Gemcarbo

[Celtic6648]

Ye guys Annie here this is the next chemotherapy, I won't loose my hair big plus , I'm usually o k , I forgot to ask about steroids , usually don't take them never missed them , any tips comrades xxx

[Whippit]

Keep going as you have been doing. Sounds amazing. What is the cocktail this time? xx Annie

[Celtic6648 in reply to Whippit]

Gemcarbo, gemcitabine carboplatin / he said as I hardly had any side effects before I should be fine , though when I google it the oppsitite , who knows , u think everyone different , he also said he's been seeing patients for years so here's hoping I don't think they even know xx

[Whippit in reply to Celtic6648]

Hi Annie, I had carboplatin and gemcitibane in 2013/14. The gem caused my hair to thin and I didn't have much in the way of any other side-effects apart from tiredness. That was probably because I had to go in 2 weeks in 3. Week 1 was carbo/gem and then I had a top-up of Gem on Week 2. I travel quite a long way for hospital appointments so that was tiring.

I hope you do well on it. I have a number of friends who were on the same regimen at the same time and we kept in touch via this community. I think we'd all have said it was a tolerable treatment.

xx Annie

[Hidden]

Hi, I had Gem Carbo in 2010 fairly tolerable except for constipation, my hair did thin but then had family stress at the same time so towards the end, I got a wig. Had Gem again in 2013 with Avastin and it did affect me this time, Dosage had to be adjusted and steroids added but I am still here and not doing too bad, Hair thinned but not as much. I suppose plenty water, prunes and a little exercise if you can manage it, Oh you cant drive for 24 hours after Gem as it contains alcohol. In fact you are better off not to have a drink while on it, Then again we are all different and what affects me may not necessarily happen to you. Wishing you the best and a long remission

[Lost4Words in reply to Hidden]

Hi Suzuki

That's interesting what you said about Gemcitabine containing alcohol. I drove myself to every treatment when I was on it last year and no one ever mentioned that I shouldn't drive. I have a 40 mile round trip and always check that I'm ok to drive myself, they wont let me drive after the first one just in case I have a bad reaction but I've always driven after that. Think I need to speak to my unit and make them aware of this.

Thanks

L4W

[Hidden in reply to Lost4Words]

Well the first time I got it, back in 2010 I wasnt aware of the fact. But this time two years ago, I was on it again and this was on the sheet I got printed from Cancer, Org and Macmillian Site and a verbal warning. It seems you can be over the limit for 24 hours if stopped and breathalized. Now maybe they added ingredients in between because second time I got the shakes when I went home. They had to reduce the dose and I was okay then, My white cells did go down but the treatment worked for me which was the main thing,

[LittleSan]

Hi Annie,

I had gemcarbo with Avastin this year. Tolerated it pretty well. Hair thinned, neutrophil count took a hit and I had a sore mouth; other than that it was just the fatigue which was the main problem.

It did the trick - I had a large plum sized tumour and multiple nodules and a couple of suspect lesions in my peritoneal cavity. The plum shrunk to next to nothing and there is no sign of the nodules and lesions now.

Good luck with the treatment.

Sandra x

[Celtic6648]

Thank u guys feeling much better , my daughters law is a barber , the joke is as I was a section baby I have a lovely shaped head , the face not too good , but nice head , I'll get a priscription for a wig just incAse , I attend the beatson in glAsgow I live near Hamden park so it's just a short distance away , I still have my drain which I love , so onward and upward ,I moved house three years ago from a house to a flat , I hD the busiest house always people in , anyway got the flat everything was brand new , Alex I said this is our pad , love it shortly after Ovarion cancer , my son still lives in our old district when I go up the whole world knows me , chat chat I just love our flat , I do believe God sends you what you need , the constant visitors would have worn me down , not to mention the stairs and garden , thank you I don't know what I would do without this site xxx

[Hidden]

That is a good way to look at it, because there is something more powerful out there than us who keeps us going in times of need. For some of us its God, for others its a higher power and that is okay too, I do go and pray from time to time even when out with one of the dogs, we sit in the back of the Church. I have found this site and Ovacare so supportive since my first recurrence in 2015 as well.

[daisies]

Just to wish you the best of luck with this combination - unfortunately, the mix did not agree with me (4th line) - so Carbo was dropped, but Gem remains. It may cause a drop in white blood cells (neutrophils) and an indication that this is occurring will be extreme tiredness. Should this happen you are more prone to infections. The thinning hair can be dealt with by shaving it off and using a wig if needs be.

I am on a 2 week break due to reactions to drugs - but the Onc will have a new plan for me - either changed drugs or reduced dosages.

So, take whatever helps you feel well and I do hope that the drug mix works for you.

Take care, Daisies