Cancerbackup: Chemotherapy

Skip the page content navigation if you do not require links to content sections within this page.

Page Content Navigation

Skip the main banner if you do not want to read it as the next section.

Page Banner

Want to speak to a specialist cancer nurse? Call free on 0808 800 1234


Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.

Primary navigation


Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.

Q&As on this topic

next >

1. I'm 23 and had a cancer of the ovary called a borderline tumour. My ovary has been removed and the surgeon tells me I don't need chemotherapy. Is this right?

last reviewed: 01.02.2007

2. I am having chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. I have nearly finished my course but my CA125 hasn't gone back to normal. What does this mean? Will the cancer come back?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

3. I completed chemotherapy following surgery for ovarian cancer one year ago. My CA125 went back to normal while I was having chemotherapy but it has now started to go up again. I am worried but quite well. My doctor has said she does not want to give me more chemotherapy at the moment. Is she right?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

4. I have just had surgery for ovarian cancer. My surgeon said he had removed all the cancer but he has referred me for chemotherapy. Why do I need this if all the cancer has gone?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

5. My mother who is 60 had ovarian cancer three years ago and it was very successfully treated with taxol and carboplatin. She has now relapsed but the doctor says she should do well because it is a long time since her last chemotherapy. Is this true?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

6. My ovarian cancer was too big and stuck down to be removed at operation. My oncologist says he will give me some chemotherapy to shrink the cancer and this may make an operation possible in a few months. How likely is it the cancer will be able to be removed?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

7. I have recently been told that my ovarian cancer has come back after being treated nearly 18 months ago with carboplatin and Taxol. My doctor is suggesting that I have the same drugs again. Is this right?

last reviewed: 13.09.2004

8. My mum was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and after surgery started chemotherapy. This was two weeks ago and at the time she had a reaction to Taxol. Will the doctors just stop the Taxol or give another drug with the carboplatin?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

9. I have had surgery for a cancer of the ovary. My surgeon says he has removed the growth but he has suggested that 'adjuvant' chemotherapy might be a wise precaution for me. I feel anxious about this. What would happen if I did not have this adjuvant chemotherapy? Will the cancer come back?

last reviewed: 01.07.2004

10. I have ovarian cancer and now that I have had surgery am being treated with carboplatin chemotherapy. Unfortunately a close friend, who lives some distance from me, also has ovarian cancer but she is being treated with carboplatin and another drug called Taxol. We understand that we have very similar stage disease. Is my friend’s situation more serious than mine? Is she not telling me everything?

last reviewed: 13.09.2004

next >

Pages: 1 ,   2

All Q&As are selected from some of the thousands asked by people contacting Cancerbackup every year. They are answered by specialists and reviewed and updated regularly.


The best cancer information for everyone
Cancerbackup has merged with Macmillan Cancer Support. We will be providing the same high quality, expertly developed information about cancer and now we can make it available to everyone who needs it.
Q&As

Related information

Individual chemotherapy drugs

Chemotherapy regimen

Resources