Gemcitabine (Gemzar)

[Barb4145]

Hi

I am starting this chemo tomorrow and was wondering if anyone can tell me how they have got on with it and the side effects?

Big hugs

Barbara

[Hidden]

I had Gem along with Carboplatin. I found this the easiest combo out of all of the ones I have had, in terms of how I felt & side effects - the issues were my veins packing in due to the extra treatment day each cycle (getting the cannula in became a bit of a nightmare as the cycles progressed & I think Gem is known to be quite tough on veins), and delays/dose reductions due to low white blood counts (Gem is particularly hard on the bone marrow). I pushed for Neupogen injections from cycle 2 onwards. Overall, though, not bad in comparison to some treatments, at least in my experience.

[Alikay]

Hi Barbara

I had Gemcitabine in conjunction with Carboplatin as second line treatment which I finished last June. I can honestly say that I had no problems or side effects on this treatment. I hope you get on just as well with your treatment tomorrow.

Ali xx

[Susan3]

Hi Barbara,

I have just one round left of carb/gem. At the start I was disappointed as I had heard it was one of easier regimes and I struggled with bad nausea/tiredness . The tiredness actually improved from cycle 3 so wonder was it just the body getting used to chemo again. I had had big surgery 8 weeks prior so that might have been part of it. I was put on tablet called amend which totally cured nausea , which was great. I agree it's an easier ride, no loss of taste or hair loss, just thinning . Be prepared for low bloods though , very common with this one. I kept nagging til they put me on injections and this helped but still needed a dose modification in in that didn't get the day 8 gem top ups for the last 3 cycles. Best of luck with it . Make sure and spoil yourself and do nice things on your good days. X

Ps:I got a port put in . Surgical procedure but so worth it, no problems with veins and zero discomfort .

[Barb4145]

Hi

Thanks so much for letting me know your experiences and I hope I fair as well as you all did. When I was on Caelyx I had no problems but Praxataxyl (spelling!) was horrendous. I will let you know how I get on and hope it works.

Big hugs to you all

Barbara

[Whippit]

Hello Barb

I had gemcitibane alongside carboplatin for 2nd line. I wasn't bad at all on it and in fact compared notes with a few friends on this forum. We generally considered it to be the kindest regime of all in terms of side-effects - though I was taking Avastin at the same time which would have added to the aches and pains.

The only thing I found was I became tired due to having to attend the chemo unit 2 weeks in three, and I did experience some thinning of hair and it looking rather sorry for itself - but not total hair loss.

I hope this is heartening for you. It's always a real worry starting a new therapy and wondering how it will affect us.

Sending love xx Annie

[rjhs]

Hello Barb, I am on 4th cycle of 3rd line chemo which was going to be carbo/gem. I tolerated it well but had constant one and two week delays during three cycles for low neutrophil and platelet counts despite dose reduction and never managed the top up on Day 8. I also had a two day stay in hospital with temp spike. It was decided that it would be better to get a momentum going and try carbo on its own for the 4th cycle which is where I am at present. Onc finally agreed to G CSF for the last two sessions so hopefully that will have done the trick. CA 125 going down very nicely tho'. I also had a PICC line in anticipation of the increased usage but it turned out to be very useful for the intravenous antibiotics! I think delays are a fairly common feature of the regime but hopefully you will be fine.

Rita

[Barb4145]

Hi

Thanks to you both for getting back to me, it boosts me up to think that it might not be so bad and also my CA125 might come down. I have not had delays before on chemo but you never know so just hope for the best!

Barbara

[Hidden]

Hi Barbara, I had Gem with Avastin for about six months. Gem does have alcohol in it so you are not insured to drive for 24 hours post chemo. It is a fairly manageable one in fairness. My white cells did go down but came back up again. It worked for me and for that I am grateful. Yes you get tired and down days but nothing major. Ask for anti nausea tablets, before you leave the unit. Drink plenty of water and have prunes in your cupboard. Pop back and ask more questions or let us know how you are doing. Wishing you well

[Jillwendy]

Hi Barbra I too am starting this chemo next week, perhaps we could keep in touch and support each other

[Barb4145 in reply to Jillwendy]

Hi

I would like to keep in touch so let me know how you get on and hopefully we can support one another. This site is brilliant for giving support from 'real people' who have been through the same things as we are.

Good luck

Barbara

[Hidden]

I had cycle 4 of day 8 gem yesterday.

I agree with others about the tolerability of the regime. I tend to feel a bit pole-axed after the gem day, but I'm not sure if that's the steroids wearing off from the previous week (big doses as doing desensitisation) or the gem itself.

I've had G-CSF from the start as I'm known to struggle with WBC. No delays except for one missed day 8 due to being in hospital.

I think the both drugs can be hard on all blood counts so I am trying to eat to boost haemoglobin and avoid anaemia/ blood transfusions.

I wrote about this a couple of years ago.

Like others, my CA 125 has come down and was "within normal range" before cycle 4.

Good luck with it. xx