Trial began today

LPack

Premeds in port(benedryl - almost put me to sleep, decadron - gives me a stuffy nose for about 1/2 hour!, and pecid) went fine. First time for pepcid.

Chemo went well, granddaughter (4 1/2) came in for a couple minutes (nice to be close to our daughter for treatments now)and asked why I was getting blood - first time for me to have a chemo with color! Gave it to me slow this first time - doxil - will speed up a tad bit in 4 weeks.

Results of tests: tumor same, ascites for the first time, CA125 now 360.

Will go back every Monday for check up b/c of clinical trial.

Love you, Ladies,
Libby

Lisa13Q

Thanks for the update Libby
Mom's first day was wednesday. Same protocol as you...no pepcid...so far, she has fatigue, but no rashes.. hope you are well...

LPack

Lisa13Q said:

Thanks for the update Libby
Mom's first day was wednesday. Same protocol as you...no pepcid...so far, she has fatigue, but no rashes.. hope you are well...

So far........
Lisa,

So far not bad. Did have indigestion last day and some today, but last night I ate garlic potato chips - I will not have them again!!

This is my second day since chemo and they told me usually 3-5 days may experience the skin symptoms, but we are all praying for no symptoms.

How old is your mom? Has she has any blood work yet?

Thanks for keeping me updated.

Love,Libby

lindaprocopio

LPack said:

So far........
Lisa,

So far not bad. Did have indigestion last day and some today, but last night I ate garlic potato chips - I will not have them again!!

This is my second day since chemo and they told me usually 3-5 days may experience the skin symptoms, but we are all praying for no symptoms.

How old is your mom? Has she has any blood work yet?

Thanks for keeping me updated.

Love,Libby

How are you doing today with this?
Just thinking of you with this new chemo regime. I can't remember completely: will it be 4 weeks between infusions but weekly monitoring for the trial? I'm still getting weekly taxol, but Doxil will probably be my next line when this stops working. You and I have the same problems with our blood counts and having to have delays all the time, so I'm hoping you have the 4 weeks between infusions. Although I must say that I am doing much better on this fractionated weekly dose of taxol, although I do have to get 3 neupogen shots each week too to keep my counts up. ((((Libby)))).

LPack

lindaprocopio said:

How are you doing today with this?
Just thinking of you with this new chemo regime. I can't remember completely: will it be 4 weeks between infusions but weekly monitoring for the trial? I'm still getting weekly taxol, but Doxil will probably be my next line when this stops working. You and I have the same problems with our blood counts and having to have delays all the time, so I'm hoping you have the 4 weeks between infusions. Although I must say that I am doing much better on this fractionated weekly dose of taxol, although I do have to get 3 neupogen shots each week too to keep my counts up. ((((Libby)))).

Thanks!
Linda,

Thanks so much for asking how I am doing. I do go every 4 weeks. I won't know about my blood counts until they tell me when to get it done! But you are right, it probably will be down already (I hope not).

I was told that I would be surprised at how much better I felt with Doxil then with Cisplatin/Gemzar, but in reality I think my body is sick of chemo and I wonder just how much more a body can take?? I don't feel good at all, like I am being invaded again!!!

Enough of that, it is what it is. You look Mahvelous!!! I still have thinner hair from before and was told it would get thinner and of course I have not colored it. So I think sometimes I look like Jerry's mom instead of wife!! ☺

Did not know you were going to hear me feeling sorry for myself did you?? You know what, I wish we could all get together in person somewhere and just talk!!

Love,
Libby

BonnieR

LPack said:

Thanks!
Linda,

Thanks so much for asking how I am doing. I do go every 4 weeks. I won't know about my blood counts until they tell me when to get it done! But you are right, it probably will be down already (I hope not).

I was told that I would be surprised at how much better I felt with Doxil then with Cisplatin/Gemzar, but in reality I think my body is sick of chemo and I wonder just how much more a body can take?? I don't feel good at all, like I am being invaded again!!!

Enough of that, it is what it is. You look Mahvelous!!! I still have thinner hair from before and was told it would get thinner and of course I have not colored it. So I think sometimes I look like Jerry's mom instead of wife!! ☺

Did not know you were going to hear me feeling sorry for myself did you?? You know what, I wish we could all get together in person somewhere and just talk!!

Love,
Libby

Didn't sound sorry for yourself to me
Dear Libby,

The doxil won't make your hair thinner but may not let it get thicker either. My hair is thin and baby fine from growing in while on carbo and doesn't want to get back to normal for me. I think the more we are under attack it causes more and more of our cells not able to fully recover ~ including our hairshafts .. or at least that is my belief.

I know the other combo would have knocked you down harder than doxil, but agree with you that even though most people don't feel bad on it, once we have had a lot of treatments we get hit differently. I am praying that God sends you more strength and a sense of well being. I know we find our new self over and over again in this journey. Seems as if the cancer isn't knocking us back the treatments we get to knock the cancer back hits us a bit harder. I pray this treatment is hitting the cancer harder than it is you, that is gives you a break from chemo once completed.

I also want you to know how your posts always touch my heart, your faith and the strength you draw from God has blessed us all!

God is Good all the time and carries us when we have not the strength.

Prayers ♥ Hugs Bonnie

saundra

LPack said:

Thanks!
Linda,

Thanks so much for asking how I am doing. I do go every 4 weeks. I won't know about my blood counts until they tell me when to get it done! But you are right, it probably will be down already (I hope not).

I was told that I would be surprised at how much better I felt with Doxil then with Cisplatin/Gemzar, but in reality I think my body is sick of chemo and I wonder just how much more a body can take?? I don't feel good at all, like I am being invaded again!!!

Enough of that, it is what it is. You look Mahvelous!!! I still have thinner hair from before and was told it would get thinner and of course I have not colored it. So I think sometimes I look like Jerry's mom instead of wife!! ☺

Did not know you were going to hear me feeling sorry for myself did you?? You know what, I wish we could all get together in person somewhere and just talk!!

Love,
Libby

Cisplatin and Gemzar
Yes, I did feel better on Doxil that these two. I sleep a lot and these hit me faster. Will skip this week and go next Wed. CT in Sept. Seems my appetite just comes back and I get hit again. I have lost 30 lbs since the colostomy and can no longer keep my britches up. Ha and to think I once complained about the waist size!!! Giving you lots of prayers for the test results!! Saundra

Lisa13Q

Doxil Effects
Hi Libby,

It sounds like you and my mother are experiencing almost exactly the same effects. At my mother's weekly check Wednesday, her blood counts were fine, but she complained of being very tired. The dosage that the protocol calls for is high....and if you are as tiny as my mother (she's 5'1 and 102 lbs), I think the doxil can hit hard. I am praying for both of you this means that the doxil is hitting the cancer hard as well....I can't remember but how were your scans before the doxil started? For my mother, her CA-125 went from 10 - 20 in 2 weeks but she had many little spots, including on the liver.... It was a little disheartening that these cancer "spray paints" were showing up so rapidly....I can't tell if it's good they are little and fast..or is it better to be big and slow? Has anyone else had little and fast?

Susan523

LPack said:

Thanks!
Linda,

Thanks so much for asking how I am doing. I do go every 4 weeks. I won't know about my blood counts until they tell me when to get it done! But you are right, it probably will be down already (I hope not).

I was told that I would be surprised at how much better I felt with Doxil then with Cisplatin/Gemzar, but in reality I think my body is sick of chemo and I wonder just how much more a body can take?? I don't feel good at all, like I am being invaded again!!!

Enough of that, it is what it is. You look Mahvelous!!! I still have thinner hair from before and was told it would get thinner and of course I have not colored it. So I think sometimes I look like Jerry's mom instead of wife!! ☺

Did not know you were going to hear me feeling sorry for myself did you?? You know what, I wish we could all get together in person somewhere and just talk!!

Love,
Libby

Hi, Libby!
You know, I have been eating Pepcid since before my diagnosis!!

My doctor actually prescribes it, or you can also buy it over-the-counter.... and then you can eat those spicy potato chips again! I can even eat Mexican food if I take Pepcid, and it also helps to relieve some heartburn I get from my diarrhea medication (that is a powder called 'cholestryamine').

Only allowed 2 Pepcid per day.

I hope you're feeling as good as possible. It gets old, doesn't it??

BTW, my hair this time around is coming in very thin & completely straight. In the past it was real thick & curly~ weird! It's also less gray than last time...

And you are NOT feeling sorry for yourself. That's what we're here for.

I agree about wishing we could talk, and I was thinking that we should all plan a day and time to meet in the chatroom on this site. Do you think?? ;-) We'd have to figure out time zones and things; but I've been thinking that for quite a while~

Hang in there, Libby.. and Walk with the Lord~

Love,
~Susan xoxo

leesag

Lisa13Q said:

Doxil Effects
Hi Libby,

It sounds like you and my mother are experiencing almost exactly the same effects. At my mother's weekly check Wednesday, her blood counts were fine, but she complained of being very tired. The dosage that the protocol calls for is high....and if you are as tiny as my mother (she's 5'1 and 102 lbs), I think the doxil can hit hard. I am praying for both of you this means that the doxil is hitting the cancer hard as well....I can't remember but how were your scans before the doxil started? For my mother, her CA-125 went from 10 - 20 in 2 weeks but she had many little spots, including on the liver.... It was a little disheartening that these cancer "spray paints" were showing up so rapidly....I can't tell if it's good they are little and fast..or is it better to be big and slow? Has anyone else had little and fast?

Hi Lisa,
My doctor told me
Hi Lisa,

My doctor told me that because my cancer was fast growing, the chemo would knock it out because chemo works really well on fast growing cells. Not sure if that's scientific or if it's psychological, but whatever it is, I'm NED now. Praying for your mom and everyone else to be NED too. And especially, for science to find the "magic bullet" and soon!

Hugs,

Leesa

Lisa13Q

leesag said:

Hi Lisa,
My doctor told me
Hi Lisa,

My doctor told me that because my cancer was fast growing, the chemo would knock it out because chemo works really well on fast growing cells. Not sure if that's scientific or if it's psychological, but whatever it is, I'm NED now. Praying for your mom and everyone else to be NED too. And especially, for science to find the "magic bullet" and soon!

Hugs,

Leesa

Thanks for the hope Leesa and to Libby
I will pray that both Libby and my Mother get NED... Libby, my doctor told my mother that because she was in a trial she got a larger dose of the Doxil than the doctor might have given her otherwise. I am thinking that maybe thats why you both are feeling wiped out. Also, my mother had her counts last Wednesday and they were fine....so hopefully that will be the same for you!! Please keep us posted..