Chemo # 28

Lou Ann M
Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Chemo #28 done.  Extremely tired, but doing Ok so far.  Yesterday labs, Dr. Visit and taxol.  Hemoglobin still low, anemia, platelets lower that the cutoff for treatment by 7. We decided to go ahead with treatment anyhow.  CA 125 was up by 30.  I will have another Ct scan after the next round.  Today was the Carbo treatment We got there at 8:30 and left at 5:00.  I was the last one out.  The slooooooooow dose seems to be working.  I have not had any reactions to it.  Now waiting for the side effects and then good days will be back. Lou Ann

Comments

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,483 Member
    #2
    I don't know how you do it,

    I don't know how you do it, LouAnn.  After just three chemos, I had to quit because of the side effects.  I hope you're feeling better soon.

    Love,

    Eldri

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    #3
    So glad

    you haven't had any reactions to the carbo.  Hoping the side effects don't last long an the good days are back soon!

    Chris

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #4
    Editgrl said:

    So glad

    you haven't had any reactions to the carbo.  Hoping the side effects don't last long an the good days are back soon!

    Chris

    LouAnn

    I'm glad you were able to get your treatment.  Do you know yet how many more you will have to do? Or is it all dependant on the scans?

    Sending you lots of positive energy and prayers that this gets rid of all the darn cancer!

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #5
    TeddyandBears_Mom said:

    LouAnn

    I'm glad you were able to get your treatment.  Do you know yet how many more you will have to do? Or is it all dependant on the scans?

    Sending you lots of positive energy and prayers that this gets rid of all the darn cancer!

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

    LouAnn

    what an inspiration you are.  I love tough ladies.

  • Cucu me
    Cucu me Member Posts: 213 Member
    #6
    ConnieSW said:

    LouAnn

    what an inspiration you are.  I love tough ladies.

    Hero

    and great example to follow!

    Wishing you sooner, more and better good days!

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    Hoping this chemo is going well

    Another one down.  I hope your side effects are minimized and the chemo treatment outcome is maximized.  You are one of the ladies I look to when I'm down, I wish there was a way to repay you with hugs and prayers.

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #8
    TeddyandBears_Mom said:

    LouAnn

    I'm glad you were able to get your treatment.  Do you know yet how many more you will have to do? Or is it all dependant on the scans?

    Sending you lots of positive energy and prayers that this gets rid of all the darn cancer!

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

    Cindi

    i was told 2 years ago that I would probably be on chemo for the rest of my life.  Both my Gyn-Onc and my Onc would be happy if we could get to stable.  After one more treatment I will have another CT scan to see if the return to Taxol/Carbo is working.  If it isn't, we may be able to try the genomic match.  I have 2 great doctors who will keep looking for new treatments if this doesn't work. I have been blessed in many ways and have learned to enjoy my good days.  Right now this is my normal life, but I don't give up hope for a cure for all of us.  Lou Ann

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,488 Member
    #9
    Lou Ann M said:

    Cindi

    i was told 2 years ago that I would probably be on chemo for the rest of my life.  Both my Gyn-Onc and my Onc would be happy if we could get to stable.  After one more treatment I will have another CT scan to see if the return to Taxol/Carbo is working.  If it isn't, we may be able to try the genomic match.  I have 2 great doctors who will keep looking for new treatments if this doesn't work. I have been blessed in many ways and have learned to enjoy my good days.  Right now this is my normal life, but I don't give up hope for a cure for all of us.  Lou Ann

    Lou Ann, you are a rock star.

    Lou Ann, you are a rock star.  Is there any clinical trials out there they could put you in?  I just posted somewhere else I just met a woman who has UPSC stage 3C and she is on Avastin right now and has no side effects. 

    I know nothing about the drug and am just throwing it out there.  

     

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #10
    NoTimeForCancer said:

    Lou Ann, you are a rock star.

    Lou Ann, you are a rock star.  Is there any clinical trials out there they could put you in?  I just posted somewhere else I just met a woman who has UPSC stage 3C and she is on Avastin right now and has no side effects. 

    I know nothing about the drug and am just throwing it out there.  

     

    Avastin is what the genomic

    Avastin is what the genomic testing came back as a match, but it is not approved for endometrial cancer by Medicare.  My Oncologist will have to beg them to use it.  And he will but he thinks it will be a 50/50 chance that they will approve it.  We have to wait until after my next CT scans for proof that the Taxol/Carbo isn't working.  The CA 125 can't be used for that.  Lou Ann

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #11
    unknown said:

    Hoping this chemo is going well

    Another one down.  I hope your side effects are minimized and the chemo treatment outcome is maximized.  You are one of the ladies I look to when I'm down, I wish there was a way to repay you with hugs and prayers.

    LouAnn

    Thanks for the clarification. And, I'll revise my prayer for a cure and that Medicare steps up for you and anyone else that is using it. I'm glad you have doctors that are willing to fight for the right things for you. It seems like we are behind the times a bit in our care when it comes to insurance - private or otherwise!

    I hope you are feeling better today.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,488 Member
    #12
    Lou Ann M said:

    Avastin is what the genomic

    Avastin is what the genomic testing came back as a match, but it is not approved for endometrial cancer by Medicare.  My Oncologist will have to beg them to use it.  And he will but he thinks it will be a 50/50 chance that they will approve it.  We have to wait until after my next CT scans for proof that the Taxol/Carbo isn't working.  The CA 125 can't be used for that.  Lou Ann

    A new member, and I apologize

    A new member, and I apologize for not remembering her name, posted the NYT article on the head of the FDA who recently lost his wife to ovarian cancer.  He is going to be pushing for new drugs or drug approval (THANK YOU GOD!!) so have your doctor push.  The woman I just met is traveling now, but we are totally connected and I am sure she will be willing to share with me and let me pass it along if there is anything you can use.  

    We all need to start demanding.  I am so impressed with the women here.  Educated, knowledgeable, not afraid to delve in to the research -- WOW!  I don't think researchers know just how much we know and how determined to get better care and treatments.  

  • takingcontrol58
    takingcontrol58 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #13
    Lou Ann M said:

    Avastin is what the genomic

    Avastin is what the genomic testing came back as a match, but it is not approved for endometrial cancer by Medicare.  My Oncologist will have to beg them to use it.  And he will but he thinks it will be a 50/50 chance that they will approve it.  We have to wait until after my next CT scans for proof that the Taxol/Carbo isn't working.  The CA 125 can't be used for that.  Lou Ann

    LouAnn,

    Please ask your doctor about metformin.  Metformin inhibits angiogenesis, which is when new tumors form blood vessels to feed them so they can grow.   

    That is what Avastin does.  And Avastin has serious side effects.  Since you have had much chemo so far, I hope you would try a drug that has few side
    effects and has many anti-tumor properties.  It is written up in all the medical journals.

    My integrative oncologist wanted to add Avastin to my treatment of Taxol/Carbo but I refused when I learned that Metformin does the same thing. He did put me
    on metformin.

    I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic EC in January 2015- I had 34 tumors after my surgery the prior Nov (liver, spleen, rectum)- started metformin February 26, 2015
    and by August 25, 2015 I was NED. I did go through 6 treatments of Taxol/Carbo from Jan - May. I saw miraculous results after one month on metformin. My 34CM of tumors shrunk
    to 4CM. Metformin stopped my cancer in its tracks.

    You have nothing to lose and metformin is a generic drug- very cheap.  You can take it for a month or two and see if you get better results on your next CTscan before you
    get on the Avastin.   You have already had so much chemo and like I said, you have nothing to lose.

    takingcontrol58

     

     

    Good luck.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #14
    takingcontrol58 said:

    LouAnn,

    Please ask your doctor about metformin.  Metformin inhibits angiogenesis, which is when new tumors form blood vessels to feed them so they can grow.   

    That is what Avastin does.  And Avastin has serious side effects.  Since you have had much chemo so far, I hope you would try a drug that has few side
    effects and has many anti-tumor properties.  It is written up in all the medical journals.

    My integrative oncologist wanted to add Avastin to my treatment of Taxol/Carbo but I refused when I learned that Metformin does the same thing. He did put me
    on metformin.

    I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic EC in January 2015- I had 34 tumors after my surgery the prior Nov (liver, spleen, rectum)- started metformin February 26, 2015
    and by August 25, 2015 I was NED. I did go through 6 treatments of Taxol/Carbo from Jan - May. I saw miraculous results after one month on metformin. My 34CM of tumors shrunk
    to 4CM. Metformin stopped my cancer in its tracks.

    You have nothing to lose and metformin is a generic drug- very cheap.  You can take it for a month or two and see if you get better results on your next CTscan before you
    get on the Avastin.   You have already had so much chemo and like I said, you have nothing to lose.

    takingcontrol58

     

     

    Good luck.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thanks

    thanks for the information.  I will certainly look into it.  My doctor is pretty open to things I might want to try. 

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,483 Member
    #15
    unknown said:

    Hoping this chemo is going well

    Another one down.  I hope your side effects are minimized and the chemo treatment outcome is maximized.  You are one of the ladies I look to when I'm down, I wish there was a way to repay you with hugs and prayers.

    How are you doing, Nancy?  I

    How are you doing, Nancy?  I hope your side effects are minimal!!

    Love,

    Eldri

  • BC Brady
    BC Brady Member Posts: 70
    #16
    takingcontrol58 said:

    LouAnn,

    Please ask your doctor about metformin.  Metformin inhibits angiogenesis, which is when new tumors form blood vessels to feed them so they can grow.   

    That is what Avastin does.  And Avastin has serious side effects.  Since you have had much chemo so far, I hope you would try a drug that has few side
    effects and has many anti-tumor properties.  It is written up in all the medical journals.

    My integrative oncologist wanted to add Avastin to my treatment of Taxol/Carbo but I refused when I learned that Metformin does the same thing. He did put me
    on metformin.

    I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic EC in January 2015- I had 34 tumors after my surgery the prior Nov (liver, spleen, rectum)- started metformin February 26, 2015
    and by August 25, 2015 I was NED. I did go through 6 treatments of Taxol/Carbo from Jan - May. I saw miraculous results after one month on metformin. My 34CM of tumors shrunk
    to 4CM. Metformin stopped my cancer in its tracks.

    You have nothing to lose and metformin is a generic drug- very cheap.  You can take it for a month or two and see if you get better results on your next CTscan before you
    get on the Avastin.   You have already had so much chemo and like I said, you have nothing to lose.

    takingcontrol58

     

     

    Good luck.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Metformin

    This is very hopeful news about metformin. Thank you. I'm going to ask as well. I have a scan on the 25th - chemo on the 29th. Only 3 doxil's down - hope it's enough to see a difference in the right direction. I, too am understanding that I could be on this the rest of my life. The side effects are different than the taxol/carboplatin cocktail - but weirder - less predictable. Does anyone have trouble with depression while on Doxil? Stupid question I know! We all are depressed about the disease - but this is a definite cloud about day 2 or 3 and lasts for a week. Pretty prounounced and totally counter to my general disposition. Now I'm prepared for it - but need to lean on a Xanax to get through the evening for a few days. 

    Thank God I found all of you. XOXO

    Billie

  • BC Brady
    BC Brady Member Posts: 70
    #17
    OMG 28

    You are a ROCKSTAR! Good luck and Godspeed through this!

    XO,

    Billie

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    #18
    BC Brady said:

    Metformin

    This is very hopeful news about metformin. Thank you. I'm going to ask as well. I have a scan on the 25th - chemo on the 29th. Only 3 doxil's down - hope it's enough to see a difference in the right direction. I, too am understanding that I could be on this the rest of my life. The side effects are different than the taxol/carboplatin cocktail - but weirder - less predictable. Does anyone have trouble with depression while on Doxil? Stupid question I know! We all are depressed about the disease - but this is a definite cloud about day 2 or 3 and lasts for a week. Pretty prounounced and totally counter to my general disposition. Now I'm prepared for it - but need to lean on a Xanax to get through the evening for a few days. 

    Thank God I found all of you. XOXO

    Billie

    Billie

    I had 7 rounds of Doxil and I hated it .. I think mostly because of the unpredictability of it.  I had several days that I was defiantly down in the dumps and crabby. I would feel find for awhile and then find myself throwing up.  Couldn't eat or even drink for a few days . ended up having to go into the infusion center for hydration more than once.  It did work on several very small tumors, but did nothing to the 3 larger tumors.  it is miserable stuff so I hope you get some good results from it.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

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