Microscopic Cancer Cells Found Two Weeks After Finishing Chemo?

Chemo generally kills cells while those cells are dividing. Since cancer cells grow very quickly, they divide really often and therefore are killed much more readily than you body's own normal, healthy cells, which divide less often. The higher the dose of chemo, the more it will kill. But they can't give you a super high dose because it will kill too many of your good, normal cells as well as the cancer cells. It already kills a lot of healthy cells that divide often, which is why you've got problems such as vomiting (stomach lining cells killed) and low red and white blood cell counts (bone marrow killed). With each dose of chemo, more and more of the cancer cells are killed. Unfortunately, some cells can be missed, either because they have immunity to the chemo (cells do develop immunity over time) or because they weren't dividing at the right moment when the chemo was in your body. It's hoped that one's own immune system will kill off that small number of remaining cells (though the immune system has been seriously weakened by the chemo itself). Unfortunately, in your mom's case, there was a visible number of cells that were not killed, even though the chemo did kill a large amount of them. Hopefully the Avastin and Doxcil will be able to kill off the remainder of the cells. All of the large pieces of tumor have been killed off already, and that's why there's nothing on the CT scan.

It's not the greatest news that there is still microscopic tumor cells and that she's got fluid buildup. You might want to get a second opinion from another gynecologic oncologist about the cell type, to make sure she's having the best chemos for her situation.

Microscopic Cancer Cells

There are over 50 different types of chemo and different cancers respond differently to each one. Unfortunately, there is no cure for cancer so even with chemo and radiation, the cancer can still be there. I had radiation, and still have cancer. In order to kill the cancer cells, they have to get the radiation or chemo into the cells. Sometimes the cells don't absorb the the chemo or radiation. For me, my cells have to be starving of a certain substance, the radiation bonds with that substance and then the cells absorb it. However, if the cells are not starving for it, then they won't absorb it and die. This is why cancer treatment can be very challenging. My oncologist told me that cancer cells at the microscopic level are the most stubborn to get. That is why there are a lot of re occurrences of the cancer. I am sorry about your mom's cancer. Just keep listening to the doctors, and being there for her.

Sometimes the cancer does not respond well to certain chemo cocktails and the doctors will try other meds

I am not really following you. All cells are microscopic.

Are you saying the ascites was positive?

I’m not sure which stage 3 she has, but the cancer has already spread outside the uterus making it impossible to know when or if every cancer cell has or will be destroyed.

I’m sure her doctors hope there would be no evidence of disease with the treatment she has already received.