How can I manage ovarian cancer treatment side effects at 70?

Hi Sarah! Welcome! Thanks so much for sharing! So glad to hear the last medication was effective. In your case, since the ovarian cancer is very unusual, what were your symptoms before you were diagnosed?

Hi Sarah, I was diagnosed with stage 4b ovarian cancer in Dec 2023. I had a complete debulking surgery, both inguinal lymph nodes removed and omentum removed. Had a round of 6 chemo sessions with avastin added on the last 3 and then 3 of only avastin. Then zejula from July 2024 til now. Just had a pet scan and it looks like cancer has returned in 3 lymph nodes in my pelvic area. My ca125 is at 15. I have a Dr appointment in a week and am nervous. I sympathize with you and send prayers.

My symptoms were bloating, urgent urination, weight loss, and I found a lump in both of my inguinal lymph nodes.

My OC returned in 2021 after getting the JNJ cvid shot ! I've been doing chemo for 4 years now with an abdominal tumor removed, and an ablation of a small tumor. Just finished 12 low doses of paclitaxol and 4 rounds of Avastin. My CA125 is now 12. The doctors left the small abdominal tumor shrunk for 3 years to watch it grow and shrink. Finally had to go to another hospital to get it out. During these 4 years, parps worked for 1 year, but couldn't get this abdominal tumor. So could the parps have worked. There is no common sense with these doctors. Starting Joe Tippens formula and will keep you posted. CT

Blessings to you. I've never heard of the JNJ civid shot or the Tippens formula. I will Google them. I don't really know if zejula helped stave off an earlier cancer return or not. I understand that treatment is no longer going to be useful for me now. My second round of chemo started yesterday with doxil and carboplatin. I really hope and wish for a better end of chemo plan.

Oh, do you mean COVID shot? I know some believe the COVID shot causes cancer. I had the original dose around March 2021 and a couple of boosters but no longer get them as I've had COVID and now the strain seems more manageable. Part of me wonders about that theory but I don't want to believe it's true and I don't believe science has proven it. But who knows? My cancer started sooner than it was diagnosed. I'm guessing 2 yrs after the first shot.

Managing side effects during treatment can be incredibly challenging, especially when dealing with an unusual form of cancer that requires different approaches. Finding the right balance between effectiveness and tolerability often takes time and patience, and it sounds like your medical team is working thoughtfully to adjust your treatment plan. Many others in this community have faced similar struggles with medication reactions, and sharing experiences about what has helped with side effects could be valuable for everyone here.