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What happens 5 years after diagnosis?

Ipswich19
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My new oncologist says I will know if my primary peritoneal comes back , after over 5 years of successful treatment. The cancer was at stage 4B at diagnosis, and I had only a small weight loss to indicate any problems. How might I know that I have a recurrence in future?

  • Hi there and thanks for the post

    I am sorry to hear about your past treatment for primary peritoneal cancer (PPC), but it sounds like you have done very well.

    I can appreciate how difficult it must be to hear you'll know if it comes back from your consultant. The signs and symptoms to look out for are listed on our ppc web pages including bloating, a change in bowel habits, reduced appetite, and feeling full after eating or weight loss as you mentioned.

    I think it is always best to know and listen to your body and get any changes checked out sooner rather than later just to be on the safe side.

    I hope this is helpful but do get back in touch if you would like to. You are also welcome to call us on 0808 800 4040, we're here weekdays 9-5 except Christmas eve and all the other English bank holidays.

    Take care

    Naomi

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    Thanks

    My previous oncologist had prescribed Letrozole after 6 doses of chemotherapy and then surgery, I have had no further problems, and a very consistently low CA125 level of 8 since then, which seems to support his feeling ( backed up by his own research into Letrozole for breast cancer) that it would reduce the chances of a recurrence. My new oncologist has disagreed with this, and wishes to stop Letrozole until I show signs of a recurrence, and this makes me very anxious. This is the first time I have ever felt anxious about any treatment I have had up to now - so far I have had absolute faith in my consultants! 

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