Weekly taxol/and every 3rd week carbo too

[ElayneZ]

Hi all - my 4th chemo is to be tomorrow - labs showed another drop in white cells so now will need two days of gravix injections after each weekly chemo. Anyone have success with gravix injections? Otherwise side effects have been tolerable. Have also heard chemo is cumulative- wondering how intense those may be with carbo/taxol. Appreciate your sharing! Blessings!

[Hidden]

Hi Elayne, I am sorry I cannot help you on this occasion with the information you require, I hope some one else can answer your query. In the meantime, I wish you well

[Maus123]

Hi Elayne. Well done for making it to the half way point already.

For me, the carb/tax side effects are indeed cumulative and become more noticeable after every chemo. On the other hand, the real issues are being addressed in between chemo lots (e.g. via Taxol dosage reduction to 80%), so what remains is still bearable... it's mostly fatigue that gets me, and a bit of bowel bother.

Good luck with the last few chemos. My last one is scheduled for next Wed. Xx. Maus

[ElayneZ in reply to Maus123]

Thank you Maus for reply. My chemo is weekly and today should be #4 - of 18 weeks total if the blood count has increased. So I still have 14 weeks yet to go. Hoping booster injections will help and get me through this treatment. Congratulations on being so near your last treatment! Blessings!!

[Maus123 in reply to ElayneZ]

Ah right...reading is a useful skill, sorry. ;). Still.. this too will end. Good luck with the injections, Elayne. Maus

[Lorraine_123]

I am on the same regime for 3rd line. 6 weeks ago I had neutropaenic sepsis. I have been on Filgrastin injections for 3 days post chemo weekly. They have worked really well so far at keeping my neutrophils up. Good luck x

[ElayneZ in reply to Lorraine_123]

Thank you Lorraine! I haven’t read on the forum of others having the injections for boosting blood count. Thank you for sharing it is working well for you!! 🙏

[tara108]

Hi Elayne. Yes, usually carbo/taxol side effects are cumulative. On my frontline carbo/taxol I didn't have chemo on week 6 and 9 due to low bloods. I also had 2 blood transfusions, the 2nd one on last chemo but they were for low red cells and hemeoglobin. Now on my 1st recurrence, I am managing carbo/taxol alot better except low WBC and neutrafils after 2 chemo's! Bone marrow a bit stuffed even after 17 months with no chemo.

I am doing start and stop, 2 weeks then 1 week off, also with a lowered dose. Now I am realising this is what is happening, I am more relaxed as I have a 75% quality of life so far. MY CA125 marker has also gone from 1100 to 48 after 5 chemo's so that's great.

I have chosen not to have the injections but am drinking papaya tea with liquid papaya extract. Seems to be helping my WBC etc but who knows? Maybe its having 1 week off in 3! Hope all goes well for you. Hugs from Australia.

[ElayneZ in reply to tara108]

Thank you Tara! My ca125 was over 2500 before surgery in May 2018. It was under 10 this week which was sure great to hear! I will look into the papaya tea! I’ve been reading about Essential oils this week. It’s good to read you are managing carbo/taxol well. Continued good luck with that! Blessings from California!!

[TarbonNZ]

Hi Elayne. Definitely cumulative. I had also not appreciated that the further series you go through, the further out you need to take care with associating with people who are unwell. I was almost permanently on antibiotics in the end, and ended up in hospital in isolation for 7 days due to Neutropenic sepsis, so take care. Therese

[ElayneZ in reply to TarbonNZ]

Thank you Therese! I sure hope and pray I continue to feel pretty well through chemo and I can get through 14 more weeks of carbo/taxol. I was surprised after just three weeks that I was told I need to add the injection boosters to increase blood cell count. Hope you are feeling well! Blessings to you!!

[TarbonNZ]

Unfortunately start a new chemo round this Friday, as I have had a recurrence after 11.5 months. Not feeling that brilliant at the moment, but hoping that this new series Carbo/gencitabine will work. Take care Therese

[caf132]

Hello- Hang in there. Chemo is cumulative. My WBC's dropped and I did injections at home for about 4 days and generally they rebounded. On the weeks I just received taxol I was fine. the carbo plus the taxol was much harded. I refused a blood transfusion several times but finally did it and I felt SO much better. Let us know how you get on.

XX Carol

[ElayneZ in reply to caf132]

Thank you for your reply!

[Alifit]

No experience of the drug you mention but wishing you well with the remaining cycles.

Best wishes Ali x

[ElayneZ in reply to Alifit]

Thank you Ali! Blessings!

[ElayneZ]

PS Has anyone else needed “booster injection” after weekly chemo treatments? Dr wants me to start two consecutive days after day of chemo. So many drugs .... 😳 Praying 🙏

[Hidden in reply to ElayneZ]

Do you think she meant a booster injection for your white blood cells called G-CSF or Filgastrim or similar? If so I have, but at different points in different chemo cycles. They're quite common.

[ElayneZ in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Yes it is to boost the white blood cells. They said it’s common. So many drugs. I have 5th weekly chemo next week - and then 13 left. 🙏🙏Thanks again for your reply.