like you I am in a recurrence since October and am being treated with Topocetan with far milder side effects than the carboplatin Taxol from the first go round.
also like you my expectations were not good but I find I have more good days than bad now and with each good day I find myself more positive for the future.
I wish you luck with your treatment and also with your attitude about remission because it can only help to be positive.

Spider, thanks for responding ! I'm in a scared and dreaded space right now. Going for port insertion Thursday morning. Never had one before. I had a picc line. So I'm a little nervous with anticipation.
I plan on an attitude adjustment real soon as far as having some optimism. This news has just happened in the last few days and I'm just overwhelmed right now.
How is your chemo going and how long were you cancer free before recurrence?
Sincerely,
Missy

surprised they didn't give you a port first go-round. it is very minor surgery so don't give it a thought.
I went roughly 6-8 months before recurrence, enjoyed my summer, bald head and all.
I was, and still am, ready to die if that'swwhat is meant to be but until then I will try to live my life as fully as my health will allow.
I have a friend who gives me Reiki weekly and I can't swear it helps with the cancer but it relaxes me and feels good. try to find alternative treatments that can't do any harm but may help you.
cancer is not for wimps and you need strength to deal with not only the "C" word but the effects of the treatment. I will pray you will dig down and find the strength.

hello Missy. Sorry it has taken me so long to get on. Yes, i was on Doxil for 5 months. They took me off it because i was having a serious flare-up of eczema. Doxil is known for skin reactions, and while i didnt get the normal hand and foot side affect, it caused my eczema to flare badly. I had no other issues with it, and there was even a shrinkage in my tumors! i did not want to be taken off it. I was also in a drug study that could only be used with Doxil, So i am out of the drug study as well now. I have 3c Ovarian, and have never achieved remission. They have me on topotecan now, and i have not gone for new scans yet since starting it. I hope this helped, please let us know of any reactions you may get. it will help someone else down the road. thank you for posting!

I forgot to add.... i recently got a letter from the company that makes Doxil, i think its Johnson & Johnson. telling me that there is a shortage in Doxil, and i would have to find another treatment. You may want to ask your doctor about this.
When i began taking it i was informed that this had happened earlier, but the drug study i was in had stock-piled the drug, so i shouldnt worry. But since i got this letter right when i was taken off of it, i would reccomend you ask.

Thanks so much for your info, Bonnielee. Look forward to hearing about your scan results after taking this new chemo drug !
Was originally given Carboplatin/ Taxol with good results. Now a recurrence ten months later and Doxil prescribed. Dr. Said I at least would not lose my hair this time. Researching online I also read about a Doxil shortage . I will contact my Dr. about this. Thanks for all the info.. My chemo is scheduled to start next Monday , Jan 6th. With the exception of your eczema, was glad to hear your side effects were minimal if any at all ! I can only hope for the same. Thanks.

It's scarey to hear that you all had reoccurrences so quickly.I am on carbo and taxol and have reduced CA125 from 1900 to 350's and haven't had surgery yet. I just had higher hopes that it would go away and stay away longer. I will say a prayer for you both.

Pussycat, sounds like the chemo is working well and surgery by a gyno/oncologist should do the trick for you followed by a few more treatments. We respond to treatment in different ways. Some achieve remission and stay that way for long lengths of time. Hope that happens for you ! Keep us posted.

I have ben on Doxil for four months and have two months left. My CA125 went down to normal after the second treatment. I had been doing well for 2 years. MY scans were fine but my number CA125 went up to 59 so I started treatment. I still work full time, have a family and I am in school with just one class left (plus hours) to be a mental health counselor. Cancer will not keep me down.
Rebecca

Fantastic Rebecca !! Very encouraging to hear. The fact that you were clear for two years is good. I was only considered free of cancer for ten months. Just had my first carbo/Doxil infusion today. The first of three scheduled then a scan after the third treatment. Evidently, side effects have not been a problem for you, as you have remained very active and busy. Best of luck and stay strong. Thanks so much for responding. Hope to hear from you again. Missy
P.S. My CA125 went from 6 to 25 and scan showed peritoneal lesions. Scheduled treatment immediately.

Missy - Please keep us informed on how the treatment is going. I did the carbo / taxol and have been in remission for 6 months. I am very saddened (and scared) that your CA - 125 went from 6 - 25 in a relatively short space of time and you ended up back on chemo within 10 months. Did your numbers gradually creep up or jump? How often were you getting bloodwork done? I have just been telling myself I am "on a chemo break" to avoid getting my hopes up. Is the Doxil easier to deal with? The taxol wasn't too bad for me, but the carbo / taxol double dose made me very sick. I am not looking forward to having to go through that again...

Amber. I was going in for check ups every three months and having lab work before each appt. after my last chemo in February of 2013 , my ca125 was 3. Then 6 and this past December it was 25. I tolerated the original carbo/taxol treatments well. I just had my first infusion of carbo/Doxil yesterday. Still feeling the effects of the steroid but expect to feel tired tomorrow or Thursday. So I feel fine right now and will keep all posted as to my experience. I will be having lab work
Every 7-10 days with this treatment. Keeping fingers crossed!!