Gemzar going well for me

JulieL

Hi All

Glad to report the result of my second round of gemzar.  My CA125 has fallen by another 25 percent - down from 306 to 223!!  So thrilled that this third chemo seems to be doing the right thing for me.  Side effects have been minimal - some lethargy and lack of energy and neuropathy in my feet continuing.   I am now also working with a naturopath to get my immune system working as well as it can and am taking more notice of my diet.   I also hope to be soon able to get some exercise happening.  I have just booked a little holiday to New Zealand in April with my hubby.   So good to have something to look forward to!   

Best wishes to all.

Julie, Australia 

westie66

Gemzar

Hi Julie:  T hat's great!!!!! Can I ask what gemzar includes to see if it is the same on I had some years ago before starting on folfirinox? Mine was

gemcitibine and cisplatin.  It didn't do much for my peritoneum nodules according to my oncologist, but when I look at the spreadsheet I created documenting numbers and size changes

with each CT/MRI, I t hink it did.  Nevertheless, I then had 14 treatments of folfirinox which was nasty and I ended up in hospital and respite for 5 months!

I love New Zealand! Friends of mine are on sabbatical there right now.

Cheryl

JulieL

westie66 said:

Gemzar

Hi Julie:  T hat's great!!!!! Can I ask what gemzar includes to see if it is the same on I had some years ago before starting on folfirinox? Mine was

gemcitibine and cisplatin.  It didn't do much for my peritoneum nodules according to my oncologist, but when I look at the spreadsheet I created documenting numbers and size changes

with each CT/MRI, I t hink it did.  Nevertheless, I then had 14 treatments of folfirinox which was nasty and I ended up in hospital and respite for 5 months!

I love New Zealand! Friends of mine are on sabbatical there right now.

Cheryl

Gemzar

Hi Cheryl

It is gemcitabine I am having.   Just on its own!   I am so grateful for the reduction in numbers that I have had.

How are you doing?  I do hope things are going well for you.  You have had lots of treatment I know.   That folfirinox sounded to be really horriible for you!

Yes I love NZ too - was born there so friends and family to catch up with as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery!  We are also hoping to come to NW Canada in September.  Have booked a little cruise but not the flights yet.  I would like to stay as long as possible but don't want to press my luck!   Will make a decision maybe May/June on that.   

 

Julie x

seatown

Good for you!

Just wanted to say -- so glad to read your latest treatment is going well and you are feeling well enough to travel.  Your kind words on this forum are much appreciated.  Thank you!

Best Friend

JulieL said:

Gemzar

Hi Cheryl

It is gemcitabine I am having.   Just on its own!   I am so grateful for the reduction in numbers that I have had.

How are you doing?  I do hope things are going well for you.  You have had lots of treatment I know.   That folfirinox sounded to be really horriible for you!

Yes I love NZ too - was born there so friends and family to catch up with as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery!  We are also hoping to come to NW Canada in September.  Have booked a little cruise but not the flights yet.  I would like to stay as long as possible but don't want to press my luck!   Will make a decision maybe May/June on that.   

 

Julie x

Hi

My mother asked me to see how you were doing? She is still on doxil. It's her sixth treatment and her number is now a 6. However it has made her very sick and depressed. I am glad to see you are doing well.

JulieL

Best Friend said:

Hi

My mother asked me to see how you were doing? She is still on doxil. It's her sixth treatment and her number is now a 6. However it has made her very sick and depressed. I am glad to see you are doing well.

Doxil

Your mother has had a great result to get her number down to 6 but sorry to hear she is not well.   Is the sixth treatment the last one?   Do hope she is soon feeling better.   I have now completed my 4th cycle of Gemzar and will get my number next week.  So far I have had reductions of 27%, 27% and 20% and I am feeling really good.  Fingers crossed my numbers will continue going down - my last reading was 179.

Best Friend

JulieL said:

Doxil

Your mother has had a great result to get her number down to 6 but sorry to hear she is not well.   Is the sixth treatment the last one?   Do hope she is soon feeling better.   I have now completed my 4th cycle of Gemzar and will get my number next week.  So far I have had reductions of 27%, 27% and 20% and I am feeling really good.  Fingers crossed my numbers will continue going down - my last reading was 179.

chemo stinks

Right now they have her on steroids after her treatment monday. However, tomorrow she will be without them and thats when she gets sick. She has had to take a leave of absense because of her breathing. They did a catscan and tests on her heart and they all came back ok. I think her body just needs time. My mother has had luck with these treatments. Even on the carbo and taxol her number went to a 3. Doctor says she is very lucky. How many more treatments do u think u will have to have? it's rough. Don't know how u ladies do it! I try to ask her what it feels like and she just says that she just doesn't feel good. Well, hope ur numbers keep going down and down. We need some good news after Tina's passing.

JulieL

Best Friend said:

chemo stinks

Right now they have her on steroids after her treatment monday. However, tomorrow she will be without them and thats when she gets sick. She has had to take a leave of absense because of her breathing. They did a catscan and tests on her heart and they all came back ok. I think her body just needs time. My mother has had luck with these treatments. Even on the carbo and taxol her number went to a 3. Doctor says she is very lucky. How many more treatments do u think u will have to have? it's rough. Don't know how u ladies do it! I try to ask her what it feels like and she just says that she just doesn't feel good. Well, hope ur numbers keep going down and down. We need some good news after Tina's passing.

Yes it does!

I agree we all need news after the sad news of Tina's passing.   Whenever I open this site it opens on one of her pages and her smiling face.  She was a very positive lady and helped so many of us.  I don't know if she was aware of her influence  - I do hope so!   I do hope your mother gets through the rest of her chemo without too much sickness and discomfort.   I don't know how many more treatments for me - depends on how quickly my CA125 drops.  Had CT scan results this week - some fluid on my right lung where I had the pleurodesis and it can't be removed so hoping it will eventually dissipate!   Not causing me too much problem though.   Thankfully nothing else showed up!  Stay strong and love to your mother.  Julie x 

Best Friend

JulieL said:

Yes it does!

I agree we all need news after the sad news of Tina's passing.   Whenever I open this site it opens on one of her pages and her smiling face.  She was a very positive lady and helped so many of us.  I don't know if she was aware of her influence  - I do hope so!   I do hope your mother gets through the rest of her chemo without too much sickness and discomfort.   I don't know how many more treatments for me - depends on how quickly my CA125 drops.  Had CT scan results this week - some fluid on my right lung where I had the pleurodesis and it can't be removed so hoping it will eventually dissipate!   Not causing me too much problem though.   Thankfully nothing else showed up!  Stay strong and love to your mother.  Julie x 

thanks

See......good news! Hope ur ca keeps on dropping. I'll let my mom know. It's a shame she won't come on here and write. she reads all of the posts. whatever works. take care!

westie66

seatown said:

Good for you!

Just wanted to say -- so glad to read your latest treatment is going well and you are feeling well enough to travel.  Your kind words on this forum are much appreciated.  Thank you!

Tina

Hi all:  I was so sorry to hear about Tina.  Seems just like yesterday I was talking to her.

I'm still feeling a bit frazzled and tired after the 5 months in hospital with the perforated bowel.  I had radiation on the liver tumour (high dose) and that seems to have helped stabilize it and maybe even kill it (hopefully!).  But the peritoneum tumours are still there and after a recent CT scan it appears also come omentum caking.  I've been off chemo since May 2012.  I'm having another CT scan in 2 months and we'll see where to go from there.  Lots of incisional scar tissue pain and radiation pain.  I'd be interested to see if my oncologist would do just gemcitibine on me - I really did think it helped stabilize and even shrink some of the peritoneum tumours but he thought not.  I tolerated it well as well.  I won't go back on folfirinox for sure! what a nasty one that was and I had to pay $4000/month to boot!

 

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

Cheryl