Ovarian Cancer Therapy

Question: Ovarian cancer - is radiation therapy common treatment and if so, does it cause seizures??? I work in a very small firm and a young girl has been using outrageous excuses for being out sick...ovarian cancer (radiation therapy is now causing seizures), bad back aches (now getting cortisone shots...caused from moving one weekend)....among so many others (like death of parents and grandparents). The cancer and seizures just broke the camel's back -- by the way, she was running late a couple of weeks ago and said she had a seizure on the way to work (while driving)....but she came to work -- not disheveled or sickly looking! I haven't chosen a best answer yet because today, we found out that the girl is having seizures due brain-swelling caused by the steroids she is taking for Lupus (new illness) and that she is going in for surgery to alleviate the swelling (this will be a "out-patient" procedure)....it is never-ending.

Answer: Hi Lottie: Get documentation because her story doesn't jibe with the typical picture for ovarian cancer. Typical age for ovarian cancer is diagnosis in your 60's, treatment usually surgery then chemotherapy, NOT radiation in most circumstances. If she's getting seizures, it's rare with radiation treatment to her head but she should have lost her hair in that case. If it's anywhere else in the body, then seizures wouldn't happen from radiation. If she's reporting seizures while driving to you, then you may want to tell her you plan to call the DMV to reassess her ability to drive safely for her sake and that of other drivers/pedestrians. See how she responds and get documentation.

Question: my wife has completed all medical therapy on her ovarian cancer but sadly she have a like mumps on her ovary? all therapy on her ovarian cancer was completed...radiation...chemo and thta brachytherapy but still as per her doctor there's still a mumps like on her ovary and needed another scanning, im wondering why and what went wrong on her first therapies she's having a pain on her body and she's getting irritated on her discharged on her vagina and it looks her medicine has given her a little help to releive the pain she's getting can you tell us why and what to do with it...tahnks

Answer: Sadly, the medicines are given to kill the cancer, not to ease the patient's pain. She should not be afraid to ask for separate pain medication. The discharge would be from the chemicals and radiation irritating the delicate skin in the vagina. This, too, they should give her something for. A very strange sounding home treatment is, put in a spoonful of plain yoghurt. This helps get rid of the discharge and is soothing to the skin. A hot water bottle (or a brick, heated in the oven and wrapped in a towel) might make her less painful in the stomach area. A course of treatment is just a start. When it is finished they have to see if all the cancer is gone. Sometimes it is not, then they have to do more treatment. Try to find her good foods she is able to eat, and take her for walks or drives, for the fresh air and sunshine, and to stop her feeling a prisoner at home from the illness. If you are in the USA, find a local support group here, who can help because they havehad the same trouble themselves http://www.supportconnection.org If you are elsewhere, look up "cancer support " and your country name in your browser, to find one near you. Best wishes and God bless to you both

Question: If you had chemo or radiation treatment/therapy for Stage I ovarian cancer, is it possible to get pregnant...? accidentally (from having sex once or twice), but immediately afterwards if you are in remission? If so is it possible to have a healthy baby?

Answer: You nrrd to speak your doc. I would almost guess that you are infertile. I had cancer treatment for another type that has more than likely left me infertile but my docs are keeping me on birth control to be on the safe side. If you dont want to get preg, use protection just to be safe. If you do want to get preg, I personally would wait for a few months but you really need to talk to your oncologist

Question: is it possible to have children after ovarian cancer and hav ing chemo for therapy?

Answer: yes definitely i have an experience just like that to tell you. my mom had a tumor on her ovaries when she was 18 she had to endure extensive chemotherapy. her hair was falling out, imune system gone and everything else u can think of. she told me that the doctor told her that she would never be able to have children because of the tumor turning cancerous. but now she has 3 beautiful children.....2 boys and 1 girl to tell u the truth doctors dont really know whether or not u can or cant until u actually do get pregnant keep your head up high and your hope and faith in God and u most likely will have a beautiful child. ~i hope this advice helped you!~ but im pretty sure u can have children because my mom was able to and was told she would never have any. luv u lots!!!

Question: Ovarian Cancer treatments need help for homework? What are some advantages and disadvantages of surgery, chemo, and radiation therapy.

Answer: catch http://www.cancerssociety.org for more info...

Question: Ovarian cancer and ER/PR testing? For sufferers of ovarian cancers and physicians/oncologists : Why are not all ovarian tumors tested for presence of the estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) ? Or are they (please tell where you are from) ? It seems like total aberration to me not to test, since women with ovarian cancer are almost systematically put on hormone replacement therapy (premarin) after total hysterectomy ! My best friend, who has ovarian cancer, insisted to have this test done at my suggestion, and guess what : her tumor was positive for both !!! By chance, she wasn't taking the prescribed premarin...

Answer: Premarin (Generic: Conjugated estrogens) has been linked to the following serious side effects: Ovarian Cancer, Lupus, Scleroderma, Gallbladder Cancer and Stroke. second sike Research supports evidence that Prempro (Premarin-Provera combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT)) increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer. support forum

Question: Scholarships for Ovarian Cancer Survivors? I'm looking for any information for scholarships for ovarian cancer survivors--- although I seem too old for the ones that I DO find or I don't meet certain criteria. I'm 26 years old and went through surgery for ovarian cancer, as well as chemotherapy from age 23 to present date. I have a BA in Art but would like to go to a graduate medical school in Mississippi for Physical Therapy. My dream is to help others and somehow use my physical therapy degree to help chemo patients and cancer survivors. The problem is that I've been disabled for a while and have very little financial resources for med school. If anyone has any information please respond. It would be greatly greatly appreciated.

Answer: I haven’t heard of any, but if anyone would know it would be the American Cancer Society.

Question: Ovarian cancer -- surgery? Chemo? Radiation? Hearing conflicting treatments for ovarian cancer -- A 24 year old co-worker has announced that she was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is receiving radiation treatment three times a week. I thought that radiation therapy is rarely used as treatment these days since it is such an aggressive type of cancer and that surgery and/or chemotherapy are the best options. I have friends who have ovarian cancer and never receive just radiation, especially three times a week (the girl at work goes at 6:30 AM and goes straight ot the office). I would hate to think that she is making up the entire story so I'm just curious if this is accurate. Thanks for the 2st two answers....responder #1 - you do mention that it is rarely used here in the US, but say it was, do you expect the girl to show up at work on the same day? Responder #2 -- no, she is single, young and a pathological liar. I'm just curious out if radiation is used because that is what she claims is the reason for being late for work everyday; she doesn't look sick, not nauseous (she eats like a pig), and now playing on people's sympathy by making up such a horrible lie by claiming she has ovarian cancer...not the first lie we've caught her in but this is the one that takes the cake!

Answer: External Beam Radiation Therapy External beam radiation therapy involves a series of daily outpatient treatments to accurately deliver radiation to the cancer. Each treatment is painless and is similar to getting an X-ray. They are often given in a series of daily sessions, each taking less than half an hour, Monday through Friday, for five to six weeks. In some cases, you may receive more than one treatment in a day, often several hours apart. 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) combines multiple radiation treatment fields to deliver precise doses of radiation to the affected area. Tailoring each of the radiation beams to focus on the tumor delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor and avoids nearby healthy tissue. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is the most recent advance in the delivery of radiation. IMRT improves on 3D-CRT by modifying the intensity of the radiation within each of the radiation beams. This allows more precise adjustment of radiation doses to the tissues within the target area. However, radiation therapy is rarely used in this country as the main treatment for ovarian cancer. Radiation therapy may cause side effects. The skin in the area treated may look and feel sunburned. The skin returns to normal within 6 to 12 months. Many women also feel tiredness, nausea or diarrhea

Question: Just what are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy? I was taking hrt but decided to stop because of the possible side effects, which include breast cancer and ovarian cancer. I don't really notice a difference since I have been off and was wondering just what are the benefits.

Answer: HRT is supposed to keep you having the benefits of the hormones (estradiol and progesterone) that your ovaries are not producing anymore after menopause. Those benefits include preventing bone loss, and protection against atherosclerosis, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. It can also alleviate some of the less damaging side-effects of menopause, ie hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bad skin condition, ect. It is true however that it can promote breast and ovarian cancers because in most cases, these cancers grow in presence of estrogens and progestagens. If your family has a history of BC or OC, it is a very good decision to stop taking hrt. However, some alternative, still experimental hrt's are being developped which use a medication called a SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) combined to the hormone DHEA, rather than estrogen & progestagen. The SERM (a type of medication that is also used against breast cancer) has a good effect on bone & artheries while having the reverse effect on breast and uterus.

Question: Does Hormone replacement therapy cause cancer? I have PCOS, I am 26. I'm afraid of what's happening to me. I was diagnosed with PCOS six months ago. Haven't had a menstral cycle in over two years. I went from a size 2 to a 11. Not only is my pride hurt, but the hair growth and the conflicting theories are driving me crazy. I want to have kids, I want to look cute again. My Dr. says not too much HRT because it causes cancer. Is this true? Is the stuff their doing to treat it worse than the disease? I have very high insulin and testosterone levels too. My Dr. also says no ovarian blasting because it's bad for patients. Anyone ever had Ovarian blasting? Do they still do it?

Answer: PCOS is not an easy condition to have,with all the changes you've described.I understand.. But your doctor's right....HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) will increase your feminine hormones and improve your appearance BUT will prevent your body producing its own natural hormones.It will also prevent you from ovulating and so,you won't be able to get pregnant,and more cases of breast and cervical cancer have been noticed in women on HRT. So,it's definitely self-defeating in the end. As for ovarian blasting,do you mean laser treatment?If so,this is used for inoperable cancers of the ovary and not PCOS,as it destroys cells. Take heart,while PCOS is hard to bear,it's also relatively easy to treat.You're young and it's been detected early,you have very good chances.Just hang in there,follow your doctor's prescriptions,have patience and you WILL pull through this... Peace.

Question: Women only...does anyone know of a homeopathic remedy to ease the frequency and intensity of hot flashes? I am not a good candidate for surgery or hormone replacement therapy due to my family history of ovarian cancer. I have tried all the standard herbal cures, Dong Quai, Black Cohosh, Wild Yam, etc. Yesterday I did a little research online and tried Motherwort and Basil oil as aromatherapy. I was awake all night and had a hot flash that lasted nearly two hours. This is starting to drive me a little crazy. Any suggestions? How about an online support group?

Answer: Apple cider vinegar cures everything from asthma to hot flashes. Just type in uses for apple cider vinegar...you'll be glad you did.

Question: How would one find a HRT doctor who specializes in the use of pellets near Asheville, NC? The facility I have been driving to for over 10 years is in Augusta, Georgia. He is kind, but very expensive and the drive is about 4 hours and my car is feeling the ill effects of overuse. HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) pellets used for the treatment of loss of hormones. Mine due to the removal of ovaries and such 13 years ago because of familial ovarian cancer.

Answer: kool i live near asheville n.c!!!! its cold and haunted!

Question: Are you allowed to ask people to pray on yahoo answers? My mum might have ovarian cancer again, she had it five years ago when i was ten, but she got through it with chemo therapy, but some of her blood tests show that it might be back! I'm just so scared, I don't want to go through everything again! I don't want to lose my mum!

Answer: Aww..I will pray for her. Best of luck to you both

Question: help bleeding after ovarian failure on augmentin for respritory infection.? I have never had a period on my own (medication induced but haven't had hormone therapy in 12 years) been on augmentin for 4 days now, and suddenly I am bleeding for no apparent reason like i'm having a period, which is supposedly impossible, because I have no natural female hormones. My mother died suddenly earlier this year from ovarian cancer that she didn't know about until it was too late. I'm only 28 years old, she was 62. I'm just confused and wish I knew why I was suddenly bleeding a lot.

Answer: Get to the doctor, but it is possible to have periods after POF.

Question: Questions about Kemo Therapy...? My Mom just had a tumor (size of a basketball) removed from her stomach. They had to remove an ovary and her uterus. They have not really classified it as "Ovarian Cancer", as of yet. She is going to go through Kemo, just to make sure it's all gone. Will she lose ALL of her hair? --And, could she die? I don't know how i could live without her, I am only thirteen.

Answer: First of all dear, i empathize with you for going through such a fearful and scary experience. The proper term is Chemotherapy... and there are several different types of treatments. If she is going through the radiation treatments, there is a good chance that she will lose some hair, but lets remember, the doctors wouldn't be doing the treatment if they didn't think it would help. I went through a type of chemo that consisted of weekly shots and about 8-10 pills a day... and it worked. The best thing that will help your mom right now is to make sure she always has a bottle of water by her bed...water was the only thing that really helped. It zaps you of your energy and so expect her to be tired alot..but don't worry.... If the benefits did not out weigh the risks, i don't think she would be undergoing the treatment. Have Faith.....Tell your God thank you for handling it and try not to worry. May Blessings and Peace Surround You...

Question: Hormone replacement therapy? I know that estrogen in HRT reduces hot flashes, prevents bone loss, and may even improve memory but it raises the risk of blood clots and ovarian and breast cancer. What can be used instead to meet the demand for HRT without subjecting women to its risks?

Answer: To keep hot flashes to a minimum, I wear an estrogen patch. It delivers a tiny amount of estrogen, much less than the standard HRT pill. If you still have your uterus, you may have to take medroxyprogesterone (in a small amount) as well to keep from getting uterine tumors.