Avastin

Sorry to have been gone so long.

Last month, my CA125 jumped from 19 to 24. That spurred me to request a CT scan, and my doc was definitely on board with that. We waited a month, and I had the scan this past Friday, and a doctors appointment yesterday.

The scan showed both good news and bad news. The good news is - still no NEW cancer growth! Wow! That is pretty amazing, and I believe it must be the vaccine that is preventing any new cancer implants.

The bad news is - the stuff that is there (nodules throughout my abdomen) has grown. Mostly, they have only grown only about 1/2 cm each in the three months since my last scan. My CA125 is up to 26 now as well. Although upsetting, this news was not wholly unexpected (since my CA125 had been creeping up).

So, we discussed options. The doc mentioned several different strategies. We can wait a few more months before doing anything - we can try hormonal therapy (I have to ask her more about this in the future) - I can have another surgery, and then have heated chemotherapy applied directly in my abdomen - or we can try Avastin. She really thought that the Avastin was the best option for me with "the minimal amount of cancer" that I currently have.

Avastin is a biological therapy (not really a chemo) that targets a protein found in many cancer cell teypes, and halts cancer growth. I think that it keeps the body from providing blood supply to cancer. (I will be researching this more). Usually, it is given in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs, but the doctor said that they have been using it as a single agent drug (meaning that Avastin is all I will be getting). I am happy about that, since I really have no faith in chemotherapy (I've been through three types so far, and none have worked in the least).

So I started treatment yesterday - nothing like jumping in feet first! :) I feel fine, and it is not supposed to really have many side effects. Of course, the side effects that it may have are bad. They are rare - but bad. For example - the worst would be bowel perforation. I may have high blood pressure, and have to take medication for it as a result of this medication. Also, it can cause some kidney problems. I have the treatment every three weeks - we will go three rounds, and then another scan to see if it is effective.

The big hope is that the Avastin takes care of the one lymph node that is located outside of my abdominal cavity (just outside of it). Then I would have surgery again to remove everything - and the heated chemotherapy directly into the abdomen. The heated chemo can only be used if cancer is confined to the abdominal cavity (for obvious reasons).

I will update again soon, I promise. Especially now that I am in full treatment again...

18

I had a pretty good appointment today.

Some good news - my tumor marker number continues to go down (!!!) My CA125 is now at 18. That is the lowest it has ever been since I started. After my first surgery, it dropped to 19, but it never went below that until now.

Most importantly, there is NO NEW ovarian cancer growth (!!!!!!!!!!) :) That is the best news! I was always good at growing new cancer while on chemo. It is good to know that my body isn't currently cultivating new tumors.

My doctor did say that the cancerous nodules that were there on the last scan are all a little larger (by millimeters). However, she thinks that is from inflammation caused by the vaccine working and attacking the cancer. That theory does make sense to me, because my arm is still inflamed too (from the vaccine shots). So, we are just going to wait and watch - which have never been strong points of mine.

Of course I wanted to hear that everything was smaller, or non-existant. ;) I guess I am just learning that everything isn't always as 'cut and dried' as I would like it to be. I want a certain answer, or outcome - but that is just not the way it works.

I have another appt next month - but no further scans planned for now. That is nice, because I hate the stress that having scans causes me!

Until next time!

CT scan results

The scan showed several 'nodules' some of which may have been scar tissue, some which were cancer. Also, my CA125 results (which had been steadily going down during the Taxotere treatment) increased this time - from 69 to 101. The CA125 is a tumor marker test that hasn't been really accurate for me. But usually it is lower (it was in the normal range of 29-35 when I had active tumor growth) - so the fact that it is increasing now is somewhat troubling.

These results didn't really surprise or upset me. I think that they took my favorite husband by surprise though. He seemed shaken by the news.

There is also some fluid around my liver, and near my lung. She thinks that this is chemo fluid that hasn't been fully absorbed yet. I have noticed being a little short of breath, and being 'bloated' for no apparent reason. The fluid may explain this.

She said that the vaccine is almost ready! She thinks that maybe next week, we will be able to start all of the preliminary stuff. I have to have a number of skin tests, to ensure that my immune system will respond, before we can start the trial vaccine. They can't start the skin tests until they are sure the vaccine is ready. My doctor estimates we should be on the vaccine by Christmas or soon after.

My thinking is - it is a good thing some measurable cancer is present. Otherwise, how would we be able to tell if the vaccine is working or not?

The doctor wants to leave my interperitoneal (IP) port in. The IP Taxotere did cause my CA125 to drop for a while, so we may go back to that chemo if the vaccine does not work. I hated that chemo - I hope not to go back on it!

I am just glad that I am off of chemo for a while. I need to get my Christmas shopping done this weekend, and continue to get my energy back.

As always, I will update when I know more! Good luck everyone - with your Christmas or holiday shopping. I'm hoping to get mine all done this weekend (keep your fingers crossed :) )