow down the progression of disease. Have to have hope. Ann xx
Hope you don't mind me messaging so long after your post.
I am currently near the end of adjuvant carboplatin for stage 1A high grade oc. My Ca125 has been around 32/33 since treatment started (150s before surgery) though I believe a baseline was not taken before treatment started. I notice that most people who have asked you about ibuprofen / omeprazole have more advanced stages so I wonder what advice you would give to me once chemo finished?
Also, if it turned out your oncologist/GP didn't support the idea, presume you can't get omeprazole without prescription??
I would think it would be easiest for you to take aspirin 75mg daily with food after chemo is over and out of your system - usually after 4 weeks. If you have a good stomach you might not need omeprazole along with it, but best to discuss with your GP as they know your medical history (past story) better than I do, and whether aspirin would suit you. If you are keen on ibuprofen and your GP/oncologist won't give you it, then omeprazole can be bought in 10mg capsules, but is expensive. I don't know if you could get it on line. You could also ask for a private prescription from the GP, as I don't think omeprazole should be that expensive, and hopefully that would be affordable. It is better for everyone that your GP and oncologist at least know what you are doing, as it is safer all round. Aspirin might be easier for you. What age are you if you don't mind my asking?
I just wanted to thank you for the excellent information you have given all of us. I discussed this with my oncologist on Wednesday and she knew about it. I told her my arm was very swollen the day of the bloodwork as well as she said it could have been a contributing factor. At any rate, even though my CA125 was 181 from 23, my ct scan was all clear. I'm very relieved and I appreciate your information. Stay well!
Thanks for the advice Eileen. I am 57, nearly 58. I understand that last month's blood tests showed some reduced kidney function which resulted in a lowered chemo dose (not exactly sure as never got told this at clinic, but found out on treatment day through an unrelated question I asked). I imagine ibuprofen not good in these circumstances.
Anyway i will discuss this with oncologist when i next see him. I see a Matron in the pre treatment clinic but presumably I'll get some sort of post treatment appointment with the oncologist. I am also seeing my very supportive GP in a couple of weeks so will talk to him.
Very many thanks and very best wishes to you hoping all going well for you.
Yes, I am doing fine, thank you, though recently had a mild cartilage tear in my knee due to tennis. But should be back to gentle tennis in 2 weeks, and hopefully back to hillwalking soon after that. It is good you have supportive GP. Yes, you would be better to have normal kidney function before you start ibuprofen. It may well come back to normal after the chemo is over.
Many thanks, discussed aspirin with my oncologist last week. He wasn't wholly in favour but I'm quite keen as i will feel like I'm still doing something rather than just waiting. I will talk further with my GP next week.
Lovely to hear your update. I have been following your journey and have messaged you before. I think your right you need to be in remission - I tried it but wasn't in remission at the time- I'm back on 3rd cycle of chemo now. I'm going to try it again if I get remission from this one. Here's hoping. Best wishes to you Eileen. Gail xx
Just thought I would tell you that my ca125 rose to 83 even though I have been taking ibuprofen regularly. This was when bloods taken in January. Oncologist put me on tamoxifen in November 2016. I told him I was still going to take ibuprofen. Ca125 gone done slightly to 80 last week.
So something is working for me maybe tamoxifen or both that and ibuprofen. Can you see any reason why I shouldn't carry on taking both. I still taking omeprazole daily 20mg.
There is no reason why you shouldn't take both ibuprofen and tamoxifen, continuing on omeprazole. Very sorry to hear that your CA125 rose, but tamoxifen will hopefully be effective.
Great news.I also have PPC stage 3c.I just got my scan results back.Nothing has changed since my last scans, so the particles they are keeping an eye on,they think it's just scar tissue.I'm have had one reoccurance. I'm happy to say I'm 1 year clear now. The only thing is ,my CA125 was 20 last time.It was 40 this time.So they will do another blood test in 6 weeks.I just recently started low dose aspirin.I will ask my oncologist about ibuprofen/omeprozole.Thanks for sharing.LynnB
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