about to go on chemo once more.

[annielawrie]

Hi starting carbo/gem in two weeks,what has been your experience on the two. Did you lose your hair? Meg x

[ketchup]

Hi Meg, I've had Carbo/gem and Im sure you'll be pleased to hear I kept a full head of hair, it didn't even thin. I found this chemo combo quite easy to cope with apart from the dreaded constipation!!!! It is very harsh on your blood counts though so don't be suprised if you have to have Filigrastim injections and a dose reduction or two.

Good luck K xxxx

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Meg. You dont lose yr hair but it does thin but not drastically and is quite tiring so be kind to yourself xx best wishes Kathy xx

[EnaC in reply to Katmal-UK]

Hi Meg I have just had my first session of carbo/gem. I have been told my hair might just thin. It does make you feel very tired and my blood count has already been affected but not enough to need any treatment yet. Bloods to be checked again on Monday and Wednesday before second session next Thursday. This is my second time on chemo. As Katy said we need to be kind to ourselves. Virtual hug and best wishes Ena

[Whippit]

Hi Meg, I had that combination for 2nd line. My hair thinned and I got tired but didn't really have much in the way of side-effects except a very strange sort of clearing of the bowel after the first dose. I was given carbo-gem on day 1, then a top-up of gem on day 7.

I hope it goes well. I also had GCS-F injections and that sorted out the white blood cells. xxx Annie

[LesleyGreengran]

Hi. I had carbo-gem for recurrence Oct 2013 to March 2014. It was much easier than the first chemo in 2011 which was taxol/carbo. My hair thinned on carbo/gem but did not all fall out as it did on taoxal/carbo. I had to wear a hat when it was cold or very sunny but didn't use my wig. I did get very down and I think that may have been the gemcitabine though I can't prove it. It turned out to be well worth it though. I had a great summer. I wasn't entirely clear of disease but had avastin 3 weekly, supposedly to keep it from growing though I don't think that's available now. My oncologist doesn't like it any more cos of the potential side effects and NICE seems to have said it's too expensive for the benefits some women get for a while. I've started to recur now even though I'm still on it. I've had few side effects myself though.

[giovannabett]

Hi Meg. I am at the halfway point of CarboGemAvastin. I have just got the curliest locks you can imagine! Everybody comments, even those who see me every week. I have been fine but constipation is a slight issue. I eat loads of figs, which seems to work for me. Best of luck,

Gio

[thehusband]

My wife had gem/carbo for 3rd line treatment and ended up having 8 sessions instead of the normal 6 because it was working so well. If memory serves the only 'side effect' she had was tiredness from around the 6th session.....but certainly no loss of hair nor anything else of note. Good Luck.

[Elaine13]

Sorry this is a bit tardy Meg but better late than never. I am halfway through this treatment for 2nd line.

My hair has thinned a bit but not enough to notice. The main side effects have been diarrhoea and fatigue. I have personally found the regime harder than Carbo/ Taxol but for others it's been the other way around- we are all different. I have not had mouth ulcers or rashes at all and oddly my nails are better than they were before - small stuff in the scheme of things but anything good is a bonus.

It is tiring going for the top up so as ladies have said here be kind to yourself.

Wishing you all the very best,

Elaine xx

[Meryl1]

Hi. Carbo/gem had few side effects for me - fatigue but certainly no hair loss. Good luck! Meryl x

[Izzystep]

Hello Meg. I didn't have any side effects whatsoever on gem/carb, but I missed. Day 8 cancelled as bloods too low so I had gem/carb every 3 weeks. AND no hair loss yipeeeee.

Good luck, irene xx