gemzar treatment - anyone have this?

traci43
traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
in Lung Cancer #1
Anyone have gemzar treatment for non-small cell lung cancer? My mother-in-law has stage IV with mets in both lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, nowhere else so far. She went through 6 rounds of Taxol, cisplatin and avastin last year. Took a long break and is starting up again. Due to permanent neuropathy no more cisplatin, don't know if they are going to give her avastin again or not.

If you had it, did it help reduce tumors? What are the side effects? Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Traci

Comments

  • UNBEARABLE
    UNBEARABLE Member Posts: 23
    #2
    My husband had gemzar for a
    My husband had gemzar for a while. He didnt suffer severe side effects, in fact, it was one of the easier ones he had. His symptoms were fatigue, slight nausea, and some muscle aches. I can't be sure aching was not due to mets in bones though. We didnt have positive results from gemzar. Have they discussed tarceva with you?
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #3
    Gemzar and cisplatin
    My husband had 6 cycles of gemzar and cisplatin for his stage !!!a nsclc. One week he had both drugs, the second week he had gemzar only and the third week off. he had tumors in both his right and left lung. After the 6 cycles of chemo both tumors had shrunk and we were going to do radiation when the radiation doc wanted us to consult with the thoracic surgeon one more time. We subsequently had surgery in Jan. for the upper right lobe and in March for the lower left lobe. The docs now say he is cancer free. My husband has neuropathy from the cisplatin so if, God forbid, it comes back that won't be an option. The fatigue from the chemo is what really affected him. He took emend and zofran for nausea and ate like a horse the entire time. He did have a hair loss and a bit of round face from the steroids they gave him, but overall I believe he tolerated the combo well. Good luck to you and your mother
  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #4
    cb girl said:

    Gemzar and cisplatin
    My husband had 6 cycles of gemzar and cisplatin for his stage !!!a nsclc. One week he had both drugs, the second week he had gemzar only and the third week off. he had tumors in both his right and left lung. After the 6 cycles of chemo both tumors had shrunk and we were going to do radiation when the radiation doc wanted us to consult with the thoracic surgeon one more time. We subsequently had surgery in Jan. for the upper right lobe and in March for the lower left lobe. The docs now say he is cancer free. My husband has neuropathy from the cisplatin so if, God forbid, it comes back that won't be an option. The fatigue from the chemo is what really affected him. He took emend and zofran for nausea and ate like a horse the entire time. He did have a hair loss and a bit of round face from the steroids they gave him, but overall I believe he tolerated the combo well. Good luck to you and your mother

    thanks for the info
    My mother-in-law can't do the cisplatin because of the newuropathy. The Gemzar is once a week for 3 weeks then off for one week. So far, she'd doing great. Although she isa bit hyper and has insomnia. But her energy level is great and no nausea. I sure hope it works. Traci
  • cb girl
    cb girl Member Posts: 56 Member
    #5
    traci43 said:

    thanks for the info
    My mother-in-law can't do the cisplatin because of the newuropathy. The Gemzar is once a week for 3 weeks then off for one week. So far, she'd doing great. Although she isa bit hyper and has insomnia. But her energy level is great and no nausea. I sure hope it works. Traci

    good to hear
    Glad to hear your MIL is doing well on the gemzar. Hope it works wonders :-) Will keep you both in my thoughts. Noticed that all the pictures on this posting are wedding pictures-good to see hope and happiness together.
    Tracy

Discussion Boards