I have a question that I hope some of you may be able to answer or some advice given through your experience. It's been awhile since I posted. I'll just give a little background before I ask the question. I have ovarian cancer stage 4. I have already been "debulked". I have chosen to do low dose chemo called "Metronomic" chemotherapy. I receive a lower dose each week instead of the normal dosage every three weeks. The symptoms are less. So far so good. Tomorrow will be my third treatment. I have chosen to only do carboplatin without the addition of taxol. My Dr. doesn't like it and feels I need to be doing both together in order to be more effective. But I have resisted so far. I have been reading other posts about the neuropathy the taxol causes, not to mention other symptoms. I'm really not sure what I should do. I feel the carboplatin is already a powerful drug and seems it should be enough to do its own damage to the cancer cells without dosing me with the taxol as well. I'm trying to give my healthy organs (what's left of them) a fighting chance. All that to ask...have any of you just done the carboplatin only without the taxol? If so, did you get good results? Thanks so much, in advance, for your answers.
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Sorry can't give any advice as I am in the same situation as you with stage 4. I have had my first dose of Carco/Taxol plus Avastin. I've just gone along with exactly what my doctors have advised for me, too scared to do anything else!!
I'm very interested to hear the responses to your post.
I think you're very brave and should definitely do what you think is right for you.
Haven't done this myself but I have read articles which suggest that some drugs can work effectively at a lower dose.. I am thinking of Avastin. Might it be possible for you to seek a second opinion? Your Onc thinks it is a risk by the sound of it but perhaps another Onc could offer another perspective?
I had carboplatin as a single agent and it was ineffective. However Taxol only supplies a top up of 5% so didn't feel that the extra side effects were worth it for me. I've been talking to my team about hormone treatment as I am ER positive and P53 positive. I know Avastin causes raised BP, how about Doxil?
I had carboplatin alone and I haven't had a recurrence. BUT although I was stage 3c - 2 positive lymph nodes - all visible disease was removed during surgery so that made a huge contribution to the outcome. Vx
Thanks so much for your responses. I decided to stay the course with only the carboplatin. At least for now. I have also read where medical marijuana has the same effect as taxol on blood flow. I'm researching this. Not an easy thing to find! Will let you know how it goes.
Hi there, If you are happy with your decision then stay with it, I am of the family that will go with the flow and follows oncs orders and so far that has worked for me. I wish you well in your search for marijuana it is not available over here in Ireland.
Hi, I have only just seen your post, as I have been on holiday. My onc suggested I had Carboplatin alone due to my health at the time. It wasn't very effective for me, but my cancer doesn't respond very well to treatments anyway. Another onc has told me that it may have had more effect if I'd had Taxol at the same time.
Hi, I am brac1, elective keyhole surgery to remove ovaries at age 43 to attempt to avoid ovarian cancer but too late both had tumours. Ca125 less than 6 nothing on ultra sound. Following surgery ct scan showed nothing. Second surgery to remove all possible second sites, womb,cervix,omentum., lymphs. Small stands found in pouch of Douglas all removed. Team wanted me to do carboplatin and taxol. I refused taxol as felt carbo was enough considering they had removed all visible already. Chemo started Dec 2018 complete Apr 2019. I had slight neuropathy tips of fingers and toes but not too bad, Sickness, tired but managed to work full time from week 2-4.
Only in Dec 2023 Ca125 rose to 14, ct showed nothing , 3 more scans later over 9 months and there are now 4 small tumours largest 29mm others smaller. Just over
Long story short I feel I made the right decision to go with only carboplatin. But have a recurrence now 5 years later.
Just started carboplatin with Caelyx- hope this goes as well as last time
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