Stage III Ovarian Cancer: Pam's Survivor Story
This ovarian cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage III
- Sex
- female
- Treatment
- chemotherapy and radiation
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Pam began chemotherapy with paclitaxel but had an anaphylactic reaction during her first treatment.
- At MD Anderson, she continued chemotherapy every 3 weeks with desensitization and completed treatment in April 2008.
- After recurrence in December 2008, she restarted paclitaxel and carboplatin but stopped after 8 months because of nerve damage.
- She then received weekly Taxotere.
- From December 2009 to February 2010, she completed 33 intensity-modulated radiation treatments.
What happened, in summary
Pam Scarpino was diagnosed with Stage III high-grade serous ovarian cancer in October 2007. She initially stayed close to home for treatment, but an anaphylactic reaction to paclitaxel during her first chemotherapy treatment prompted her to seek care at MD Anderson.
At MD Anderson, Pam continued chemotherapy every 3 weeks with careful desensitization. Her first infusion there took 16 hours because the medication was diluted and given very slowly. She completed that course in April 2008, and a PET scan showed no signs of cancer. She later joined a clinical trial and was assigned to surveillance rather than treatment.
In December 2008, a new tumor appeared in the same area as before, with cancer also found in paraaortic lymph nodes. Pam restarted paclitaxel and carboplatin, but nerve damage forced her to stop after 8 months. She then received weekly Taxotere, followed by 33 intensity-modulated radiation treatments from December 2009 through February 2010.
In March 2010, Pam learned that she had no evidence of disease. She remained in remission at the time of the story, returned to full-time work and volunteered to support other patients and caregivers.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by MD Anderson. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer