What is Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a malignant ovarian neoplasm (an abnormal growth located on the ovaries). It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, the leading cause of death from ...
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Need encouragement re: my mom
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My mom was diagnosed three years ago with Stage 1a, grade 2 tumor. Following surgery and six carboplatin treatments, she had no evidence of disease, CA-125 in the single digits for 2.5 years. Recently CA-125 began to slowly climb, up to low 30s. CAT-scan this week showed three nodules in her abdomen, so she is scheduled for surgery and another chemo regimen after the first of the year.
I guess I just feel like I've been slapped in the face. My family was naive, I guess, because we really believed the cancer was gone and she was cured. I know ovarian cancer is typically recurrent, but they caught hers so early and she responded so well to treatment. I understand now that it is like a chronic disease. But I'm scared to death that, even if she responds well to treatment again, that it will recur even faster the next time. I hate for my mom to have to go through treatment again, though we are all trying to be positive. I'm just realizing that the nightmare that began three years ago is not over. Does it help her prognosis that her cancer was caught early initially? Or does that even matter now that it has recurred and spead? Does anyone ever go into remission for years and years? Is there such a thing as a cure...or at least never having another recurrence? Sorry--I'm rambling. I'm reeling from this news. Thanks for any help. Posted on 12/06/08, 09:12 pm |
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Hi and welcome to our community. So sorry that your family is going through this again.. there is always hope and these days OC is treated more like a chronic illness with periods of remission.. hopefully long ones.
I had stage 1c eight years ago and was cancer free for seven years. Last year I was treated for a recurrence and am getting over the chemo which ended in July. There are lots of good thing in your mothers favour... The nodules are operable and the best results are always for cancers that are operable.. Her CA125 is still very low, mine was 220 and many women have numbers in the thousands which are still able to be brought down to normal levels. It always helps with treatment if the cancer is caught early as it has been in your mother's situation. They do say that there isn't a cure after a recurrence, but always the hope of remissions.. There are always exceptions to the rules though, and we have a survivor here who had stage 4 OC over twenty years ago without a recurrence. You have everything to hope for. A recurrence is always a huge disappointment and comes so suddenly after a period when you begin to feel safe again. This is a great site to get help, advice and support whilst going through treatment and perhaps your mother would find it as helpful as so many of us. I will be wishing for the best for her and imagine that her operation will be straight forward. Best wishes to you and your family.. Inka 
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Inka, you have done a wonderful job in your reply, as usual.
corrielynn, you and your mother are in my prayers. I has 4C OVCA. Had tan operation and chemo. My numbers were down to single digets. But as so as I stopped chemo stopped my CA 125 started to climb. By 6 months, I had a recurrence. Now I am about finished with chemo again and my numbers are down to 18, with another blod test we are waitning for the results of. But a recurrence does hang over our heads, esp since I was 4C. But there is HOPE!! Keep the FAITH and once again your family is in my prayers.
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