DOXORUBICIN - GEMCITABINE

I was on Doxorubicin liposome for seven rounds. Mine was an IV infusion that was done in the chemo room and only lasted a few hours. It was a small bag of red liquid plus a lot of premeds. I don't remember if it was once every three or four weeks.  I had to have an echocardiogram before I started and again after every four rounds. Please remember that every one is different  

I had a hard time with it.  I had fatigue, a rash, and a lot of nausia and vomiting.  Also something called hand and foot syndrome.  My hands and feet turned bright red and burned like the worse sunburn ever.  Your hands and feet can dry and crack if you don't slather them with something like Utter Cream.  It did work for awhile. Then it shank the small tumors and let the large ones grow.  One intwined itself between my intestines causing a complete bowel blockage.  I needed an open bowel resection.

i have read that others have had very good results with it with few side effects.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

I'm currently on a combination of Carboplatin and Gemcitabine ("Gemzar").  Seven years ago, I took Carboplatin and Taxol.  I have a lot more side effects with the current regimen than I did seven years ago, and I blame the Gemcitabine for them.  I've had a stiff neck and headache many days, abdominal pain even more days, one day when I couldn't do anything I was so fatigued, shaking hands a couple of days which I think was due to an electrolyte problem, etc.  My hemoglobin, neutrophils and platelets dropped a lot in the first round.  I'm in the second round now, and I'm doing better because my dose was reduced slightly.  I was checked today.  My platelets are down to 58,000, but they're double what they were in the first round, and they recovered quickly the first time.  My neutrophils are fine this time.  Last time, I had to wait an extra week to have my next chemo because they were so low, I was at a big risk for infection (they were about half what they should have been), and I did develop a UTI.  Hemoglobin is still the same as last time but iit's at 9 and should be much higher.  Last time, my gut was so upset, I had about 20 BM's in one day, and  the last 5 or so ended in diarrhea.  That was after eating out at Applebee's, so maybe that was part of the problem. This time, I haven't had any complications like that.  I've been lacking a little energy, but each day I am able to function enough to do most of what I want to do.  I know Gemcitabine is used for ovarian and pancreatic cancer, plus others, and I figure it has to be extra strong to fight those very difficult cancers, so that's how I cope with the more difficult side effects.  However, the paperwork I was given by my Cancer Center said that there is no relationship between how sick the side effects make you and how well the drug is working on you.  I don't know anything yet about its effectiveness on me so far. I was told originally that a CA-125 would be done monthly, and no mention of it has been made to me yet.  I've been seeing a PA (who's excellent) but I'm due to see the oncologist/hematologist next week, so maybe I'll be tested and find out more then.   

My routine is Carboplatin and Gemcitabine the first week, Gemcitabine only the second week, and the third week off.  I'm there about 3 hours for the first week, and about two the second week.  I get Emend IV each time for nausea, as the copay with my insurance was going to be ridiculous if I were to take it in pill form.  That adds about 15 minutes to the routine.  I also get the other usual pre-medications (Benadryl and steroids). 

I know nothing about the other chemo you mentioned.  

Hi, where is the recurrence ? 

Carpit said:

Thanks for the responses.

Thanks for the responses. derMaus, these are two different kind of treatments at two different hospitals.  I have to make a decision by today due to my bloodwork,ECHO and other test are due to be taken tomorrow. I believe I will go with the Gemcitsbine just because MD Anderson is well known for their treatments of cancer. I wonder what causes  the preference in treatmentd by different institutions

Pinky,  I hope your treatments yield good results.

 

Kind Regards to all,

 

 

I assume they did a live tumor assay and maybe that's what's driving the choices ? Good luck on your appointment.