I start chemo again Jan 24

@daeckardt (6237)
United States
January 11, 2012 8:11pm CST
I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but the doctor's office called today with the results of the blood test they did yesterday. My CA-125 (the tumor marker) went from 82 last month to 131 yesterday. The nurse said it was probably not just because I hadn't taken the temoxifen for the 10 days while I was in the hospital. They said I could delay treatment, but based on how much the count went up in that little time, I figured it would be better to take agressive action rather than waiting. I just hope it isn't too bad. Have a great week!!!
1 person likes this
12 responses
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
12 Jan 12
Dear Debbie, There is nothing I can say. I am cursing here in Spanish, but maybe you would not want to listen to me now. I hope that you don´t let this lower your spirits. You know that I would not have been as well as I have been with my chemo if it hadn´t been for your example. You have helped me a lot more that you could posibly think. I hope that I can have some day off this thing in March. I thought it would be by December, then in January. But things don´t work out as we want. Let us keep hoping, friend. I think of you from the other side of the earth
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I think we give each other strength. I know that I can continue to make a difference in people's lives, whether it be through my volunteer work with the Red Cross or through sharing my story with others. So your situation hasn't totally improved yet either? I am hoping that in the not too distant future, there is a solution to all this. I may be on chemo for the rest of my life from what the doctor says. I just hope I can find some alternative treatment in addition to the medical treatment that I am undergoing.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
16 Jan 12
I am told that each type of chemo has limited use in recurrences. If it gets to a point of no breaks because it is not working, I may just stop it all together so that I can have some quality of life. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. I never heard of apricot almonds. I will have to look it up.
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
12 Jan 12
I was told from the begining that my cancer had no cure. But it is usually a slow grower and it has responded well to chemo. So far, so good. But, besides everything, I would not want to live until I reached 100 years. So I don´t mind as long as my quality of life can be reasonable good. I hope that the oncologist will give me a break in March and I can go at least for a week somewhere. Please check about apricot almonds as a help in cancer cure.
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
Hello. I am wishing you all the best. My mom has been diagnosed just lat week with endometroid carcinoma. I am not near her, she is in the US. I am wondering what you have been through after you were diagnosed with your tumor? My mom does not want to disclose for I know she does not want me to worry. I hope I could get ideas from you. I also want to learn how should our family cope with this. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
14 Jan 12
I'm not really familiar with endometroid carcinoma. I initially had stage 1 ovarian cancer (they told me that it is the same cell type this time but I still can't remember what the two types were...mucinoid and something else). I was alerted to it because my waist kept growing as if I were pregnant even though I was a virgin at the time. I had a complete hysterectomy and six rounds of carboplatin/taxol at the time and was told that I was cancer free and didn't have to worry about it. I did fine for over 7 years and then last December I started having a problem with a fistula and found out that I had a recurrence. I went through five rounds of carboplatin/taxol/ativan until I had a reaction to the carbo (common when used in a recurrence when it was used the first time around). Now I am looking at more chemo. I'm sure that your mom will eventually be willing to let you know what is going on. How old is she? I was 43 when I had my first bout with cancer and I will be 52 at the end of the month. I hope that all will be well fo you and yours.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
Thank you for sharing this. :)
@AmbiePam (84668)
• United States
16 Jan 12
I am so sorry. Keep us updated best you can. I know you'll be strained physically. You're in my prayers.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
16 Jan 12
Thanks for the response! I know that this won't be easy, but it is something that I need to do. Have a great week!!!
@maybebaby (1230)
• Canada
18 Jan 12
Sorry to hear you have to do Chemo again. I finished my Chemo almost a year ago now and I would hate to be told I have to do it again. Stay strong.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
18 Jan 12
I had finished my last chemo in June and it was so hard to be told that I needed to start again. My regular doctor had wanted to avoid further chemo because I was doing well and she had put me on temoxifen in October and it kept me stable, but after being off it for 10 days while in the hospital over the holidays, my numbers went up and the doctor that was covering her maternity leave decided that I needed to start again. I could have put it off, but because my numbers went up so much in only a month, we decided to start again. I just hope it helps. Thanks for the response!
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
12 Jan 12
Hi daeckardt. be strong! my cousin's wife has a tumor on her neck. it's hard to miss alright because it really sticks out. She acts strong whenever we meet but i bet i don't know even half of what she's going through. and worse, her husband's an a*hole who doesn't seem a bit concerned about her. i know she's fighting back. she even talks to the thing and tells it to go away. we meet to watch movies together. i hope things turn out fine for you. again, be strong!:)
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I'm sure that things will be ok, at least in the short run. I guess the best way to look at it is to live one day at a time and do what I can and not worry about what I have no control over. I also have been trying to do some visualization of making it GONE!!!
1 person likes this
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
24 Jan 12
I agree with living one day at a time. living each one to the fullest is what everybody should be doing. I'm certainly am one of those who worry their lives away. I'm not proud of it, but i think recognition is a start. we both have different cancers in our lives. let's make each of them disappear;)
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
Just think positive always friend. By the way, what is the normal count of the tumor marker in CA-125? Hope your doctor find another way of curing you than using that chemo... You can't go on having chemo always because it's bad also for our health. I don't know really what to say...but hold on. Take care always.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
14 Jan 12
Usually, under 35 would be considered normal. I was at that level when they stopped chemo last summer. Shortly after it stopped, the numbers started increasing, doubling by September so they started me on temoxifen which kept me stable at around 80 for three months. Unfortunately, it has increased since then to 131 which is not particularly high in most cases, but that much of an increase is not good.
• Philippines
14 Jan 12
I see. Thanks for the information.Hope you will be really stable and recover from the Big C. Take care and always Smile.
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I guess it is better to do it sooner than later in this case. I too hope it is not too bad, but that it is effective for you. All the best wishes and prayers for you, friend.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I agree with you totally on that. I intend to continue the fight as long as I can and hopefully I will win it. I guess I will wait and see. Thanks for the response!
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Jan 12
Let's hope it's totally a false alarm!
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I wish the numbers were a false alarm, but I don't think so. Hopefully it isn't as bad as the doctor is trying to make it sound, but I have heard for years about this kind of thing happening. I think the best I can hope for right now is to become stable again and see if I can stay that way.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
12 Jan 12
oh darling girl. im so sorry to hear that. i keep wishing God would take pity on us and let us be able to get free of this terrible plague called cancer it just keeps taking all the joy from our lives. and so many people we love keep suffering. i pray every day for us stricken with it. as i think its the only thing really keeps us afloat. blessings dear. i will keep praying.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I'm sure it will get better! I don't necessarily "pray" about it, but I do try use visualization of seeing it disappear when I fight it. Who knows as long as it works!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I honestly think that you are taking the right approach by deciding to take an aggressive approach as opposed to a passive approach. Is the kind of chemotherapy that you are going to go through now the same as you've had in the past? I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you start another journey with chemotherapy. Best wishes to you.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I will not be able to use the chemo I did before (specifically carboplatin) because of an allergic reaction last year. I will be on Gemzar and Cisplatin which are both new to me. It was mentioned by a person on my online support group that she found that combination to be easier than some of the others she had previously so I hope it isn't too bad. Thanks for the response!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Jan 12
It's interesting that you wish everybody a 'great week', when you know that you're in for some rough weeks ahead. I'm sorry you have to start chemo again. And I commend you for deciding on taking agressive action. Goodluck!
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I figure that even if I can't have a great week that other people can. If you got an email from me, that is part of my signature. It makes me feel good to say that. Thanks for the response.
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I'm sorry to hear that. Anytime the mention of chemo it is scary. Hopefully it isn't real bad like you said. You've been going through so much with your health for so long. It has been almost a non stop battle for a long time. I will be praying for you and thank you for keeping us informed. You are in my thoughts.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
12 Jan 12
I don't know how bad it really is, but I have heard from many others who have or are currently going through the same thing. Once it gets to this point, I think it is a forgone conclusion that it won't go away. I guess the best thing I can do right now is to picture myself as being healthy and see if I can fool my body into getting healthy by itself. I doubt that medical science will be able to do it all. Thanks for the response!