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Unable to debulk

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone out there was told that surgery initially was not an option b/c of extensive disease.
I will havw 3 Carbo/Taxol chemos then an new CT to evaluate again for surgery.  I had my 1st 4/7/10 and they are scheduled 3 wks apart, guess this is the norm.  Initally felt like crap, but have been good the last few days, some relief in my abdomen from the bloating.
Were 3 chemos enough?  Are less symptoms a sign that it's working?  I sure hope so.  Being a virgin at this is so damn hard!  Nothing but questions--
Rose
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your response.  My CA125 was 2628 at dx, which I don't know if this is any indication of how much disease there is.  Hopefully not!!!  I guess 3 wks apart is also standard.  I have had a bit of improvement in the constipation dept, and hope this indicates less tumor on my colon.  I was zonked 3 days after the chemo on 4/7 but am feeling pretty well now.  I will get a stent in my ureter this Sat b/c it is compressed and may cause kidney damage  & next chemo on 4/28.
I hope that your surgery goes well for you this time.  It must have been very hard to be scheduled and then told that it is not possible.  
God bless--
Rose
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Avatar universal
Hi Rose
In Dec 09, I had failed surgery & was told that there was too much disease to do the operation.

Since then I have had 5 x chemo (carbo/taxol) - 3 weeks apart.
The last 2 chemo were reduced dosage because my blood tests showed that I was down (but I felt just the same, which is OK)
Last week the surgeon advised that my results were good but could be better - especially my CA125 blood test - which was 900, 270, 90,50 & 47.  The CT scans showed tumor reduction was good but could be better.  On 10th May I am scheduled for the debulking operation (again),
with warnings that it may happen again ie unable to proceed.

Regarding is this 3 enough - & what symptoms are reducing:
I still don't have any symptoms - but my tummy has deflated a bit.
I am tired sometimes - I think that is the chemo.
Sally
Australia
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your responses.  It is so hard to be at the beginning of this but reading posts here show me that there are many of us who are in the same boat and managing.  This forum has been a Godsend for me.  Thank you everyone--
Rose
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792410 tn?1270315500
The Mayo Clinic is awesome.  Such kind people, so well organized and nursing in the hospital was the best I have ever had.  My surgery there wasn't a success but at least they were willing to try.  No one else would even try.
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Avatar universal
My DIL was told that the OVCA was too extensive to operate and that she had a 'frozen pelvis.' The doc described it as though her organs were covered in Elmer's glue. So, she had 3 treatments, went back to MDA, and they called her inoperable. They said they would finish the chemo & that would be it.

Fortunately, her Austin gyn/onc disagreed & believe she was operable. He advised her to go to Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN to get a 3rd opinion. They thought she WAS operable and agressively got to work. They did a liver resection first. A few weeks later, they removed all female organs, oomentum, mass in her diaphragm. A few weeks later, they did a pleurectomy as well as removing some malignant lymph nodes.

She continued chemo throughout all of this. After the initial Carbo/Taxol treatmens - think she had 4? - they switched her to Carbo/Gemzar once, two weeks later, just Gemzar, etc. She is scheduled for her last chemo May 3 and they'll do a scan about 10 days later. We are hoping and praying that they see everything they are supposed to see & nothing that we don't want to see......

She's been through the ringer, but she has maintained her grace and dignity. Their friends at church set up a CarinbBridge.org site for her to keep everyone updated. That site has been hit almost 43,000 times since May 14, 2009 and it is full of hope and prayers on her behalf.

So, hang on, stay positive, let your family and friends help. Pray hard. And if they tell you again you're not operable, get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. My son & DIL did not have enough GREAT things to say about 'The Mayo.' They praised the doctors, nurses, and care they got there. Good luck to you.
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