Treatment Advances in Ovarian Cancer Recurrence

In this episode of CONNECT OVAR COFFEE, Global Expert and our Advisory Board Member Dr. Ursula Matulonis, Chief of Gynecologic Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Professor, Harvard Medical School; Talks About the Latest Advances in treatment for Ovarian Cancer RECURRENCE.
Let's Learn. Let's Connect Ovar Coffee! ☕️

[@wendywestra]

Thank you. I have just been diagnosed with serous carcinomas and starting my research . I had a full hysterectomy 😮 and a stint from my kidneys to my bladder. The tumor from my right ovaries has left a skinny dry fallopian tube and climbed up towards my right kidney via my bladder. The really amazing thing is I feel really well 10 days after surgery. I feel really positive about my future. A different perspective.

[@a.marievazquez3700]

EXCELLENT!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!!! Worth watching every second if you’re looking for info.

[@Ovarcome]

Thank you for watching and for your kind words, we appreciate you! Please share with anyone who may benefit from all the great insights Dr. Matulonis shared in this session of CONNECT OVAR COFFEE ☕ . Thank You!

[@Ovarcome]

Hi Dr. Matulonis, thank u for your time. I wonder if u might say st about cancer stem cells and that chemo doesn’t treat them and then they result in recurrence with resistance to chemo. Thank you - Linda Garrone

[@Ovarcome]

Response from Dr. Matulonis: Increasingly treatment resistant cells which are referred to sometimes as “stem cells” likely do result in recurrence and treatment.

[@Ovarcome]

If you have any questions, please type in the comments section here - thank you!

[@lindagarrone8803]

I wonder if u think that there is sufficient data to support use of alternative tx such as : Hi dose IV Vit C, Mistletoe, curcumin, Hyperbaric O2, fasting, carrots etc either as frontline tx or an adjunct to enhance chemo/lessen side-effects. Thank you

[@Ovarcome]

We have routed your question to Dr. Matulonis - if addressed, we will post it here. Thank you for watching. Keep Ovarcoming! 💙

[@Ovarcome]

Response from Dr. Matulonis: I do not think there is sufficient data to recommend these therapies, no. They should be studied more extensively.

[@bleacherz7503]

Fantastic overview

[@Ovarcome]

Thank you for your kind feedback 🙏🏼

[@Ovarcome]

Her thoughts on ovarian Signatera testing? - Sarah Seigworth

[@tamarabeck6350]

As a patient who became the first in the US(on going in Australia)to start an Immunotherapy clinical trial last week, I am beyond thankful to the scientists/Drs who have made it their life’s work to find a cure. Dx Sept 2017, HGSC, stage 3c, 3 recurrences. ATM gene mutation and another mutation ‘inside’ that mutation. It’s complicated and rare, which is always fun to hear. 😏 In the beginning of my DX, and frankly for the next 2 or more years, I was beyond confused and felt quite uneducated about my Dx and beyond. I’ve learned a tremendous amount in subsequent years with much more education to endure, minus the MD after my name. What a ride! I’m thankful and lucky I’ve been kept around long enough to see positive changes, with more on the horizon, like the Dr said.

[@Ovarcome]

💯 - knowledge empowers! Thank you for sharing your powerful message. Keep Ovarcoming! 💙

[@Ovarcome]

How quickly can high grade serous grow/recur? Can it recur within a short time span like a month? - Marcia Fisher

[@Ovarcome]

Response from Dr. Matulonis: High grade cancer can recur at different time points, sometimes years later and sometimes unfortunately much more quickly.

[@Ovarcome]

What if CA125 is not a good marker for myself? Rhonda Lowas

[@Ovarcome]

Response from Dr. Matulonis: The CA125 does not always measure cancer accurately because either its very low and normal or because the cancer shows a mixed response (i.e.. CA125 rises but many cancer sites are actually getting better). In both of these situations, I will follow radiographic tests more closely to make decisions.

[@Captivated2]

My epithelial cancer was found in the fallopian tube, stage 1A, completely removed by surgery and followed by chemo. Two years later they found (via MRI for back pain), a small reoccurrence in the posterior cul-de-sac. It was completely removed by surgery. More chemo. Again NED. Now, 18 months after my last treatment, I had a CT scan that discovered another tiny spot and a small area of peritoneal thickening, suggesting metastasis to the peritoneum. I would like to know how I went from stage 1A, to 3rd reoccurrence (still found early) and metastasis, no matter how small, that tells me I am considered advanced?! I want to have surgery like before, but have been told that’s not a good idea because it’s in the peritoneum. Yet I read that surgery is done in cases like mine. Wouldn’t it be better to do it while it’s small? They want to jump straight to chemo again. I feel like I need a second opinion…

[@valentinavardanyan2602]

Any news? My is heavily in my peritoneal but waiting to see what the chemo does

[@mariagonzales5312]

I was dx stage 3C ovarian cancer in Aug 2008. Since then I’ve had 5 recurrences. Latest one was metastasis to left temporal lobe. I had surgery n radiation. I workout, watch my nutrition, good attitude. How common is what I have with recurrences? What else can I do to prevent it?

[@Ovarcome]

Great questions! We have sent over to Dr. Matulonis - if addressed, we will post it here. Our ZEAL FOR TEAL Survivorship Event is next week - you may join us online and ask your questions LIVE to the presenters! Details here: ovarcome.org/zeal-for-teal-survivorship-empowerment-series/ Keep Ovarcoming! 💙

[@navbharat1443]

Hello Maria, have u considered taking Olaparib tablet to prevent recurrence. It's a parp inhibitor and responds well in patients with brca mutated genes

[@mariagonzales5312]

I’ve been on it. 😢

[@navbharat1443]

@@mariagonzales5312 thanks Maria for replying. How long after taking olaparib tablet did recurrence happen to you??

[@mariagonzales5312]

@@navbharat1443 I was on it only on it for about 2 months before it recurred in the brain. I had my last surgery March 25th. Less then 2 weeks ago.

[@udhayap809]

My mother sufferd by stage 3 c after surgery now we are followed under after sugeey and chemo my mother ca 125 7.5 after 9months later now ca 125 was 15 can you please tell me is this common fluctuation?

[@navbharat1443]

How is your mother doing now?? recurrence are common in first two years

[@Ovarcome]

"There has been no proof that picking something up early does not translate into someone doing better" - observations in recurrent ovarian cancer

[@viorelscrob6391]

My mom has ovarian cancer