Whine bottle emptied, it is what it is.

sunflash · February 2012

Double Whammy said:
Yep
As Fayard says, we're here to support you no matter which route you choose.

Suzanne

I agree with Dr #2
Annie,
I was diagnosed with UPSC in June 2011. It was my second primary cancer as well...the first time I had cancer was in 2007. My Dr recommended 6 rounds of Taxol/Carboplatin spaced 3 weeks apart. I decided to seek a 2nd opinion, and Dr #2 agreed with the 6 treatments of Taxol/Carboplatin, but thought they should be spaced 4 weeks apart. The reason for this being I've had chemo before and she thought my blood counts wouldn't be able to handle a more aggressive treatment. Dr #1 strongly disagreed, saying "why would I want to give your blood counts more time to recover, since I'd also be giving cancer more time to regroup and recover during the extra week? Let's hit it hard up front, and if we have to back off later to every 4 weeks we will!" That made sense to me, and I went with Dr #1's advice.
My blood counts were able to handle it just fine, and I finished my last treatment on Nov 10. I'm very glad I went with the advice of more aggressive treatment!
I guess I'm saying the only way you'll know how you'll handle the treatment is by doing it. Your Dr can make adjustments along the way if need be.
Sending hugs and prayers for you!

Fayard · February 2012

snowbird_11 said:
New treatment recommendation per 2nd opinion
Well, Mary Ann, brand new viewpoint: Start chemo immediately! He presented the opposite view from my reg gyn-onc. He believes that now, well basically in good health with normal organ function, I should make the most of my strength to treat aggressively. If cancer progresses with conservative treatment, i will be less able to handle chemo. He considers my potential response to treatment to be much higher than Dr #1. He gave same chance of tamoxifen working but thinks I have responded well to chemo in past and have not been treated with carbo in 3.5 years that I should get good response. Although carbo alone would be an option, he believes the synergistic effect of adding taxol or taxotere would be best. He considers less harsh a chemo than the Gemzar I did thru 2010, just get the hair loss. He would utilize Neulasta shots if needed to keep blood counts in range to maintain treatments. He believes aggressive first, if problems handling, then step back to conservative. This is a great argument to me!

I have concern that Dr #1 may lean toward preserving quality rather than quantity of life. I'm ready to give it the fight. Now I will need to see if Dr #1 would be on board with this regimen. He has always been conservative but he does say he will follow my treatment requests. I like the comprehensive center where I am treated over the individual practice/infusion ctr of Dr #2, but I will make a change if need be. So, back to the drawing board to review this with Dr #1.
Annie

One more thing
I forgot to mention that I had Neulasta the first day of each cycle, which also was the day I had both chemicals: carbo and taxol. I had 18 treatments, 3 weeks on, and one week off.
My white blood cells were never low enough to interrupt or change the treatment.
After taking having Neulasta, WBC were always back up by the following week.

Rewriter · February 2012

Fayard said:
One more thing
I forgot to mention that I had Neulasta the first day of each cycle, which also was the day I had both chemicals: carbo and taxol. I had 18 treatments, 3 weeks on, and one week off.
My white blood cells were never low enough to interrupt or change the treatment.
After taking having Neulasta, WBC were always back up by the following week.

Annie
Of course, we will support you no matter what treatment decision you make. Dr. #2's argument makes the most sense, though, and you certainly seem more upbeat since meeting with him. You have been in my thoughts very often, and I am sending you all of my best wishes.

Hugs,

Jill

LizGrrr · February 2012

snowbird_11 said:
New treatment recommendation per 2nd opinion
Well, Mary Ann, brand new viewpoint: Start chemo immediately! He presented the opposite view from my reg gyn-onc. He believes that now, well basically in good health with normal organ function, I should make the most of my strength to treat aggressively. If cancer progresses with conservative treatment, i will be less able to handle chemo. He considers my potential response to treatment to be much higher than Dr #1. He gave same chance of tamoxifen working but thinks I have responded well to chemo in past and have not been treated with carbo in 3.5 years that I should get good response. Although carbo alone would be an option, he believes the synergistic effect of adding taxol or taxotere would be best. He considers less harsh a chemo than the Gemzar I did thru 2010, just get the hair loss. He would utilize Neulasta shots if needed to keep blood counts in range to maintain treatments. He believes aggressive first, if problems handling, then step back to conservative. This is a great argument to me!

I have concern that Dr #1 may lean toward preserving quality rather than quantity of life. I'm ready to give it the fight. Now I will need to see if Dr #1 would be on board with this regimen. He has always been conservative but he does say he will follow my treatment requests. I like the comprehensive center where I am treated over the individual practice/infusion ctr of Dr #2, but I will make a change if need be. So, back to the drawing board to review this with Dr #1.
Annie

Annie and Ro
My heart goes out to both of you, and I wish you all the strength and good cheer to see you through your treatments successfully. Thank you both for providing inspiration for those of us newly diagnosed.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Liz in Dallas

I Will Survive · February 2012

LizGrrr said:
Annie and Ro
My heart goes out to both of you, and I wish you all the strength and good cheer to see you through your treatments successfully. Thank you both for providing inspiration for those of us newly diagnosed.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Liz in Dallas

Annie- ?s
How are you doing? What is happening now?

Hannah

california_artist · February 2012

RoseyR said:
Annie, You Have a Good Plan

Am so happy to hear from you but sorry you are dealing with another recurrence. But all that you say makes so much sense; it's the plan I would adopt too.

Several of us are astounded to hear that uterine papillary serous is "harder to treat" than the ovarian version. I too always thought it was the opposite. Are you sure you heard him correctly--and that he's right? And I wonder if this is true for all aggressive uterine versus ovarian cancers.

Another thing I wonder is whether some recent findings on enhancement of chemo for ovarian cancer (LDN was found to enhance cisplatin, for example) would apply to cisplatin for uterine cancer. It would surely seem to, wouldn't it? I have also read that selenium greatly enhanced carboplatin/taxol in treating ovarian cancer (preventing "chemoresistance") and suspect it would have a similar effect of these chemotherapeutic agents in treating uterine cancer.

Just some thoughts.

Annie,
The recent rise in the more aggressive UPSC has been often attributed to the use of Tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer. Does a bang up job on breast cancer, but promotes uterine cancer.

california_artist · February 2012

Fayard said:
One more thing
I forgot to mention that I had Neulasta the first day of each cycle, which also was the day I had both chemicals: carbo and taxol. I had 18 treatments, 3 weeks on, and one week off.
My white blood cells were never low enough to interrupt or change the treatment.
After taking having Neulasta, WBC were always back up by the following week.

Hola, Fayard
I was just talking about that very approach earlier today on one of the treads. I am understanding from what you said that you had chemo on a more continuous basis and your body was able to handle it. To me the most important part is that your doctor also thinks it makes great sense to absolutely not allow the cancer to regroup and morph into a stronger cancer cell, more able to fight off and defend itself against chemo. This is the way I do wish more doctors would use chemo.

Where are you being treated? I remember in your email where you said you were, but what hospital is trying this newer treatment scheduling plan?

And how have you been in the weight department, I do recall that your weight was of great concern in the beginning?

My love as always to you and your lovely smiling face,

Claudia

Whine bottle emptied, it is what it is.

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