It's back!

Diagnosed with Stage3C ovarian cancer on Halloween 2017. Under went 6 months of chemo and was declared in remission June, 2018. Started having 'LL abdominal pain. PET scan was done. CA has come back in my colon and and pelvic area. DNA testing being done on tumor for targeted therapy. On pins and needles waiting for results. Anyone had targeted therapy and how did it work? My hair just got back to chin length - bummer! LOL

[mizpurple]

Yes. I have stage 4 mucinous (diagnosed at stage 1, but quickly had metastasis after platinum-based first line which then did not respond to doxil as second line) and have been having targeted immunotherapy for the past 18 months. I've been both lucky and unlucky - it has really shrunk and calcified my tumor until very little remains, and no new metastates have occurred. BUT I have experienced a couple of rare side effects that have made it a mixed blessing.

The treatment itself has been much easier than carboplatin/taxol or doxil - no nausea issues, no pain to speak of, no real "down time", and I kept my regrown hair. The treatment process is very similar - an infusion, but without the steroids etc. so it takes about an hour and a half once I'm checked into the infusion room. Unfortunately, as I said, I've had to deal with some rare side effects. First, my thyroid was affected and it took a while to stabilize on thyroid replacement medication. Second, and far worse, my pancreas's ability to make insulin has been wiped out, meaning that I'm now dealing with Type 1 diabetes (that just happened less than a month ago). But when you consider that I was looking at hospice before this started working for me, I think my onc and I made the right decision. I don't want to put you off - and in any case, you have to go through the process to determine whether targeted might work on your tumor. Best wishes to you as you pursue this possibility! Deb in Colorado

[SurvivorSusan]

I'm so sorry for this development. My ovarian cancer came back after 5.5 years, but i am able to take a parp-inhibitor called Olaparib. It is not chemo, but taken in pill form. I am so thankful for these new developments in medical science.

[Shorty59]

Hi Hidden,

I’m so sorry to read this news. Please know your in my prayers, and Keep The FAITH! Let me know how your doing if you can. ❤️

[GwenHP]

After your genetic tests come back and they determine which targeted therapy would likely work on your tumor, please post again here as I’m sure someone on the list will have had that particular drug. As was noted in the earlier response, typically targeted therapies have side effects that are easier to manage. Fortunately most people don’t experience losing their hair while on targeted therapies alone. Sometimes they are combined with certain chemos, and the chemo, depending on which one it is, can cause hair loss.

Best wishes - Gwen

[Archeveritas]

How are you doing?