This community is for people with ovarian cancer. Friends, family members and others with an interest in the disease are also encouraged to join the discussion.
Moderators
-
elainecholas posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 2 weeks, 6 days ago · View
lindas:
Hope you are continuing to gain strength.
Takes time for bodies to heal after being filled with toxins.
Wish I had a device where I could look inside my body and see what is really going on.
elainecholas -
elainecholas posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 2 weeks, 6 days ago · View
How harmful are the X-rays and Cat-Scans we have?
I heard that they spread harmful rays into our bodies.
elainecholas
Here a are links to some information on this topic you may find useful
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/012610/page8http://news.cancerconnect.com/mammography-increase-breast-cancer-risk-high-risk-women/
C
-
gerry posted on the forum topic Maintenance or Continuous Chemotherapy in the group Ovarian Cancer: 3 weeks, 6 days ago · View
Hi Charles: I had 7 rounds of chemo carboplatin and taxol every 21 days after surgery and removal of all female organs, stage III ovarian cancer diagnosed 7/2007. Had two yrs cancer free then it popped up again and I was given same drugs but every Monday for six weeks until I had severe allergic [...]
-
gerry posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 3 weeks, 6 days ago · View
Question to group: How often should one be scheduled for CT-scans after having surgery and chemo and recurrence and chemo again. Cancer free for time being 7 months, after stage III back in 2007. I feel I get too many CT scans but am told by my oncologist that CT scan is only tool available to treat ovarian cancer besides CA-125 blood tests. Is every three months too many CT scans? What has been others’ experience with scans? Please advise. Thank you.
Gerryjerry:
This is a concern of mine as well. Some reports are saying that the CT and X-rays are not good for us.
At least not frequently. I have had more than my fair share of these tests and have been asked for yet another X0ray next month of my chest……….cancer had attacked my lung last year. elainecholas
-
elainecholas posted on the forum topic Maintenance or Continuous Chemotherapy in the group Ovarian Cancer: 4 weeks ago · View
charles: i am not sure exactly what is meant by “maintenance chemotherapy”………??? For me, I believe it has been on a “need basis”……….with 4-8 treatments scheduled every 21 days. At this point my oncologist, who runs a chemo/radiation clinic, is waiting for me to be tested again next month before giving me more toxins. (and [...]
-
charles started the forum topic Maintenance or Continuous Chemotherapy in the group Ovarian Cancer: 4 weeks, 1 day ago · View
A recently published study looking at over 35 clinical trials comparing a standard course of chemotherpay to longer term continuous or maintenance chemotherapy suggests that maintenance chemotherapy prolongs survival….http://news.cancerconnect.com/continued-chemotherapy-in-advanced-ovarian-cancer/
C
-
charles posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month ago · View
There is a grop forming that is discussing chemobrain if you are interested; http://cancerconnect.com/communities/chemotherapy/forum/topic/chemobrain/
-
charles posted on the forum topic How reliable is the CA-125 ovarian cancer blood test? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month ago · View
CA125 marker is detectable in many but not all individuals with ovarian cancer. Because it is not always present it has not been reccomended as a test to detect ovarian cancer. In indviduals with ovarian cancer and an elevated CA125,the test is however useful for monitoring response to treatment and looking for cancer recurrenct.
C -
elainecholas started the forum topic How reliable is the CA-125 ovarian cancer blood test? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month ago · View
Do you know how reliable the CA-125 ovarian cancer blood test is?
What are your oncologists saying to you about this test?
elainecholas -
lovelife posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
I know that I have been away for awhile and have not met most of the newest members. I am sorry. They think that I am having a reaccurence but it is so early that they are having a problem pinpointing it. The PET lights up on my bowels, breast and axillary lymph nodes. Just went through a month worth of any kind of test that they could throw my way and still no exact info. They want to wait for about 2 months and then go looking again.
lovelife:
How do you feel? Are you anxious having to wait 2 months for further tests?
These cancer cells are sneaky and I have been taken by surprise a couple of times.
Decided to have my ports cleaned and blood work done every 2 months …….just in case.
See oncologist this week………consultation……..CA-125 at 44.00. Bummer. elainecholas
I just got the results from an MRI and it is probable that I am looking at Breast cancer. I am just 8 months in remission from Ovarian cancer. I will get a biopsy next week sometime. Do you ever get tired of all of the tests?? They have done four tests on me in a three week period…CAT, Mamo and biopsy on swollen lymph nodes now the MRI found something actually in my breast and coupled with swollen lymph nodes it is very frightening. Maybe it’s nothing…??? I am sorry about the rise in the CA-125. Mine is still sitting at 8. Breast cancer won’t raise it. I will send my prayers up for you. How long have you been in remmission? By the way I am extremely anxious. Just trying to hold my head high and find the courage and strength that got me through 6 rounds of chemo, five surgeries, and a permanent colostomy in a ten month period.
lovelife:
It really ”sucks” having all those tests. And I hope you have good health insurance. I do not have US insurance and have thus far………three years now…….paid for everything out of pocket. I live in Mexico, however, so things are cheaper but still it has eaten up all of our life savings. I now have Mexican health insurance but it is not wise to use it for chemotherapy because the free chemo treatments are very harsh……….not filtered like the good ones are. Anyway, I hate getting the CAT-Scans……..having to drink all that liquid. I sometimes throw it up. It’s great that your CA-125 ovarian is at 8…………I wish mine was that low. Please let me know if the cancer has invaded your breasts………I am sending healing energy your way. You are strong!
I was not in remission………..I chose to take a break because the chemo treatments were making me so ill. I just could not handle anymore so took 8 weeks off. Now I feel super good ……….but the blood results are telling a different story.
elainecholas
-
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
Hi, I still have Chemo Brain myself. I went to introduce my husband’s cousin whom I have known for years and when I went into my brain for his name it escaped me. I had to ask him to introduce himself. Afterwards he thought I was kidding until I explained the Chemo Brain takes over [...]
-
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
Hi Lindas,
I had to take Chemo for 2nd time and finished 12/18/2009 due to a tumor on my spleen outer covering. So far so good with respect to the cancer and spleen.
Just wanted you to know you may be able to do a sit and wait period with respect to the spleen.
gerry -
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
Elaine, I couldn’t eat like you. I could look at, smell or taste on my tongue a lot of foods. I got to enjoy Milk Shakes, Ensure canned nutrition drinks, water plain and flavored, jello and ice cream. It seems anything that was a liquid felt good to me and got me thru the chemo [...]
-
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
God Bless You. You have had your hands full and I know what the pain in hands and feet is all about as well as the incontenance subject. Eventually these items will clear up and/or improve somewhat. I advise taing B6 and B12 for the neuropathy.
gerry -
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
The best of luck to you with the CA-125 in July (if you had the test already I am hoping the news was good.)
-
gerry posted on the forum topic Do You Ever Need to Vent? in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
I love your positive attitude. Hope you go far in the marathon on 10/17. I know what you mean when people/friends/family tell you to be “positive” as if saying it makes it happen and cures what ails you – feel like you feel and let them know that it’s no cake walk this OVARIAN CANCER! [...]
-
gerry posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
The latest findings of Dana-Farber ovarian cancer breakthrough for some ovarian cancers. Have you heard about this. Possible clinical trials to be set up soon.
GerryNo; what are the findings?
Hi charles – I don’t get into computer often but here is what I read in Dana-Farber Report, page 2, Summer of 2010 edition: ”Research breakthrough could give doctors upper hand against some ovarian cancers.” ”Lab tests provide gateway to more effective therapies.” ” Joyce Liu, MD has discovered a promising lead that could help overcome some forms of ovarian cancer. Technique known as ’RNA Interferene’ to starve the cancer. When the cancerous cells were deprived of life-sustaining ErbB3 protein, malignant cell growth decreased. In some instances, the tumors started to shrink. ”There are plans to carry this research forward into clinical trails, ” she said.” No exact quote. gerry
-
gerry posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 1 week ago · View
Hi katsthoughts,
I never took the drug you mentioned, sorry I was advised to take B-6 and B12 for the hand and foot numbness.
Gerry -
katsthoughts posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 2 weeks ago · View
I’ve been in treatment for almost 4 years and in that time I feel like I’ve changed sooo much I hardly recognize myself. Mostly, I like myself better or at least I’m more aware of me and accepting. After a few other chemo drugs I’m on Doxcil now and have been for quite awhile . But I’m starting to have more mouth, foot and hand issues. I was told taking an amino acid may help. Anyone have any luck with that?
katsthoughts:
What type of mouth, foot, and hand issues are you having? Is the amino acid helping? I have lost some feeling in my toes and finger tips……..not serious…….but the toes do bother me sometimes when I am sleeping. Not a big deal considering what other long term side effects could be. elainecholas
-
charlie08 posted an update in the group Ovarian Cancer: 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
I’d just would like to lend support to anyone who’s going through Chemo for Ovarian Cancer. I was diagnosed 7/2008 and I’m happy to report that my CA-125 has been steady at ”5” since chemo ended. If anyone has any questions I’d love to help in any way I can.
charlie08:
Congrats! a ”5” is awesome. I will have my CA-125 tested next week…………last reading was
not so great……….a 35………but that was before the chemo treatment.
I would love to have a ”5”.
elainecholasHi charlie08
I was diagnosed in 7/2008 too. Was in remission for two years then it recurred. Went thru 2nd chemo regimen and lost all my hair again. Last Chemo was 12/18 and then CA-125 done on 5/21/2010 abd units were 2.5. Now I am getting charley horse cramps bottom of spine and to left buttocks and down front and back of left thigh. I am scheduled for
CT scan on 8/4 as well as an MRI same date. MRI to determine if I have any herniated disks as my back goes into spasms a lot. Glad you are doing well.
GerryT
- Load More
