DEBULKING SURGERY

Hi,

I had surgery in December and am now on 6 cycles of chemo. I know that often the chemo is started before surgery with a view to reducing the size and scale of what needs to be removed, so I think if the doctor recommends surgery at this stage your Mum should seriously consider it.

It is major surgery though and it definitely helps you get through it the stronger you are beforehand. I’m 59 and there were others on my ward younger than me and we found it challenging at times, but do-able.  At 85 I think your Mum needs to understand what other options she has apart from the surgery, and what the likely outcomes of each option might be, before she makes her decision and hopefully understanding this will also mean you feel less confused and overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, if she does decide to have the surgery, my advice to your Mum would be to eat well, think positive, and keep as active as she can in the run up to the op, so that she’s as strong as she can be for her recovery.

Best wishes to you both,

Bx

I think if it wasnt for her age the answer would be an instant yes, i dont feel she is taking in the extent of it but if it will help i will support and care for her through anything.  How are you now  xx

I’m doing OK thanks.....I’m 6.5 weeks post surgery now and can manage most things (except lifting) pretty much as normal. At first though, the surgery leaves you unable to get out of bed for several days.Constipation can be quite  a problem too because of the meds, so eating plenty of fruit and fibre will also help her. On the positive side, the pain management by my medical team was excellent, so that was never a problem.

Hope that helps, and please feel free to post again if your Mum has any other questions,

Bx

Hi.  I had 6 cycles of chemo and then the surgery last July.  Obviously we're all different (i'm 56) so I can't advise whether your mum should go ahead or not, but my experience was positive, despite the pandemic.   It is a major op, but they took great care of me, and started getting me up and about from day 3 and off the painkillers, I went home day 5 on paracetemol only,  with no need for further bed rest.  I think that at 85 any general anasthetic would be considered a risk, as much as the surgery itself. 

I think you and your mum need to speak honestly to the doctor - it sounds like he has good expectation of success or he wouldn't recommend it, but they have a duty to point out the risks, which can be terrifying.   as B.positive says above, having a better understanding of the options could help your decision. 

I will say that if your mum is doing well after chemo, she must be pretty resilient! 

good luck to you both and let us know how it goes xx

we have decided that operation is going to be too much, we are seeing consultant in a few weeks after another scan to see other options.

How are you now ?  xx

Hi I hope you don’t mind me contacting you and hope you are doing well? Mum has peritoneal cancer which they think has spread from her ovary. She’s had 3 rounds of chemo and a CT scan shows it is currently keeping the cancer ‘stable’ yet CA125 has dropped hugely. However they have said at this stage surgery isn’t possible. I know usually surgery is offered after 3 rounds of chemo, I was just wondering if there was a reason you had 6 before surgery? I’m really hoping that surgery might still be an option in the future for mum. 
thanks so much xxx 

Hi

my Cancer had also spread peritoneal. Stage IV.  I was due surgery after cycle 3, but Covid cancelled it, so I had it after 6 cycles. I honestly don’t think the delay made any difference, certainly not negatively. My ca124 was dropping, and by the time I had surgery there was little/no trace so it was all pretty routine.  From memory they do a scan to assess whether surgery is the right option - my scan was also cancelled after cycle 3 so I don’t know what that would have shown. It might be that they want to give more chemo so the surgery has a better chance of success.  I hope this helps - best of luck to you x