Chemo only once

[Terrileeloughlin]

Hello all, does anyone know if its possible or known for a person, to have chemo only once, then be treated with hormone blockers. X

[Lyndy]

Hello... do you mean that this has happened to you or asking if this is a typical treatment plan?

Usually chemo is either weekly or every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. So I would suggest what you are describing isn’t usual but oncologists adjust things when patients have a bad reaction or the treatment doesn’t work.

If you are unsure about your plan I would def ring your chemo nurse or oncologist and ask them to explain how you are being treated and why they have made decisions about your plan. You deserve to know these details, so keep asking xx

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Lyndy]

Hello lyndy, I saw my oncologist today (I wadnt suposed to) I actually went for a group meeting. Anyway cutting a very long story short, my oncologist believes that at the stage I am, chemo wouldnt work. I'm so pleased I stuck to my guns, to ask these questions.

[Lyndy in reply to Terrileeloughlin]

Good for you! Hope it goes well for you from now on x

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Lyndy]

Thankyou I'm still in shock that somebody actually listened to me. But I know she is a top oncologist, I've watched her on YouTube. Xx

[Solange]

Research has found that the rarer type of cancer, low grade serous, responds better to hormone blockers than Chemo. For years it has been treated in the same way as high grade but they now think it was a mistake. I have low grade serous and have had four courses of Chemo over the years. Some of my tumours are growing again so I reluctantly agreed to try Tamoxifen, a hormone blocker, and to my surprise and relief, my level is going down. I will have to have more Chemo probably, but my Onco says we should leave it as long as we can because we don't want to runout of options.

Maybe you have low grade serous. The last Ovacome quarterly (I think) magazine, or the one before, had a long article by an Oncologist about it . Maybe you could phone the Ovacome Help Line and ask if they could tell you more.

I hope this may be of some help. I wish you well with your treatment.

With best wishes and a big encouraging hug, Solange 😊

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Solange]

Hello Solange, that was exactly why I was asking the questions but until, Dr marsh I couldn't get a straight answer. So I'll be scanned every three months and if there is any sign of the disease I will be treated with chemo/hormone blockers, depending. She didn't want to give me any blockers, as she doesn't want my body to get used to them (as you said) and as there is no sign of the disease, I'm better off being monitored. Thankyou for your kind reply, sending love and best wishes xx

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Terrileeloughlin]

Sorry, forgot to say. Yes, it was a low grade serous. OC.

[koffeekat99 in reply to Terrileeloughlin]

In that case it sounds like they adapted their strategy. I was being prepped for chemo until my histology results were in. Then all preps were stopped and I never had chemo cos it was low grade serous. So in answer to your original question, yes I was in the position that chemo was planned but it was changed after MDT discussion on treatment for low grade. Difference is I just never had the first chemo.

I have been on watchful wait ever since.

Some hospitals will still recommend chemo for low grade as there’s not a clear treatment protocol in place. Mind don’t, but have always said they would support me through chemo if I wanted it.

There’s no right answer. Just the one that you choose for yourself.

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to koffeekat99]

Hi, I haven't had any chemo, it was planned for this week, so because I was told originally by my first consultant that chemo doesn't work, (I was then referred to another hospital for de bulking) and I was then told by another hospital, I would need it, I started doing research of my own. When I saw my oncologist yesterday, which I wasn't supposed to, and that was because I told the nurse, I had questions, she couldn't answer, she, the oncologist, confirmed everything I'd read, and been told by my first consultant, that there is very little evidence to suggest, chemo is effective in low grade. So thankfully at this juncture, I'm just pleased I was listened to, unlike one of her staff, who was all for giving me it, without any blood results. Anyway moaning over. I've just got to have a scan every three months. X

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Terrileeloughlin]

Also, I am a member of ovacome, and have the booklet about LGSOC xx

[Solange in reply to Terrileeloughlin]

Fingers crossed all goes well for you. 🤞 I'm glad you'll be having regular scans. I think you'll feel better for them, psychologically. I do.

Love, Solange 😊

[Terrileeloughlin in reply to Solange]

Thankyou Solange, that's very kind of you, and definitely helps when other have been or going through the same. Hope you have a lovely Christmas, lots of love❤❤

[Minihoncho51]

Yes but it didn’t work ,5years treatment my brother in law received sadly past away,

[Terrileeloughlin]

I'm sorry to hear that❤