Carbo/taxol

jgwright
jgwright Member Posts: 242
edited December 2011 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Taxol and carboplatin, an effective preoperative regimen for carcinoma of the esophagus: results of a phase II trial.
Paclitaxel (Taxol) has one of the highest response rates when used as a single agent in patients with esophageal cancer. The doublet Taxol-Carboplatin has been shown to be a well-tolerated and safe regimen in non-small cell lung cancer.
--That's what one internet site says, and continues:
Conclusion: 1. Taxol-Carboplatin is a safe and well-tolerated regimen for esophageal cancer. 2. Clinical response rates are comparable to historical controls.

So that's what the local oncologist is putting me on, and my primary oncologist agrees, although he had a somewhat different cocktail in mind.

Any experiences from the crowd??

--Jerry

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Joel C
    Joel C Member Posts: 174
    #3
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    taxol & carboplatin
    Hi Jerry,
    I had six rounds of taxol and carboplatin with 28 concurrent radiation treatments before my MIE in November 2010. I tolerated the pre-surgery treatment well. I received my infusions on Wednesday s and by Saturday I would feel nauseas but never actually got sick, I just didn’t want to eat for a day or so. Fatigue was also an issue on the weekend following the treatment but by Sunday afternoon I would cycle back up and feel pretty well and was eating whatever I wanted. As Sherri mentioned hydration is critical to tolerating the treatment. My post-op pathology indicated a complete response. If I can answer any question, feel free to ask.
    Best regards and good luck,
    Joel
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #4
    Joel C said:

    taxol & carboplatin
    Hi Jerry,
    I had six rounds of taxol and carboplatin with 28 concurrent radiation treatments before my MIE in November 2010. I tolerated the pre-surgery treatment well. I received my infusions on Wednesday s and by Saturday I would feel nauseas but never actually got sick, I just didn’t want to eat for a day or so. Fatigue was also an issue on the weekend following the treatment but by Sunday afternoon I would cycle back up and feel pretty well and was eating whatever I wanted. As Sherri mentioned hydration is critical to tolerating the treatment. My post-op pathology indicated a complete response. If I can answer any question, feel free to ask.
    Best regards and good luck,
    Joel

    Thanks
    I will definitely keep you in mind, Joel.

    --Jerry
  • Heeran
    Heeran Member Posts: 171
    #5
    Hi there,
    My mom was on that same combo with radiation. She was nauseous for the first few weeks but around week 5, she went downhill. Lost most of her hair, very dizzy and weak, plus the radiation took a toll on the pain. She struggled with vomitting and was on lots of anti-nausea medication. Not sure if this was the chemo and pain meds, or just the pain meds. She couldn't eat anything for over 3 weeks and then lost some muscle mass. I think a lot of the bad side affects and taking so long to recuperate has to deal with the fact that she didn't eat for several weeks because she had such bad side affects from the pain meds. I don't think this is common. The oncologist in the beginning stated that this combo should be well tolerated. As long as you're not sensitive to the narcotics, I'm hopeful that you don't have similar experiences to my mom
  • Cora11
    Cora11 Member Posts: 173
    #6
    jgwright said:

    Thanks
    I will definitely keep you in mind, Joel.

    --Jerry

    Same here
    Jerry, that is what Keith was on for his pre-op treatment and it did the job, at least that is what the path report said. ( I am still so superstitious!). That protocol is now considered one of the first options in the NCI guidelines. I know I keep quoting them,... but hopefully it will help others out with their decisions.

    Cora
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #7
    Heeran said:

    Hi there,
    My mom was on that same combo with radiation. She was nauseous for the first few weeks but around week 5, she went downhill. Lost most of her hair, very dizzy and weak, plus the radiation took a toll on the pain. She struggled with vomitting and was on lots of anti-nausea medication. Not sure if this was the chemo and pain meds, or just the pain meds. She couldn't eat anything for over 3 weeks and then lost some muscle mass. I think a lot of the bad side affects and taking so long to recuperate has to deal with the fact that she didn't eat for several weeks because she had such bad side affects from the pain meds. I don't think this is common. The oncologist in the beginning stated that this combo should be well tolerated. As long as you're not sensitive to the narcotics, I'm hopeful that you don't have similar experiences to my mom

    Sensitivity
    I don't know about sensitivity to narcotics. Oxycodone doesn't particularly work for me, although straight codeine will "put me out". None of it makes me sick. Guess I'll find out.

    --Jerry
  • Laura23
    Laura23 Member Posts: 81
    #8
    jgwright said:

    Sensitivity
    I don't know about sensitivity to narcotics. Oxycodone doesn't particularly work for me, although straight codeine will "put me out". None of it makes me sick. Guess I'll find out.

    --Jerry

    Carbo/taxol
    My husband did 5 rounds with this combo along with radiation. He tolerated it fairly well. There were some issues with nausea but the meds controlled that well. He also had some issues with hydration towards the end. Once we figured out that it is not only how much water you are drinking, but also your electrolyte balance that is important, he started drinking Gatorade and that helped. He also received some IV fluids a couple of times. After the first time, he said he didn't realize just how badly he felt until he started feeling good.

    Laura
    Wife to Luis
    Dx 4/11/2011. T3N1M0
    MIE 8/30/2011
  • MissusB
    MissusB Member Posts: 111
    #9
    Laura23 said:

    Carbo/taxol
    My husband did 5 rounds with this combo along with radiation. He tolerated it fairly well. There were some issues with nausea but the meds controlled that well. He also had some issues with hydration towards the end. Once we figured out that it is not only how much water you are drinking, but also your electrolyte balance that is important, he started drinking Gatorade and that helped. He also received some IV fluids a couple of times. After the first time, he said he didn't realize just how badly he felt until he started feeling good.

    Laura
    Wife to Luis
    Dx 4/11/2011. T3N1M0
    MIE 8/30/2011

    Bill did Taxol and Carbo/radiation pre-op as well...
    and has now started a second round of the same because of positive nodes. He had a liver transplant in 2008 and although he has done beautifully and there were no issues, it was our understanding that he was given this combination to avoid kidney damage.(The anti-rejection meds for the transplant can be hard on the kidneys although Bill's numbers have always been good.) He tolerated it very, very well and had a good response.

    Bill had positive nodes after the EC surgery. Our original oncologist didn't see the benefit and wouldn't order post-op chemo, but thanks to many others on this site we visited five oncologists in three four states until we got the recommendation finally from Mayo. He is currently getting that chemo here in KC from an oncologist I wish we had visited initilly. From all of my extensive research he was right on target with the most up-to-date and aggressive treatments. He said that he has been giving Taxol/Carbo for EC for almost five years now, which gave us a big sigh of relief. He also said that just less than a month ago he had gone to a symposium in Miami at which a group from Harvard presented, and they are doing both post-op chemo for positive nodes and using T/C combination as well. Have you pulled the NCCN guidelines? It is now a first line regimen for EC (adenocarcinoma). Kim in Kansas City

    Fiance to Bill
    DX 5/20/2011 T3N1M0
    IL THE 8/29/2011
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #10
    MissusB said:

    Bill did Taxol and Carbo/radiation pre-op as well...
    and has now started a second round of the same because of positive nodes. He had a liver transplant in 2008 and although he has done beautifully and there were no issues, it was our understanding that he was given this combination to avoid kidney damage.(The anti-rejection meds for the transplant can be hard on the kidneys although Bill's numbers have always been good.) He tolerated it very, very well and had a good response.

    Bill had positive nodes after the EC surgery. Our original oncologist didn't see the benefit and wouldn't order post-op chemo, but thanks to many others on this site we visited five oncologists in three four states until we got the recommendation finally from Mayo. He is currently getting that chemo here in KC from an oncologist I wish we had visited initilly. From all of my extensive research he was right on target with the most up-to-date and aggressive treatments. He said that he has been giving Taxol/Carbo for EC for almost five years now, which gave us a big sigh of relief. He also said that just less than a month ago he had gone to a symposium in Miami at which a group from Harvard presented, and they are doing both post-op chemo for positive nodes and using T/C combination as well. Have you pulled the NCCN guidelines? It is now a first line regimen for EC (adenocarcinoma). Kim in Kansas City

    Fiance to Bill
    DX 5/20/2011 T3N1M0
    IL THE 8/29/2011

    Haven't Seen NCCN
    But I will. The more I read, the better I feel about the regimen. So, thanks to ALL of you for the information. As I delve into, I'll report on what's happening.

    --Jerry
  • MissusB
    MissusB Member Posts: 111
    #11
    jgwright said:

    Haven't Seen NCCN
    But I will. The more I read, the better I feel about the regimen. So, thanks to ALL of you for the information. As I delve into, I'll report on what's happening.

    --Jerry

    Go to NCCN.com...
    ....and look for the Treatment Guidelines on EC. It will be about 97 pages long but surprisingly easy to sift through. Someone here gave me this info and it's been invaluable. It pays to know what treatments are available and to be your own advocate. Bill and I learned this when he had liver cancer - Mayo told him in 2007 he had two years to live and there was no center in the country that would transplant him, but through sites like this I met another patient who got us to the University of Indiana. Bill got his transplant (after only 5 weeks on the list, I might add)and has done BEAUTIFULLY ever since - that is, until EC reared it's ugly head! You go, Jerry!!!

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