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CA-125 Rising

Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Jun 10, 2024 | Replies (10)

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@jaynus55

Thank you for responding. I have been on Avastin for little over a year now, along with Keytruda, and Cytoxan. Once I started on this "cocktail", my CA-125 was in normal range until October last year, when the melanomas popped up, and it is continuing to rise. I get PET scans after three chemo cycles, and they check the CA-125 every cycle. I try not to worry too much about the rising CA-125, although it has gone up considerably, but try to focus on the PET scans being good - no activity or new implants. I had the debulking done in May 2022. Things looked good for a few cycles, but by August 2022, the CA-125 started going up so my oncologist started me on my second "cocktail" of chemo drugs. That worked for a while, but in March 2023, on my birthday of all things, CT scan was done and it showed small growth in size of a few remaining implants that were still there. That is when I was switched to my current regime of Avastin, Keytruda, and Cytoxan, which has worked well for me. I have been blessed not to have suffered any serious issues with chemo drugs, other than when I was on Doxil, which made my hands like they were sunburned, and the skin peeled and I was unable to bend fingers much. Other than fatigue, I feel okay most of the time. Sometimes it's hard for me to even realize I have this horrible disease going on inside of me. I try to remain positive, as there is so much negative stuff out there on length of life after diagnosis (which is why I try not to read much of it), but I remain positive, as I have a friend, who has a friend that was diagnosed with Stage IV OC, and she is still going at roughly 14 years post her diagnosis, so I do not give up hope. I admit, when diagnosed, I thought my life was over and I was devastated. I had worked with a woman who was diagnosed with OC back in 1998 and she died in 1999. I did not realize how far they had come with treatments. My first visit with the oncologist after diagnosis made me feel so much better, when I was told it is treatable. I give credit to God for giving the doctors the knowledge to know the best treatment for me, and prayers of family and friends. I know it is in His hands so I try not to dwell on it. But, I still seek an answer for rising CA-125...

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Replies to "Thank you for responding. I have been on Avastin for little over a year now, along..."

I’m with you on the remaining positive part. When you don’t know how much time you might have left, you definitely don’t want to spend that time feeling down and lost. I think one of the morals of your story is that when you have something like Cancer, never let them set a medical test on your birthday, or any other special day.

Avastin only has kept my tumors from growing for much longer than it usually does. My oncologist has pointed that out. Thanks pal. I’m going back to see all my cousins in Minnesota at the end of July. I’m having a CT scan to check the tumors shortly before going. I have to admit that I hope I don’t find out that the tumors have quit responding to the Avastin before I go.

Thank you for the information on the repeat chemos. I have basically been told that when the tumors start growing again that there are a few other chemo drugs they can try but that my chances of surviving much more than another year or so are pretty slim. I’m working on preparing for the worst while hoping for the best and not giving in to that prognosis. I’m doing by best to stay positive as well and to maintain the belief that there is more hope out there than that. 🙏🏽