3rd line treatments

[Bray]

I have a scan and then an oncology appointment coming up as I am starting to get symptoms again only 4 months after finishing 2nd line Carbo/ Caelyx . Can anyone tell me their experiences of third line treatments . I have heard of weekly taxol which sounds horrendous and I’m not sure I can cope with. Are there any others . ? I am feeling very down and thinking of refusing more treatment but am also frightened of what will happen . Up until now I have been pretty positive and ready to try all that they offer . Apart from this beast I am normally a fairly fit person and have not had too many terrible side effects from previous chemos . I have LGSOC . Xx

[delia2]

Hi Bray. I’m so sorry you might be having a recurrence. Have you been on a PARP inhibitor or an aromatase inhibitor? Another chemo regime is gemcitabine and carbo but if in fact you are in recurrence they will probably consider you platinum resistant. I would look at trials. Since you are low grade you should try to see Susanna Banerjee in London. There are a lot of options left. You need to find what works for you. After I had carbo caelyx for first recurrence I still had cancer left but Olaparib took care of it. Sending hugs. Xx

[Bray in reply to delia2]

thank you Delia yes they say I am platinum resistant . They told me after second line treatment that because some cancer was still present I couldn’t have a parp inhibitor and put me on hormone therapy . So I will look into trials xx

[Irisisme]

Hi Bray,

I’m staring 4th line in December for liver metastases. In 2021 (Feb to July) I had weekly Paclitaxel and coped very well with it, it’s a bit disruptive and I did decide to skip the last treatment as it had reduced the lesions then present considerably. This was my 3rd line on Paclitaxel and 3rd time I’d lost my hair but my side effects didn’t include sickness, which made it bearable.

After 3rd line I did have neuropathy in my middle toes, which is mildly annoying and I’m not having Paclitaxel this time in case that gets worse- but you can never predict the side-effects you might have. It was me and I was happy to give it a go!

I hope whatever you decide you have a favourable outcome, I’ve been ‘palliative only’ since October 2016 and I’m still here, currently enjoying myself in Spain (back to the UK and NHS chemotherapy in 3 week’s time).

Sending luck and hugs,

Iris 🍀🤗

[27-359 in reply to Irisisme]

Can you tell me what you are having for fourth line chemo please. I like to research these things before hand!

Jenny

[Irisisme in reply to 27-359]

Yes Jenny, I do know what I’m going to be on, it will be either every 3 or every 4 weeks this time. I had a reaction to Carboplatin so I can’t have that so it will be Cisplatin with Caelyx. I’m so lucky that I still have options, although there are 2 drugs I can’t use now.

I hope this helps,

Iris xx

[27-359 in reply to Irisisme]

Thanks for that. Have you had Caelyx before? I had it before the weekly Taxol and am not sure if I can have it twice.

[Irisisme in reply to 27-359]

No, it looks like you had Caelyx & Carboplatin and are now due Paclitaxel, and I had Paclitaxel first and am now due Caelyx and a drug similar to Carboplatin. So it looks like we have the one, and then the other but not necessarily in the same order!

[Hidden in reply to Irisisme]

Hi Iris,

“I’ve been ‘palliative only’ since October 2016 and I’m still here, currently enjoying myself in Spain”. Wow! That is inspirational. Thank you for telling us. It gives me some hope at this difficult time. I’m very glad to hear that such things happen.

Keep enjoying everything!

Anne 🤗

[MissEd]

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are facing 3rd line treatment. As others have said there are lots of other treatments. My mum had 6 years worth of treatments and was Plat resistant also.

Keep positive

X

[Davonian]

Hi Bray, I'm HGS peritoneal being treated the same as Ovarian diagnosed 2016. Started Carbo/Taxol followed with Avastin. Progression 2021. I finished 2nd line Carbo/Caelyx December 21 with a CA125 @ 17. This was followed with the Parp, Niraparib. I knew by my symptoms it was raising it's head again. After a scan I started 3rd line Carbo/Gemcitibine in August 22, CA125 @ 311. At day 8 I get single dose Gemcitibine. This was followed with a week off. I had my doses reduced and the week off stretched to 2 weeks off after the first cycle as my immune system dropped and I had sepsis. After a hospital stay the regime continued at a reduced dose with a 2 week break. After day 8 I have 7 days of immune boosting injections. I've just completed cycle 3/6 and yesterday I'd started to regain my energy which was 3 days out of the single Gem. Bottom line. For me it's tolerable, no sickness, hair has thinned and taste is off. Wish my energy levels were better but I make the most of everything as soon as it returns. I was offered weekly Taxol but I went with this current regime only to give my body the break in-between cycles. I'm now classed as palliative and wondering 'what next.' Big hugs 🤗 xx

[27-359]

After Carbo/Caelyx, I also went onto weekly Taxol for third line treatment. To be honest, I haven't really had any issues except some neuropathy early on. The dose was lowered and I was fine.The thing that does get me down is needing to be at the hospital twice a week. I am never in and out, and seem to spend my life waiting for a blood test, or for treatment to start.

Jenny

[Rosebine2 in reply to 27-359]

Hi Jenny, re blood tests, the new on line booking system seems to work pretty well, I have only had short waits for a test, unlike the couple of hours it could be. Have you tried it ?

[27-359 in reply to Rosebine2]

As I have a picc line, I have to go in on a Sunday (@#!?) as the phlebotomy nurses aren't trained to take blood and flush.

Jenny

[Irisisme in reply to 27-359]

Yep, been there Jenny, I’m looking forward to a 3 or 4 week treatment plan this time, but they better offer a PICC line (we haven’t got as far as discussing that yet).

Iris xx

[Rosebine2 in reply to 27-359]

Oh thats a pain then. I know what you mean about the frequent hospital visits. Ive got to go over 3 times next week, bloods, CT, then collecting pills. 30 mile trip each time!

[Numi]

Sorry to hear you’re having problems so soon. Like you, I had carbo/caelyx for 2nd line, then carbo with gemcitabine for 3rd line, but your oncologist may feel you have become platinum resistant as it’s less than 6 months since your last carboplatin treatment. Ask what other treatments or maybe trials, that are available. All the best x

[Grankidsxxx]

Hi I am waiting to start 3rd line chemo too. Unfortunately carbo/caelyx didn't work for me 2nd line chemo. I too will have weekly chemo (Abraxane) not looking forward to it,but what's the alternative! Good luck 🍀🍀 xx

[Cumbrianlass5]

I am on "weekly taxol" but in fact it is three weeks on, one week off. I only go to hospital once a week (every Thursday) for the iv taxol and am lucky my local GP takes the bloods on the three Tuesdays it is required. I have phone consultations with my oncologist. I do get fatigue but no other symptoms and am glad there is something they can offer to try to hold back this wretched disease. Give it a try. It is not half as bad as I imagined. Good luck with whatever you decide x

[Bray]

thanks for that information . Can I ask if you have a Picc line or Port .? One of the things I find difficult is the cannulas . My hands become very bruised even on a three week cycle

[Summergold2]

Bray I have a port and it is a godsend. Have had it for 3 years since surgery! Chemo does a number on your veins! Just finished 3rd line of Cisplatin and Gemzar........ I have been on some type of chemo since dec 2019 and getting a pet scan dec 5 to see how the cancer is reacting to it. I have done Olaparib 5 months cancer came back(didn't work) . Avastin for a year cancer came back after only 6 months (I was on Avastin during first line). I am braca neg with no mutations. Trials are what is left for me I believe if this doesn't work for a while

[Bray in reply to Summergold2]

thanks for that Summergold I will definitely ask for one . Good luck with your treatment xx