Has anyone experience of weekly rather than 3 weekly chemo sessions?

[LovemyJackRussell]

I have been diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer, after finding a smallish lump in my tum in July, which is now considerably larger (20cm). A ct scan showed abnormalites in several places, and this was followed by a laparoscopy to see the extent. I was told that I would be having 3 rounds of chemo, then the op (which will include taking some bowel and having a stoma) followed by more chemo. I then saw the oncologist who gave me more info on the chemo (Paclitaxel & carboplatin) on a 3 week cycle. She then had a rethink, she said because I was so fit and well (I have not felt unwell at all, other than needing to wee all the time, which gets worse as the mass has grown) she was going to throw something else into the mix. So I am now going to have weekly sessions, with a third of one of the chemo drugs plus Bevacizumab, and the other chemo drug will be every 3 weeks. I can't remember which of the chemo drugs is going to be weekly, it was hard to take it all in, and the names were new to me!

Has anyone out there been on this regime? I had been researching and was expecting that I would feel pretty grotty for a week, but then would have two fairly normal weeks and now I am wondering whether I am looking at 9 weeks of feeling grotty. It would be fantastic to hear of anyone's experience to give me a better idea of what to expect.

[Boot1947]

Hi LovemyJackRussell,

I was diagnosed with Stage 3a OC nine years ago and, after debulking surgery, went on the ICON8 trial where I had carboplatin and paclitaxol every week. It was actually nice to have a weekly routine, rather than keep track of chemo every three weeks, and I felt fine and full of energy throughout, probably thanks to the steroids. My bloods were not so happy, however, and I had to have GCSF injections and a blood transfusion., also some peripheral neuropathy. In the end, my treatment was stopped after 13 weeks, but I have (touch wood!) been NED since then. I think the trial eventually showed there wasn’t much difference in outcome between giving chemo weekly or three-weekly. Good luck with your treatment - happy to answer any other questions you may have. Deb x

[LovemyJackRussell in reply to Boot1947]

Thank you so much for this reply, it is very good to hear that you felt fine throughout your weekly chemo! It is probably impossible to say whether you would have needed the GCSF and a blood transfusion had you been on another regime. How did the hair loss go, was it any less severe or sudden? The peripheral neuropathy seems pretty standard, which is a shame as I like to embroider.

[Boot1947 in reply to LovemyJackRussell]

I had my hair cut very short before chemo and never lost all of it, although my eyebrows will never be the same again! If you like to embroider, you should tell your team so that they keep an eye on your fine motor function - which is easier when you see them every week. I also managed to get to a weekly dance class and continue walking the Capital Trail - I never felt incredibly tired, which was great. Constipation is a pain, though - I managed it with psyllium husk as I can’t bear liquid meds.

[Seedlings]

Hi there,I too was in the ICON8 Trial I started in August 2018. It's basically what you said weekly chemo . 9 before debulking, and 9 post op. I have had two recurrences since , finishing my last round of chemo in February 2023. I did the weekly chemo for the first two occasions and my last round of chemo was once every three weeks.

I found the once in three weeks much more tolerable, although it still had it's challenges.

I got a break, of some normality for a week to ten days between treatments. The Icon 8 trial showed no significant difference in outcome at all, between dosage management intervals.

I know for me , the weekly chemo was a lot more demanding and honestly difficult. I too was very fit!!!.

I wish you all the best with what ever option you choose .

Hugs Ann, 🤗

I

[LovemyJackRussell in reply to Seedlings]

Thank you for your reply Ann. I haven't been given a choice and I do trust the team to have come up with the best option for me, I then began to wonder what it would mean in terms of how I would feel day to day. I am getting the extra targeted therapy drug which seems to have been the deciding factor. It is very helpful to hear how others have got on.

[ZenaJ]

Hi, yes, I was diagnosed stage 3C and had 18 weekly sessions of chemo. One weekly and the other three weekly. I was very tired and had a couple of blood transfusions but otherwise all was okay. This was in 2013 so things may have changed. I was on a trial to see if weekly rather than 3 weekly made any difference and the results of the trial showed there was no difference.

Good lucky with it all. Zena

[LovemyJackRussell in reply to ZenaJ]

Thank you for taking the time to reply Zena, it is very helpful to hear different experiences.

[delia2]

Hi. I’m in the US and my oncologist wanted me to do the weekly taxol. The trials have shown no difference in outcome. I personally wanted those three weeks between infusions. Taxol is the drug that makes you lose your hair and get neuropathy. Weekly doses are much lower so I’m not sure how that affects the neuropathy. You might check into that. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[LovemyJackRussell in reply to delia2]

Thank you so much for answering, Delia. I don't think I'm being given a choice, and I do trust the decision makers but it is good to hear different experiences. I'm hoping that the extra targeted therapy drug will make a difference, and this seems to have been the reasoning behind the decision. If the neuropathy is reduced it will definitely be a bonus!

[darksky23]

Another name forBevacizumab is Avastin. Sometimes it can cause blood clots and other effects. So the doctor will be checking for any problems. It works together with the other chemo drugs you are on. I just am glad I can receive chemo, Whatever it is...I will deal with it.

[Ruebacelle]

I was on weekly taxol for several months. It was ok apRt from going bald