Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Hi, and welcome to the group.

Could you please tell us more about your cancer? What stage and grade etc?

There are certainly chemo treatments that dont include platinum and several members here are also not able to take platinum based chemo.

Taxol is usually given with Carboplatin and this can be given more than once.

Has your Oncologist not recommended any other treatments?

Hugs
x

My treatment was taxal with cisplatatin. I was at that time a stage 3. I don't know if they change the stages later. At the time of my hysterectomy, I had 3 small areas of cancer cells left. At the end of my treatment, by a ca tscan, I had 8 areas. I was offered chemo, doxil or topotecan. I looked both up and I did not like the fact that I would be on chem to the end of my life. Has nayone had success with non-chemo drugs?

I think that all of us suffering with OvCa wish there was another way to "survive" this. Be very careful to not to believe all the "natural" cures that are out there. If it were so easy...I am thinking that cancer wouldn't be an issue (and a big business.)
I have been on the Doxil and another member here just started the topotecan (sp?). I know that I will be on some form of chemo in order to live any longer. Just trying to wrap one's head around that, isn't easy.
If you do opt out of treatment...you must talk with your Doctor about just how long you might live and the sort of "end of life" stuff that is not pleasant, but necessary.
I will tell you one thing...personally, I will never do Taxol again. It has worked and most people start with it...but it made me sick enough to want to die. Here I am 5 years later, so don't give up.
Please keep in touch. hugs, lindamae

Lindamae has given you some great advice there..... many here and are Stage 3 and above...and doing SO well, they are a true inspiration!

You have a HUGE decision to make...I really hope you can make the right one for YOU!

Many hugs

xxx

Hi
I`ve been put on Avastin, which is a drug that stops the blood flow to the nucleus of the cancerous cells. I call it my miracle drug since it`s the only thing that has worked for me in my 18 month battle. Presently it has brought my horrific CA125 levels that started at 7500 to 18. Please ask your oncologist if he feels you`re a candidate. Good Luck.
xxLinda

lindaheff

Are you taking avastin by itself or with another drug? I told my oncology nurse (the doctor was not available) that I wanted to try avastin but I think she wanted me to take it in combination with a chemo dry. Thanks for your input.

I was recently started on Faslodex. If you have an estrogen positive cancer, it might be something to consider. It is not a chemo drug, rather is an estrogen suppressor. It has been tested with recurrent breast cancer and I think there is a trial with ovarian cancer going on or that just ended. So your doc would need to prescribe it off label.

I am also trying to do all I can with nutrition and exercise - these alone won't cure the cancer, but anything that makes me stronger helps my immune system fight.
Michelle

Don't give up the fight. Ask your doctor to try alternative drugs instead. And then do all the great things to supplement your chemo . ..... like Michelle mentioned . . . diet and exercise.If your doctor won't give you alternative drugs, get another opinion from another oncologist.

You're in our thoughts and prayers!

XOX

Susan Wales

Cisplatin and taxol is an extremely tough regime, I went through this last year, it wasn't quite as effective as we wanted it to be, which is a same as the platin drugs are the first choice and the most effective choice. I'd had carboplatin seven years previously and had been in remission for seven years. Now i am on doxil and have just had six doses.. It is doing a great job, better than the cisplatin and taxol and also is much easier to tolerate.. no hair loss and minimal side effects for me. There are no natural cures for OC.. Infact there are no cures at all for OC that has recurred or not responded to treatment.. or we would all be free of it here.

I have been treated for over nine years now with a seven year remission.. I would recommend that you give the doxil a go. It is administered every four weeks, not three, and only takes an hour for the infusion. It is worth a try. There are several other chemo drugs available. Cancers that don't respond well to taxol/platin can do better with doxil. Avastin is the latest addition to the arsenal and several women are doing extremely well on it, though it isn't always available.

At stage 3 the chances are that you will need further treatments throughout your life, but you can hope for remissions and periods when your cancer is stable.. hopefully for long periods of time.. when you are chemo free.

Really wish there was something out there to get rid of this disease that is easy to take.. we all do.. There are is lots of new research out there into all sorts of new methods of treating this. What's available today can prolong our lives and we can hope that something better comes along in our time.


I get the impression that you need to look into it all a bit more.. gather information and make a decision that you are comfortable with. I hope that we can be of help and support here.. we have all been through this and know how tough these decision can be..

Wishing you all the best.. Inka xxx