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cfont11
cfont11 Member Posts: 115
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am new to this board but have read most of the comments under Ovarian Cancer and under Long Term Effects of Treatment. I have found the comments to be inspiring and the information to be very helpful. I was diagnosed with stage 3C last june. I had intestinal troubles for several years and was told it was diverticulitis. I had emergency surgery to unblock my colon and that is when the cancer was found. Because of my condition I could not have surgery at that time and ended up with a colostomy. I started chemo using taxol/carbo in August and had 6 treatments, the last one being Nov. 17. I handled the chemo really well and only the neuropathy in my feet was a problem. I had surgery in January, a full hysterectomy, debulking, and taking down the colostomy. It was hoped that the colostomy could be reversed but my insides were too compromised from the cancer so the doctors gave me an ileostomy instead. There are still microscopic cancer cells left. As soon as I heal from the surgery, I will have 2 more chemo treatments. The neuropathy in my feet has been getting worse and my toenails are turning a dark color. Shouldn't the neuropathy be getting better, not worse? I have to decide whether to have taxol/carbo again, a lower dose of taxol along with carbo or a different drug along with carbo. The chemo really did its job on the cancer last year so the oncologist is hesitant to change it but does not want to make my neuropathy worse. Has anyone else had chemo, then surgery and then more chemo?

Comments

  • sofarstillhere
    sofarstillhere Member Posts: 19
    #2
    surgery
    Hi, I can't be much help because I did my surgery first followed by chemo. I know I have read other posts where there was chemo, surgery and then more chemo. I'm sure when somebody sees your post they can tell you something more helpful. Is there something you can take for you neuopathy. I know I've seen posts where some are taking something for that and it really helps. Maybe you could try something like that. Lots of good luck. Patty
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #3
    sofarstillhere said:

    surgery
    Hi, I can't be much help because I did my surgery first followed by chemo. I know I have read other posts where there was chemo, surgery and then more chemo. I'm sure when somebody sees your post they can tell you something more helpful. Is there something you can take for you neuopathy. I know I've seen posts where some are taking something for that and it really helps. Maybe you could try something like that. Lots of good luck. Patty

    try maggages
    my doctor just told me to try massaging my feet and to make sure to moisturize them, it seems to help some. also have you tried glutomine, i have heard it helps. I read that antidepressants also help some as well as neurontin. I do not like to take meds, so have not tried them, but the massing is helping some, by the way it has been a year since my last chemo and still have the neuropathy, but I am alive and i am thankful
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #4
    azgrandma said:

    try maggages
    my doctor just told me to try massaging my feet and to make sure to moisturize them, it seems to help some. also have you tried glutomine, i have heard it helps. I read that antidepressants also help some as well as neurontin. I do not like to take meds, so have not tried them, but the massing is helping some, by the way it has been a year since my last chemo and still have the neuropathy, but I am alive and i am thankful

    Chemo after surgery
    I had three rounds of chemo prior to surgery (taxol/carboplatin)one infusion every three weeks. Had surgery about five weeks later than about five weeks after that had three more rounds of chemo consisting of three infusions per round. Day one taxol, day two cisplatin, day eight taxol again. Then same thing two weeks later. Day one and two were administered through a port in my abdoman and day eight intravenously. Surgery was 6/21/2010 and last chemo was 9/15/2010. I have nueropathy in hands and feet but not too bad. What is really bothering me is aches in my shoulders, knees and thighs.

    Karen
  • cfont11
    cfont11 Member Posts: 115
    #5
    kikz said:

    Chemo after surgery
    I had three rounds of chemo prior to surgery (taxol/carboplatin)one infusion every three weeks. Had surgery about five weeks later than about five weeks after that had three more rounds of chemo consisting of three infusions per round. Day one taxol, day two cisplatin, day eight taxol again. Then same thing two weeks later. Day one and two were administered through a port in my abdoman and day eight intravenously. Surgery was 6/21/2010 and last chemo was 9/15/2010. I have nueropathy in hands and feet but not too bad. What is really bothering me is aches in my shoulders, knees and thighs.

    Karen

    chemo after surgery
    Karen,

    Thanks for the reply. You have had a lot of chemo. I'm glad to h ear your neuropathy is not too bad. When I had pains in my joints and in my legs, the doctor prescribed a Medrol dose pack. You take 6 pills the first day, then 5, then 4, etc. However, I took this after a chemo treatment so I don't know if it would work for you but you might want to ask the oncologist. I have read on the discussion board under Long Term Effects of chemo that these pains are one of the side effects of taxol/carbo. There was one suggestion that said to get a tempurpedic mattress and that will help you sleep. Do you take anything for the aches?

    Chris
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #6
    Chris,
    you might want to ask your doctor about using taxotere this time. It is reported to be a bit better for the neuropathy in some studies. I am a 31/2 year survivor and have had lot of chemo. I do have nueropathy in my feet, that is permanent. I do notice a difference when I can excersise regularly and get to have a break from chemo. I have chosen to get treatment in spite of the neuropathy. Fortunately, I don't have any pain, just a lot of clumsiness and tingling. I have tried many things including lyrica. Right now I am using a Japanese herb which seems to help a bit.

    Wishing you wisdom as you decide about your treatment going forward.
    kathleen
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member
    #7
    cfont11 said:

    chemo after surgery
    Karen,

    Thanks for the reply. You have had a lot of chemo. I'm glad to h ear your neuropathy is not too bad. When I had pains in my joints and in my legs, the doctor prescribed a Medrol dose pack. You take 6 pills the first day, then 5, then 4, etc. However, I took this after a chemo treatment so I don't know if it would work for you but you might want to ask the oncologist. I have read on the discussion board under Long Term Effects of chemo that these pains are one of the side effects of taxol/carbo. There was one suggestion that said to get a tempurpedic mattress and that will help you sleep. Do you take anything for the aches?

    Chris

    Memory Foam is Great!
    Hi, Chris. My husband and I have been using a 2.5" memory foam mattress pad for years, and it has reduced many of our aches and pains. I highly recommend it. The pad is a lot less expensive than the entire mattress, but if you can afford it, then go for the whole thing. Even with the "marshmallow" bed, I was unable to sleep in a bed for the week following chemo. We bought a recliner, and that helped me a lot, as I could be on my back without the stress of lying flat. If you think a recliner might help, I suggest you find a store with a variety of brands and styles and try them out. I thought I knew what I wanted until I got into it.

    DB
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #8
    kayandok said:

    Chris,
    you might want to ask your doctor about using taxotere this time. It is reported to be a bit better for the neuropathy in some studies. I am a 31/2 year survivor and have had lot of chemo. I do have nueropathy in my feet, that is permanent. I do notice a difference when I can excersise regularly and get to have a break from chemo. I have chosen to get treatment in spite of the neuropathy. Fortunately, I don't have any pain, just a lot of clumsiness and tingling. I have tried many things including lyrica. Right now I am using a Japanese herb which seems to help a bit.

    Wishing you wisdom as you decide about your treatment going forward.
    kathleen

    Pain
    Chris,
    I have only taken tylenol so far. I emailed my onco to ask for suggestions and she referred me to my primary saying it may be arthritis. I am a little confused by this because I did not have arthritis before, so is she now suggesting I suddenly have it in several areas of my body? I really do not want to take any drugs unless it gets intolerable. I think my body had enough with the chemo and after reading that it effects the liver I am less receptive to taking anything. But having said that I just took a couple of extra strength Tylenol and it states it can effect the liver. We can't win can we?

    Karen

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