Ca 125 is up again :(((

[Inguc_is]

I am so stressed about my mom who have ovarian cancer stage 2b sice 2017, in 2020 may first recurrence with ca 125 220. Till october 7 cycles chemo carboplatin/politaxel ( same as in 2017) all goes good tommors went ( just left some lymph bigger in one part) and also ca was 22.5 after chemo after 2 month ca went to 34.5, that made ne so stress it was 17.12, and on 25.01 it was 110, shocked 5 weeks and such high result? That mean that again it is full of mts? :((( and my mom now is platin resist is that true? Even platin her help have 4 years remission and tomors went in second line? I am so sad and what we can do next? On saturday she has CT scan only aftet that doctor can start do anything my mom doesnt have any pain , and i am so affraid about asicte, she never had it before but i am affraid tht it will come one day hope that no!!! Sorry for my eneglish im from Latvia, parph they didnt give as they dont have money for all :((

[Lyndy]

Sorry to hear that your Mum has recurrence….but it’s good news that she feels well. This is a tricky disease but her Doctor will advise about what they will do next. xx

[Inguc_is in reply to Lyndy]

I hope so,,, i am affraid of CT scan as ca 125 rise so fast :(((

[bamboo89]

There are other, non platinum based chemotherapy treatments available, they will probably offer one of those. The trouble with ovarian cancer is, if it recurs, it often keeps doing so, and various treatments are offered to keep it under control. Ascites can occur, yes, but often chemotherapy will get rid of it, otherwise, when there's a lot of fluid present, they can drain it to keep your mother more comfortable.

The CT scan is important, when hopefully they can see what's happening with the cancer - sometimes, if the patient is still obviously feeling well despite small amounts of cancer and a raised C1A25, its better to wait a bit longer for chemo and be monitored by the hospital for any change in her condition - for recurrence, how your mother feels is important, so whether she is unwell or has pain for instance. Mine recurred this year too while I was on Niraparib, one of the parps; on the subject of parps, I was on and off Niraparib for about 6 months, but it gave me serious problems with blood pressure and heart rate, so although it seemed to work on the cancer, I eventually had to have the lowest dose and that wasn't effective (other than keeping my blood pressure/heart rate high) so I had to come off it. Parps can be helpful, though the side effects can be difficult, but they're not a magic treatment that keeps the cancer down for a very long time for most women. I was then offered more chemo in August last year, but I felt well and had no symptoms, and I could see that my CA125, despite having risen to 685, was rising and falling in a zig zag pattern, so over the three months, it might fall to around 520, then go back up to 625 or something on the next check. The last reading was 638 just before I started chemo - I waited till December to have more treatment - even then, I could probably have waited a little longer because I didn't have any major symptoms, but I am having the chemo now anyway, the timing felt right to me.

As this will likely be the pattern of events in the future, try not panic or get really upset every time - I'm sure the doctors at your hospital will do their best with what treatments they have available. Good luck

Miriam

[Inguc_is]

Thank you! Mom feels ok, she doesnt have pain even after 4 years last year when they found recurrence she was quite ok and no pain… she never have ascite and i whish that she will never have it🙏🏼 I even want to belive that it is just ca 125 up and no mts will find in CT, but… 110’is quite hight level, when she was diagnosed in 2017 2b stage her ca 125 was 30, also before operation and 4 years it was 12-13 that mean platin worked good, but 1st recurrence and it is platinum resistant? Cant belive

[bamboo89 in reply to Inguc_is]

Platinum resistance is not uncommon - I'm having a platinum based chemo for a second time now, but luckily, it seems to be doing something, as my CA125 has fallen, but it could so easily have been ineffective because I'd developed resistance. Which I probably will have by next time round... platinum resistance also rules out PARP inhibitors - the cancer has to have responded to platinum based chemo in order to be given any of them.

[Inguc_is]

Yes, but if her first recurrence was 4 years after 1st line that mean it worked very good but 1st recurrance same chemo all mst go away ca 22.5, but in 2-3 month ca 125 up that mean from first recurrence it became platin resistant