GemCarbo and picc line advice please!

[Kjpip]

Hi ladies, I've seen my oncologist today (well, one of his minions anyway) to find out about my treatment plan for my first recurrence. They've told me that I'll have gemcitabine with carboplatin this time round, so I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about this regime please?

Even though carbotaxol was rough, I would have at least known what to expect if I'd had the same treatment again this time!

Does the second dose of gemcitabine on day 8 mean that side effects (particularly sickness, diarrhoea or constipation and being prone to infection) are more spread out across the 3 weekly cycle? With carbotaxol, I had the first few days of feeling sick, the first week of constipation and then the second week of low white blood cells, but I could pretty much plan on feeling ok by/during the third week. I was hoping that chemo wouldn't stop me from doing things as much as it did last time, as this time I feel really well to start with, but this regime sounds a bit more intrusive.

I've also asked for a picc line this time - I couldn't have one last time as I was also having avastin so don't know what to expect at all! Any advice gratefully received 🙏

Xx

[Bookclublover]

Sorry I’ve just finished first line treatment and now on Niraparib, so I can’t offer any advice about your new regime. I was wondering why you’re asking for a picc….. Are your veins just knackered ? I had excellent treatment for breast cancer in Germany 15 years ago. I was able to have chemo through the veins as I was only having 4 rounds instead of the normal 6. Absolutely all the Germans and other Brit patients had picc lines, never saw anyone else having it through veins. What I do know is that my British friends were desperate to have the line removed when chemo finished, but the medical teams were in no hurry to do this- some of them ( stage1 BC) had lines in for several months after chemo. I’ve no clue when it’s removed here in the UK, but maybe worth asking. Good luck with your new regime- I hope you find it tolerable and that it works 🤞🏼❤️

[Kjpip in reply to Bookclublover]

My veins aren't completely knackered, but it was always a bit of a struggle to find a good one and sometimes my hand was really sore after chemo, to the point where the pain would wake me up in the night. I just thought it might be easier with a picc line, especially with the extra dose on day 8 each time. The only thing that makes me a bit hesitant is that I'll be at the hospital every week...Good luck with your niraparib, hope it goes well for you 🤞

[Jacquiemoo in reply to Kjpip]

Hi, I see you are on Niraprib , I was on it as of November, I had many side affects, pray you aren't getting them. My cancer came back as of January so started chemo again last month. I will pray for you that the medication will stop it from coming back. Stay strong.

[bananayo]

I had a PICC line inserted under local anesthetic and took around 20-30 minutes, didn’t hurt at all. It has to be cleaned every week by a nurse and needs to be kept dry when showering (plastic sleeve on precription). I asked for mine to be removed same day after my last chemo which they agreed.

[Kjpip in reply to bananayo]

Thank you, that's good to know! Was it easy enough to keep dry or a bit of a pain?

[bananayo in reply to Kjpip]

Yes I found the PICC didn’t get wet as the plastic sleeve has snug elastic both ends. Some ladies prefer a port because you can’t go swimming with a PICC but I wasn’t offered one of those.

[Helvelyn]

Hi there

I am currently on this regime for my first reoccurrence. I have had 2 rounds so far and apart from fatigue and nausea I have been largely okay. My neutrophils did drop after my first round but quickly came back up.

I do find though that nausea is more of an issue especially having treatment on day 1 and day 8 but I could take stronger medication if I needed.

I am having all my treatments via a cannula. I haven’t the best veins but so far it’s been ok. I make sure I am very hydrated before I go for treatment. I could have a picc line but haven’t felt the need as yet.

Hope the treatment goes ok for you. xx

[Kjpip in reply to Helvelyn]

Thank you, hope the rest of your treatment goes ok too! Xx

[NewtonEmma1900]

I am on 4the line chemo and have just had Day 1 of carbo/ gem. My veins are not great from all the cannulas and blood tests and clearly this treatment will put more strain on them, but selfishly I really don’t want to have to go to the hospital every week as the parking is so horrendous. So I am going to ‘stick it out’ as long as possible! But we are all different. Best wish on the treatment🙏 Katy

[Kjpip]

Thanks Katy, good luck for your treatment too 🤞My local hospital isn't too far away and the car parks are generally ok. As I'll be there 2 weeks out of 3 anyway, I'm kind of thinking I might as well go every week! I'm lucky to work (only a few) flexible hours from home so can hopefully fit around all the hospital time... Xx

[thejoannabell]

I had carboplatin and paclitaxel for first chemo and gemcitabine and Avastin for a recurrence. The Gemcitabine side effects seemed milder than my first round, but combined with the carboplatin I don’t know how that would be. I had a port, and I was definitely grateful for that. It made things much easier. I hope you have minimal side effects!

[Kjpip in reply to thejoannabell]

Thank you 😊

[Jacquiemoo]

Hi, I chose not to get a pic line, have had 2 rounds of chemo and am now on my 3rd. My veins aren't the best but they do find one. My first two rounds were once a week, this one is every 4 weeks so I can deal with this one more easily. I just chose not to have the worry of infection and having to go to the clinic more often. Will be praying for you and all the lovely ladies.. stay strong.

[Vegana]

Hi Kjpip,

I had my first split dose of carbogem, I found it easier to tolerate than Carbo taxol.

I don’t wait for my intestines to block for more than 24hrs, I use microlax or similar, to unblock the build up! You know when you expel the poison from

Your bod, you get to feel so much better. At least I do!

I take

Astragalus ( in China they use it parallel to chemo) look it up

Alpha lypoic accid for neuropathy

L-Lysine for immunity

Vegan multi vit

So far so good

This my first recurrence, only malignant cells found in moderate ascitis , nothing was showing on PET yet.i knew it because my CA125 went up to 855

[Kjpip in reply to Vegana]

Thank you for all the recommendations, I'll look them up! I had low volume ascites at my scan a month ago but I think I'm slowly 'filling up' - just hoping to fit in a quick weekend away to my daughter in Germany next weekend before I get too huge! Good luck with your treatment 🤞💙