ovarian 2nd line treatment

[Pianoanddisco]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone besides StyleK delayed chemo/surgery even though there are evidence of recurrence on CT scans and CA125 rising but no symptoms.

Would anyone delay 2nd line treatments if that were the case.

thanks

[Pooshon]

Yes I’ve delayed chemo with a rising ca125. My oncologist will only let me have a CT if I have symptoms. If you delay chemo as long as possible until you have symptoms it’s more likely to work once you have a recurrence.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Pooshon]

Hi Pooshon,

is your CA125 rising each month still because my rose each month and now it’s 86 they saw the trend starting from May (was 35, 48, 65 and now 86) did CT scan June and aug 22 recently.

June scan They found soft tissue less than 2cm near the lower right pelvis but the aug scan showed it wasn’t growing but newer lesions appeared but still small on my liver and colon and across my abdomen but no symptoms at all.

How long have u had this rise? Do they measure your CA125 each month and are u still symptom free

I’m wondering or I feel like I should delay my chemo as well as much as I can only cause I had a bad experience with carbo taxol but they r pushing me to get it done . Oncologist is saying it’s better to do it before I get symptoms so that it doesn’t grow . Obviously Drs will tell me I’m making a big mistake by delaying it?

I,m so, so torn I don’t know what to do .

what does everyone think on this about delaying chemo even though they found small lesions on different places now .

[Pooshon in reply to Pianoanddisco]

I’m back on chemo now which is 4th line but didn’t get it until I started to get symptoms. I don’t get ca125 measured every month but every 3m. They all seem to think differently regarding when to start treatment but who knows who is right. Most importantly try not to worry.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Pooshon]

Thanks Pooshon for the clarification, and thanks to everyone out there who is responding, because it's so important that we're not alone and that every bit of information helps eases our mind.s. And you're so right Pooshon I'm trying not to worry and stay positive. Such good advice.

[candyapplegrey]

Yup. I'm doing that. 2nd recurrence. Have delayed since 14 March this year. V small lesion. No symptoms - CA125 rising but only tinily. Had scan last week to see if it had grown or if any of alternative meds had had an effect. But in the end, another hospital advised not to have major surgery/chemo again and mine then agreed with them. But I guess I will rethink depending on what scan says. xx.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to candyapplegrey]

Hi Candyapplegrey

So u have had one CT scan done in March or earlier and that’s when they discovered the tiny lesion And rising CA125 and ,Since then you’ve taken alternative meds and gotten a second opinion from another hospital and they advised no chemo/surgery as well?

so r u waiting for results of recent scan to see if it’s grown ?

Sorry for the repeated questions… u and everyone here have been so helpful. I’m so glad I found this site/forum. I can’t thank u and everyone enough.

[candyapplegrey in reply to Pianoanddisco]

My hospital advised major surgery and 6 months chemo again initially, tried to convince me for 3 meetings but I wavered then went to another hospital to see if I could go on a trial (an exercise in disingenuity I cannot explain here) and this hospital advised I have no more treatment for moment and now my hospital is saying that too - but it's a complete turnaround.

Yes. Will see what scan says and make decision then.

But my CA125 was still low - from 9 to 14 to 19.

Are they offering you chemo but no operation? Mine said I would need to have both.

Looked at the research on 2nd ops, 2nd chemo and results were not very promising.

Let us know what you decide, if you want to ask anything else.

Are you in the UK?

xx

[Pianoanddisco in reply to candyapplegrey]

Thanks candyapplegrey,

At this moment I'm not sure because of my gut feeling however I might end up with chemo as everyone I talk to wants me to get it treated right away until the problem gets worse.

My oncologist offered just chemo no surgery. No I'm in Canada. I find the UK site more responsive.

[delia2]

Hi. From what you describe it sounds like chemo would have a good chance of working. The danger in waiting is that it might invade the liver or colon and become a bigger problem. Assuming you don’t have carbo taxol again the chemo probably won’t be as harsh as frontline. I found carbo caelyx easier to tolerate because of the four week cycles. I think I would listen to your team or get a second opinion.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to delia2]

Thanks delia2, besides the drs that's what my friends and family are saying to not wait. They are proposing I start right away with carbo/caelyx but I'm glad you said it's easier to tolerate and that they give you four weeks cycle instead unless you get low platelets then it's even more delayed. Great advice too, thanks!