I hope you all had a nice Christmas with your family’s.
My mums history - diagnosed stage 3A in Jan 2019. Full debulking surgery and 6 rounds of chemo, 2 carbo and taxol the remaining 4 just carbo (huge reaction to the taxol). NED Aug 2019 to Feb 2022.
Started Carbo and Caeylx (spelling!) for 4 cycles. Really really struggled with the side affects, even after the dosage was reduced. Scan NED and ca125 of 14 in June 2022. Started Niraparib within 8 weeks.
Almost immediately the numbers started to tick up, 24,31,78,162 etc. So here we are, Dec 2022 with a ca125 of 1198 and a scan showing spots of disease in the abdomen.
She is starting Carbo and Gem early Jan. Onc thinks she should have a good response, we really hope so.
My mum is worried, having struggled so much with the caeylx.
How did you ladies cope with the carbo and gem? Is there anything she can do in advance to help?
Thanks so much for any help or advice you can provide here!
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N-A-58
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I was really interested in your post, as your mum's progression is similar to mine.Carbo/Taxol, Avastin, Carbo/Caelyx, Parp, then increase in CA125, followed by weekly Taxol.
I see my oncologist next month, but know that he doesn't use Gem. I'm not sure why. Also, the weekly Taxol has completely diminished me and I'm not sure my poor body can take any more!
I will be following your mum's progress with interest.
Yes very similar paths. I wonder why your onc doesn’t use gem?! Sorry to hear about the toll taxol is taking on you. How many weeks are you in to it? Have you had a scan or bloods done? Is the taxol working? Xx
I've just finished the Taxol. 18 weeks! I feel weak and old! I don't know if it has had a positive result yet, as I had a scan last week and will see the onc for results on 12/1.Has weekly Taxol not been suggested for your mum?
I really hope it has helped you. My mum starts w/c 9th Jan. The onc said ‘let’s wait and see’. No, taxol weekly hasn’t been suggested. I think that may be the next step if this doesn’t control it.
Hello NA58. I start my third line of chemo in a couple of days—cisplatin/gem. I had cisplatin as part of frontline, but I am feeling anxious about Gemzar/Gemcitabine. I sure hope your mother and I manage it well. Also, try searching posts for gemcitabine. I found a few older posts that address it.
I was not accepted into the phase one trial. I was so disappointed!! I’ve since had a good cry. The MDA oncologist recommended three chemo infusions and then we will see where I go from there. Thanks for thinking of me, I will keep you posted.
I had carbo/gem in 2020, I found this combination much easier than carbo taxol. The only real side effect for me was tiredness on round 5 and 6. I hope this goes well for your mumx
I had carbo/gemcitabine for my 2nd recurrence last year, following 3.5 years on Niraparib. I found it affected my iron levels more than the previous combinations carbo/taxol and carbo/caelyx, so anything she can do to boost that would help. I had to miss the final gemzar treatment as my haemoglobin levels weren't good enough. I also developed blood clots on my lungs during chemo, but that may just have been the cancer rather than the chemo - my oncologist said OC pre-disposes us to blood clots and chemo 'doesn't help'. I also was diagnosed with breast cancer during treatment - I have the BRCA2 gene defect, and once chemo finished, started Letrozole to manage that. With the combination of chemo and Letrozole, my CA125 went down to 17 in February this year. Unfortunately the beneficial effects of the treatments didn't last long and by the summer my CA125 was 2200, but with no symptoms! It was only 149 when I was diagnosed, yet with a host of symptoms. So I'm currently on carbo alone and my CA125 is 202 after 4 treatments. I had the 5th just before Christmas and wondering what next year will bring. My haemoglobin levels are low again, but not enough to stop treatment and need blood transfusions, so it does make me tired more easily. Hope all goes well with your mum's treatment. x
Thanks for your advice here. My mum was similar in that she had a whole host of symptoms in Jan 2019 when diagnosed and her ca125 was in the early 100’s. This time it’s now 1198 with a few symptoms (that she could actually live with if she didn’t know it was cancer) but a scan showing areas of disease.
I hope the numbers continue to drop and that you start to feel better soon!
Hi,I'm currently having carbo/ gem as third line chemo. The first two doses gave me nausea which has greatly improved by taking the anti nausea tablets before it starts. The second dose also gave me diarrhea for 5 days then it stopped when I took Imodium.
Overall, I have felt much better than on previous combinations although I had to have a blood transfusion once and have been delayed by low immune system and platelets twice.
My CA125 has gone from 1380 to 34 after three rounds so its certainly doing its job.
I hope your mum responds well to it and wish you both all the best. X
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Ist chemo gem/carbo
Halfway through gem/carbo
Update this is my 6th line of treatment Carbo/Caelyx
Gem/carbo absolutely battering me!!
