Repeat surgery after recurrance

[Phuket]

Hello Ladies

I am interested to know how many have you have been offered or had surgery after recurrance, especially if you recurred less than a year after first line treatment.

I recurred after 3 months and am on weekly Taxol due to be reviewed soon. Surgery has not been mentioned and I haven't raised it as I assumed it just wasn't worthwhile. However as I'm not sure the Taxol is working well I want to discuss this and wonder whether others have gone through repeat debulking surgery.

Thank you as always for your replies.

[Maus123]

Hello Phuket. Oh dear, a recurrence after 3 months is surely hard news to hear.

I recurred a bit over two years after the initial borderline/low grade serous OC diagnosis and surgery.

As only two reasonably well reachable lymph nodes lit up in the PET CT scan (thus the recurrence looked like there was a chance for another optimal resection/surgery result), I had a second surgery.

Which was lucky for me, as low grade OC tends to respond less well to chemo.

But there might be several factors to consider e. g. are you young/well enough for another big surgery, can the tumours likely be reached and successfully resected, are there a few big tumours vs lots of small nodes etc.

Some surgeons might be inclined to take a more radical approach than others too.

Check with your oncologist why second surgery is not being offered.

You could also go for a second opinion, e. g. with C. Fotopoulou in London or at any gyn. cancer center of excellence, to see if they see any chance for success with surgery.

But it might still not be feasible in your case, just so you're not too disappointed.

Fingers crossed for you in any case. Hopefully even the chemo will beat the disease back. All the best. Maus

[Hidden]

Hello, sorry to hear about your recurrence! I saw my surgeon when I first recurred, he said he could have considered surgery if my recurrence had been in one place or close together, they were however remote, groin and under diaphragm. He felt the surgery would be too stressful for my body.

I do think it’s worth asking.

Wishing you all the very best. Xxx

[Neona]

I recurred by the end of frontline chemo despite successful surgery. I went for a consultation in London and was advised that there was no point in second surgery as the first surgery had been very successful and it had grown back straight away. However I have read postsfrom ladies who have had very successful second surgery so definately worth asking. If conventional chemo does not work it does open the door to clinical trials. I am on the Patriot trial at UCLH- a phase one trial for the drug AZD 6738 and it kept me stable for 14 months.

[LittleSan]

I was offered surgery on the Desktop trial. The acceptance criteria was that from the CT, it was expected that all visible disease could be removed by surgery and the follow up chemo would be the standard treatment that would normally available. I decided not to have the surgery in the end because I had my daughters wedding coming up and because initial results were demonstrating seven months longer between recurrences than chemo alone but no greater overall survival rates (not sure what the final trial results were) .

It may be useful to explore the final findings of the trial to help you and your consultant decide what's best for you.

Take care. 💐😘

[Di16]

I've had surgery 4 times for recurrences, mainly, I've been told, because I have a rare type of oc, (gct) that often doesn't respond well to chemo. After the 3rd, it was back within 3 months, & the surgeon wouldn't operate, he said it was too soon, that if he kept operating every few months, I would have no quality of life, & it would be a lot for my body to cope with. I was advised to try chemo & hormone blockers. I have since had a further op done by another surgeon.

They had to assess whether surgery was possible. Sometimes tumours can't be removed, or the risks of surgery are too great. Di

[ruthg55]

Hello Phuket ... sorry to hear you're going through this again. It's always worthwhile asking about any type of treatment. You've been given good info from Maus, Lias & Neona. In my case it was almost 3yrs before recurrence so plenty of time to recover from first surgery as the second surgery was full on in my case - incision from breast bone to almost pubic bone. I only had one pelvic lymph node involved but in a very complex/dangerous position towards the back & almost resting on aorta vein. However, I was still offered the surgery and ended up having the liver transplant specialists do it as they were the best team (my liver was not involved by the way). That was in July 2018. Took much much longer to recover from this second surgery - maybe it is too close to your initial debulking? I was told because it was only one tumour showing that is why they offered surgery with no more treatment/chemo after. Wishing you all the very best x

[thomas62]

Really good info/advice offered by Maus and the other ladies. I can't add to it, except that I have had 2nd surgery in London and it was more successful that my own cancer hospital in Manchester expected - in fact,they turned me down for a 2nd surgery. So, in my opinion, getting a 2nd opinion is always worth a go. Best wishes and Good Luck. xx

[chasse10]

My oncologist said that they consider surgery or chemo. In my case, it would not be easy to reach between my stomach and pancreas and there was risk to it so he opted not to do surgery this time but do chemo. I had surgery last time and chemo. It was successful but I reoccured in 4 months. Little microscopic seeds grew!

[topeka]

I’m trying to be cautious in what I say. I am at atarten@ Hotmail.com to. I don’t know your cancer. But my friend had my type. A few months after hysterectomy she had tumors in her stomach bladder upper intestine. She had surgery first. Then taxol with ifosfamide. I know highest does are urgent. But getting tumors out first priority. We both had uterine Carcinosarcoma. Taxol is one of the harsh chemos as it can fight well. I had a little problem with it. But I’m 5 years free this month. 4 rounds ifosfamide and 2 taxol and 4 highest internal radiation. My friend didn’t get all her chemo. Her body would only tolerate lowest dose and not let her get all of them too. You should always speak up!!! You have to be sure to advocate!!! I know someone who died recently and were not given all they needed. Bad Dr. email if you wish. Put cancer in subject line. But speak up always to the Dr.!!! Amy