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Suggest Treatment For Metastatic Cancer
Question: My wife has Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer which was diagnosed some 15 months ago. She has had extensive surgery to remove it and substantial chemotherapy. Her CA 125 level was at 5600 but reduced to 6. It has now gone back up to 152. MRI Scans show cancer nodules are now present on her spleen and stomach lining. As her general health is reasonably good no further chemotherapy is at this stage is being recommended but she has gone onto a high protein gluten free diet with weekly Vitamin C infusions. Are there any drugs you can recommend and can chemotherapy be infused directly into her stomach help.(I read about this) We live in New Zealand so drug availability may be an issue? Please advise
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
As you know already, this is very serious diagnosis, and one of the worst cancers in advanced stage. However, these findings that you ve mentioned and 15 months survival is good sign for now, but peritoneal and spleen deposits indicate carcinosis which is sign of disseminated malignant disease. In this case, classic chemotherapy is limited and results are generally poor. There are no other specific medications. Vitamins, minerals and supplements may only boost immune system and increase energy level but it wont affect tumors growth at all.
The procedure that you mention is called HIPEC and this is surgery which is performed in specialized centres where first, we do so called peritonectomy and removal of all visible tumor deposits including involved organs. Then we places 4 catheters into abdominal cavity and flush it with cehmotherapeuticals during 2 hours. Then we closed abdomen and finish surgery.
Considering your case, if your wife is in acceptable general condition, HIPEC would be appropriate and it may be beneficial in terms of life prolongation for 6-12 months. Complete cure is unfortunately not possible.
Wish you good health. Regards
see next
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
As you know already, this is very serious diagnosis, and one of the worst cancers in advanced stage. However, these findings that you ve mentioned and 15 months survival is good sign for now, but peritoneal and spleen deposits indicate carcinosis which is sign of disseminated malignant disease. In this case, classic chemotherapy is limited and results are generally poor. There are no other specific medications. Vitamins, minerals and supplements may only boost immune system and increase energy level but it wont affect tumors growth at all.
The procedure that you mention is called HIPEC and this is surgery which is performed in specialized centres where first, we do so called peritonectomy and removal of all visible tumor deposits including involved organs. Then we places 4 catheters into abdominal cavity and flush it with cehmotherapeuticals during 2 hours. Then we closed abdomen and finish surgery.
Considering your case, if your wife is in acceptable general condition, HIPEC would be appropriate and it may be beneficial in terms of life prolongation for 6-12 months. Complete cure is unfortunately not possible.
Wish you good health. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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