Reccurence PPC - How to know if it's gone?

[KAIM83]

Hello everyone.

Long time follower with a mom diagnosed with PPC in june of 2018. Got her first reccurence of june this year. CT-scan didn' t show anything and her CA125 peaked at 32. She went to her doctor due to stomach pain and a laparoscopy eventually showed scar tissue as the main reason for her pain, but they also found cancer in her lower abdoma.

She was put on the standard chemo treatment with 6 rounds of carboplatin and paclitaxel. The chemo this time around was a bumby ride with alot of fever, a blod cloth and very low blood count numbers after about her third chemo. She has just completed the last of 6 chemos about 2 weeks ago and next monday she is going to see her doctor.

She is very worried about the cancer and if it's gone. We are very worried as well. The doctors have ordered a new CT-scan and combined with the CA125 numbers probably will conclude she is cancer free and put her on Lynparza. She is BRCA2, so we are hopefull about the Lynparza, but equaly worried if the cancer is completely gone and Lynparza has the best grounds for beeing succesfull.

The main problem is that her CT-scans in june did not show any cancer, and her CA125 was low despite significant cancer decease. Only laparoscopy showed decease. So here we are wondering how we can make sure that her cancer really is gone. Any feedback is very appreciated. Thank you

Kind Regards

Kai from Norway. Sorry about my english

[Hidden]

I have heard that MRI scans are more accurate at detecting disease. Good luck x

[Broader]

Your English is better than my Norwegian!!

So don’t apologise.

It’s a difficult situation, hoping the cancer has gone but not being reassured by CT scans and CA125 results, could your Mum ask for another Laparoscopy just to put her mind at ease ?? Although not a pleasant procedure its better to be reassured than worrying.

Hope you get some answers.

Best wishes to you and your Mum

Christine x

[Wonnie]

Amazing English!

That sounds quite a scary way to discover the recurrence. Lynparza (Olaparib) can help very small bits of cancer to reduce in the same way as it helps to prevent cancer so even if the chemo didn't catch it all, the new drug can help too. As someone else has already mentioned, maybe ask what other scans could be done.

No less frightening though. Best wishes x

[delia2]

Hi. I have a similar thing with CA 125 being low all the time. I will say that Lynparza shrank the tumor I had remaining. When I recurred the CT scan showed one nodule that was about 4 cm but I also had a PET scan that showed at least four other nodules. If possible try to get a PET scan after two-three months on Lynparza. xx