CA125 reducing

[forestrowlady]

I had ovarian carsinosarcoma Stage 3b in April 2015 before surgery my CA125 was 133. I had debulking surgery followed by chemotherapy finishing in September 2015. I had no problems until March 2018 when my CA125 started creeping up and consequently I was having 3 monthly checkups mostly with a CT scan and by June 2020 when a scan showed small peritoneal nodules and a lung nodule and the CA125 had gone up to 123. In September 2020 the scan showed that the nodules had grown in size and number and the CA125 had gone up to 162. I thought that I was probably in for more chemotherapy especially as the December appointment was face to face, but to my relief the scan showed no change to the previous scan and amazingly the CA125 test had actually gone down by 10. The Oncologist was very surprised and asked what I had done differently. I told her that the only difference was that I had started taking a supplement called Co Enzyme Q10 100mg which had been recommended to my husband by our GP because he was taking statins and was suffering aches and pains. Apparently we all have Q10 in our bodies which depletes as we get older and it is actually added to face cream in fact I use Nivea Q10 Anti-wrinkle cream and it says that "Q10 is in every skin cell and that it gives skin energy and protection and naturally fights the ageing process". Anyway, I had another scan in March and there is no change again and the CA125 has gone down by 11 and they are so pleased with me that they say I just need a blood test in 3 months and a scan in 6 months. I just thought that I should share this news with you all in case it helps anyone else. I'm 73 now and think myself very lucky to have got away without a recurrence so far. If you decide to take it you might like to check with your doctor first.

Best wishes Wendy

[Davonian]

Wendy, that's great news and who would have thought. I'm at the same place as yourself. My CA125 has been steadily creeping up since last year and now at 140. Scan due in a few weeks and I've got everything crossed. So with this information, that looks promising I'm about to get some. Will obviously let you know how I get on.

[forestrowlady in reply to Davonian]

Well done, it can't do any harm and I hope it helps you too. Best of luck. X

[Lyndy]

Wow! That’s very encouraging... long may it continue xx

[nellaaa]

Hi Forestrowlady, I am glad to hear you have had such good fortune with recurrences. Have you done anything else (e.g diet, fitness) that you feel contributed to you never getting a recurrence?

[forestrowlady in reply to nellaaa]

When I first got over the operation, a friend who had recovered from breast cancer advised me to take aspirin and turmeric everyday as there had been a trial which she had looked into. So I have taken them for 6 years, and now the Q10 since October. I also have always had dogs and go for an hours walk every day. I love cooking but eat healthily and manage to stay at 7.7 stone, I am only 4' 9" so not skinny. Generally I am a happy-go-lucky person and don't dwell on things too much. I also do Zumba, on-line at the moment but stay in touch with my Zumba friends through WhatsAp. I have a lovely family though not seeing some of them through the lock-down. Hope this helps. X

[Koalabear76]

Thank you for sharing! Long may it continue for you. Blessings xx

[Wonnie]

That’s great to hear. Thanks for sharing. It’s these harmless possible easy wins that are good to hear about. X

[Jacky5]

That's really interesting .I'm on Olaparib but also take turmeric, brufen and loratidine after reading various articles or stories like yours.

I'll check with my pharmacist and consider adding the co enzyme q10 to my arsenal.

Thanks very much for sharing and all the best to you .

Liz.x

[Clifden1 in reply to Jacky5]

If you don't mind me ask how do you take the turmeric x

[Jacky5 in reply to Clifden1]

Not at all. I buy Natures bounty turmeric - 500mg from boots. The dose is 2 tablets and I take it with breakfast.

Liz. X

[Clifden1 in reply to Jacky5]

Thanks jacky I had it in my head that u might add it to food as a spice thanks x

[forestrowlady in reply to Clifden1]

Hi Clifden1, I get my Turmeric tablets from Amazon. Like Jacky5 I take 2 capsules a day and it says that the two tablets contain 1520mg and they are organic turmeric with ginger and black pepper. The aspirin is just 75mg which I get on prescription. X

[Clifden1 in reply to forestrowlady]

Do u take aspirin everyday

[forestrowlady in reply to Clifden1]

Yes, its just the 75mg (junior aspirin) plus the 2 turmeric tablets and now the Q10. X

[Stuee01 in reply to forestrowlady]

Hi forestrowlady,

Thanks for sharing the supplements that you take, it's quite helpful. Just wondering, have you ever felt nauseous when you started taking the tumeric tablets? My partner started taking them today. She just finished chemo and debulking for stage 3C OC and is just on Avastin now. She is feeling a bit nauseous after taking a 1000mg tumeric tablet. Curious if you or any others have had side effects before from tumeric?

Thanks!

Stephanie

[forestrowlady in reply to Stuee01]

No, I didn't but I quite often felt a bit nauseous after the chemo so I expect that's what it is.

[Stuee01 in reply to forestrowlady]

Ah I see, thanks for the quick response! We may reduce her dosage to see if anything changes. I searched online and it seems some folks may get side effects like nausea from tumeric...we're all so different!

[forestrowlady in reply to Jacky5]

Hi Jacky5, yes it's worth giving it a try but as you say, you can check with the pharmacist first. X

[sticky3006]

That is great news! Really pleased for you. It does make me wonder though about how soon chemo is sometimes restarted for a recurrence based on number's or a small change on CT scan . You've gone a really long time with elevated numbers but are still well and haven't needed chemo. Another reason why each woman should be looked at as an individual with her own treatment plan. Keep up the good work! Sticky3006 x

[forestrowlady]

Thank you Sticky3006, yes my Oncologist was very hesitant to give me more chemo as I was so well in myself and also because the chemo would lower my resistance to the covid virus. I was very relieved.