Gemzar

[andyfay]

Does anyone know about gemzar?

[Lewisriley47]

Hi, I have had 5 recurrences of ovarian cancer over the last 9 years and have been on gemzar (gemcitibine) twice, in fact l have just had the last of 18 weeks . I had it with a combination of carboplatin and found it was tolerable. You have the two drugs together one week then you go back on day eight and have the gemzar only. I have to say that l tolerated side effects well but it did play havoc with my blood results which my oncologist said it might do, l did have to have a blood transfusion as l become very anaemic but afterwards felt really well. I wish you well on this drug..

[Tulips66]

Hi, I started the combo Carboplatin/Gemzar in march for first recurrence. I was supposed to have both on the first week & then Gemzar on its own 2 weeks later but unfortunately my white blood cells didn't recover in time so my oncologist ended up stretching my chemo of carboplatin /Gemzar to every 3 weeks instead. The blood cells still didn't recover in time so I have been having Neulasta injections ever since & this seems to be working. I got through my front line treatment in 2019 with no hiccups but I have found the carboplatin /Gemzar hard going. I have dreadful heartburn & nausea after the infusions for several days & even though I didn't lose my hair completely this time, it has really thinned. You might find you can tolerate the Gemzar better than I did as we all react differently. I will be having a Ct scan in a few weeks so i will know then if the Gemzar has worked for me. All the best & let me know how you get on Xx

[Tesla_7US]

I had carbo/gemcitabine for my 2nd recurrence. It was the easiest, least side affected chemo I've had since diagnosis in 2015. My hair thinned but did not all fall out. No one could tell by looking at me that I was even having chemo! It worked and I then took Olaparib for 20 months and then recurred for 3rd time. I'm currently on carbo only and it is working. I plan to go back on Olaparib when I finish this line of chemo. Get a second opinion! There are MANY types of chemos and a new drug being tested that only kills the OC cells! I'll try to find the link and post it. Don't give up. ❤

[Tesla_7US]

I have not had a chance to study this, but it appears very encouraging eurekalert.org/news-release....

[Ruebacelle]

Watch your bloods

[Gemmyw]

I am on single agent gemzar. Halfway through my second cycle. Bloods are bad, but it is bearable so far. My red cells are awful and I think I'll need transfusions. No carbo for me so my hair is ok xx

[andyfay in reply to Gemmyw]

Did the blood problem show up on the labwork? Or you get sick?

[Gemmyw in reply to andyfay]

Hi.

Both.

My red cells were 93 last week, which is low, but I didn't feel too bad. May e a little tired, but nothing major. Treatment went ahead

I'm in for treatment now and am waiting for my blood results back, but I know they are likely to be lower as I know that I have symptoms of anaemia now. I'm dizzy, breathless, my thigh muscles ache when climbing even a few stairs, my shoulders when lifting a kettle of water, my vision is a bit fuzzy, concentration is a struggle. I'm only 43 and although I've been DX with stage 4b for 3 years now, this is all new this week. I'm hoping that I get a transfusion and am then able to have my treatment this week, but I'll have to see x

[andyfay in reply to Gemmyw]

Thanks for the update. One thing I do notice on any chemo is my heart rate seems to be always high

[Worsuz]

Hiya. My wife was on etoposide as maintenance but in a month CA125 has gone up from 200 to 1200. She starts Gemzar in a couple of weeks, possibly with carboplatin, not confirmed yet. We had hoped the etoposide would keep it under control for a little longer but she did have an infection while on it too so the dose was reduced for a short time. Wishing you all well on current treatments