Surgery wait times

Hi Emma I also had stage 3 oc, 3 chemos tumor had reduced by half and ca125 had come down from almost 800 to just under 300, so surgery it was to late to cancel chemo 4 and had that Christmas eve. Laporoscopy 25th January to check if I needed bowel surgery as well. 15th March had everything including omentum and bowel resection. Almost 9 weeks post op feeling great back to normal. Having the other 2 chemos in June followed by 3 weekly avastin for a year and some oral medication. The wait for it to happen is the very worst part if your mom is like me she wants in gone now I'm so impatient. Give her a hug it will happen as quick as possible just keep saying yes to everything offered.

Sending virtual hugs.

Suep 

Thanks for your reply, im just very worried that the state that the nhs is in may have bad consequences for not just my mum but loads of others! Her ca125 was 9000 and after one treatment has came down to 1000 so hoping it continues to drop! Will continue looking for places for surgery privately in the event they cannot get her booked in! I hope you continue to stay well! Take care! Emma

Hi Emma , I too was following the same treatment plan  as your mum, 3 chemos then surgery- then covid came and changed everything- I had all 6 chemos between March 20 and july 20 , had surgery August 20 and then 2 mop up chemos in Oct/Nov20 - this is the pattern most of us followed due to covid -  doc said to me the outcome would be the same - and I have been NED since November 20 - I hope that this helps you .  Good luck to your mum xxx 

Thats amazing news janet! Do you mind me asking what stage you were? Thankyou for replying! This gives us some hope that if surgery isnt available after session 3 its still possible to have a positive outcome! Thanaks again for replying, emma x

Hi Emma, I was stage 3c/4  because I had a few cells floating around my bowel , I had ovaries/tubes/cervix and partial omentum removed plus my appendix cos the tumour had stuck to it! Fortunately the chemo sorted the floating cells around my bowel, so that is still intact .  I am on 2 years maintenance of Olaparib- which is a parp inhibitor- I have monthly blood tests and 3 monthly ct scans , so the nhs Here in Essex look after me well . Xx 

Thats great to hear! Thankyou for responding! I suppose we just have to wait and see what they advise for my mum and hope that they are able to fit the surgery in if she is able to have it! Thankyou so much and i hope all goes well gor you xxx

I would say do as everyone else and follow the chemo regime offered. It seems to work. Be aware that these ops can be too big for a private hospital. I had my op in the private hospital based on my scan, with the same consultant and there was more beneath which they couldn’t tackle there and then, so only the mass and ovaries removed. There was nothing to biopsy for me based on scan and position of things, so chemo wasn’t going to be an option first. I’ve now had to recover from the surgery for six weeks to start the chemo, then will see with scans if surgery an option. The waiting times are so bad, it is distressing. However, if you are having treatment while you wait. They need an intensive care bed available, the right surgical team etc and there is a backlog these days.

at the end of the day, they won’t know aeda toy what is on there until they open you up.

So true I went to surgery still ended up with a bowel resection which wasn't expected. Biggest shock has been 3 weekly avastin for a year. Thought I would just have tablets and regular checkups scans etc. 

What were your symptoms prior to your op? 
thanks