Carbo Taxol Chemo Response outcomes for EC

cindyrk23
cindyrk23 Member Posts: 12
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Hi - Am looking for some info on level of complete remission or shrinkage on Carbo-Taxol chemo ? There is lot of data available on FOLFOX but am not able to find lot of people who got Carbo-Taxol Chemo for EC ? If anyone had experiences ( for EC , not for other cancers ) , please kindly share . 

 

Thank you .

Comments

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #2
    Hello Cindy

    Hello Cindy,

    I got carboplatin/taxol when I was stage III (my 1st time).  I did carbo/taxol alongside radiation, then had an esophajectomy, then did a bonus course of carbo/taxol (much stronger) after surgery.  I had a complete response, but still had a recurrence a couple of years later.  The recurrence was in a lung (stage IV).  I then had folfox and herceptin.  Had another complete response and have been testing clean for over six years.  I still get the herceptin weekly.

    That's the short version of my story, just the different chemo regimens.  Hope it's helpful.

     

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

  • South Side Steve
    South Side Steve Member Posts: 32
    #3
    Carbo/Taxol

    Hi Cindy,

    I had 7 Carbo/Taxol infusions along with 25 radiation treatments prior to my Ivor Lewis surgery 6 years ago this month. My surgery pathology samples came back clear, so no additional chemo treatments were necessary. It was a long recovery, but I can do everything I did before surgery. Other than sleeping on an incline and eating smaller portions for meals, the whole ordeal wasn't as "life-changing" as feared.

    Steve

  • cindyrk23
    cindyrk23 Member Posts: 12
    #4
    Deathorglory said:

    Hello Cindy

    Hello Cindy,

    I got carboplatin/taxol when I was stage III (my 1st time).  I did carbo/taxol alongside radiation, then had an esophajectomy, then did a bonus course of carbo/taxol (much stronger) after surgery.  I had a complete response, but still had a recurrence a couple of years later.  The recurrence was in a lung (stage IV).  I then had folfox and herceptin.  Had another complete response and have been testing clean for over six years.  I still get the herceptin weekly.

    That's the short version of my story, just the different chemo regimens.  Hope it's helpful.

     

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

    Thanks for the info

    Hi . Thanks for sharing the info . Your story is one that gives us hope since my wife is Her2+ and hercetin is added to carbo/taxol but she is stage IV since there are 3 dots ( <1 cm ) on liver . I did note that whoever got carbo/taxol , were the stage III with Radio added and then surgery . It makes sense since in stage III , its radio & surgery that knocks the large tumor and chemo is meant to kill any potential invisible ( on scans) cancer cells in blood and surface tissues . Since my wife is IV , am concerned if carbo/taxol can give full remission .  If the liver spots go away, i want to consider surgery if the GE junction doesn't complete go away and then with herceptin maintainence she may extend her NED duration . 

  • cindyrk23
    cindyrk23 Member Posts: 12
    edited March 2018 #5
    South Side Steve said:

    Carbo/Taxol

    Hi Cindy,

    I had 7 Carbo/Taxol infusions along with 25 radiation treatments prior to my Ivor Lewis surgery 6 years ago this month. My surgery pathology samples came back clear, so no additional chemo treatments were necessary. It was a long recovery, but I can do everything I did before surgery. Other than sleeping on an incline and eating smaller portions for meals, the whole ordeal wasn't as "life-changing" as feared.

    Steve

    Thanks for sharing info

    Hi . Thanks for sharing info . Am glad you are doing well , your case also gives us lot of hope . 

  • GeriR
    GeriR Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2018 #6
    Hi. My husband had 7 rounds

    Hi. My husband had 7 rounds of carbo/taxol with 27 rounds of radiation.  Pathology after surgery showed no cancer and all lymph nodes were "clean."  That was August 2017. He has had 2 recurrences since then. He took xeloda along with radiation and is now getting Folfox every 2 weeks.  We remain hopeful. 

  • GeriR
    GeriR Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2018 #7
    Hi. My husband had 7 rounds

    Hi. My husband had 7 rounds of carbo/taxol with 27 rounds of radiation.  Pathology after surgery showed no cancer and all lymph nodes were "clean."  That was August 2017. He has had 2 recurrences since then. He took xeloda along with radiation and is now getting Folfox every 2 weeks.  We remain hopeful. 

  • siutis12
    siutis12 Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2018 #8
    I had five chemotherapy

    I had five chemotherapy sessions with that cocktail concurrently with 23 radiation treatments.  Treatment ended on June 1. I said no to the brutal surgery to remove my esophagus and reconstruct my digestive system.  I had a complete response with zero evidence of the cancer. I'm on the wait and watch program. I'm a quality of life guy.  Hoping to get 2 years of life out of this. 

  • PaulT
    PaulT Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2018 #9
    Carbo/Taxol

    I had Carbo and Taxol and thought I was NED but found out from my biopsy after my surgery still showed traces of cancer cells so I was one of the ones that needed surgery. Surgery was February 2016 and have had clean scans since. Life is good. 

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #10
    PaulT said:

    Carbo/Taxol

    I had Carbo and Taxol and thought I was NED but found out from my biopsy after my surgery still showed traces of cancer cells so I was one of the ones that needed surgery. Surgery was February 2016 and have had clean scans since. Life is good. 

    Great for You!!!

    Hello Paul,

    That's great news.  I hope you continue to test clean and enjoy a pleasant/happy life for years and years!!

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

  • PaulT
    PaulT Member Posts: 10
    #11
    Deathorglory said:

    Great for You!!!

    Hello Paul,

    That's great news.  I hope you continue to test clean and enjoy a pleasant/happy life for years and years!!

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

    Great for You

    Thank you Ed

  • cindyrk23
    cindyrk23 Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2018 #12
    update

    In my wife case , CarboTaxol didn't provide any response nor to Primary GE tumor or Liver mets. But she had allerigic reactions during infusion and lot of sideeffects. We discontinued after 2 months and started FOLFOX which provided response to her Liver mets.

  • midlandgigi
    midlandgigi Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2018 #13
    Carbo/Taxol

    I was diagnosed with stage 2 and had Carbo/Taxol alongside radiation.  PET showed no cancer but I went ahead with Esophajectomy because it greatly increases the odds.  Pathology showed slight residual cancer but all lymph nodes were clear and I was pronounced cancer free.  Six months later PET showed ative lymph node in peritoneum. This moved me to Stage 4.   I have started Folfox with Leucovorin every 2 weeks.  I've been told there is no "cure" once the cancer is in a distant lymph node and this treatment is meant to control and contain the spread.  

    I would appreciate any hints on managing the side effects of Folfox/Leuovorin.   My treatment will last 6 months if monitoring shows it is working and I can tolerate it. 

  • cindyrk23
    cindyrk23 Member Posts: 12
    #14
    midlandgigi said:

    Carbo/Taxol

    I was diagnosed with stage 2 and had Carbo/Taxol alongside radiation.  PET showed no cancer but I went ahead with Esophajectomy because it greatly increases the odds.  Pathology showed slight residual cancer but all lymph nodes were clear and I was pronounced cancer free.  Six months later PET showed ative lymph node in peritoneum. This moved me to Stage 4.   I have started Folfox with Leucovorin every 2 weeks.  I've been told there is no "cure" once the cancer is in a distant lymph node and this treatment is meant to control and contain the spread.  

    I would appreciate any hints on managing the side effects of Folfox/Leuovorin.   My treatment will last 6 months if monitoring shows it is working and I can tolerate it. 

    Sorry to hear and wish you good luck

    Sorry to hear. But FOLFOX is good in clearing small distant mets and am sure in 4 months you will be cancer free. The sideeffects vary from person to person. Usually FOLFOX sideeffects are cummulative i.e initially you may experience them for few days after the infusion but as cycles add the # of days & intensity will go up. Based on the type of side effects you experience you can work out how to manage them. 

  • midlandgigi
    midlandgigi Member Posts: 16
    #15
    cindyrk23 said:

    Sorry to hear and wish you good luck

    Sorry to hear. But FOLFOX is good in clearing small distant mets and am sure in 4 months you will be cancer free. The sideeffects vary from person to person. Usually FOLFOX sideeffects are cummulative i.e initially you may experience them for few days after the infusion but as cycles add the # of days & intensity will go up. Based on the type of side effects you experience you can work out how to manage them. 

    Carbo/Taxol

    Thanks Cindy.  Fortunately, I am mostly recovered from the surgery and am in good health other thank the eso reoccurrence.  I also have breast cancer but it is DCIS and I'm in monitoring mode with it.  No changes there in a year.

  • dave2018
    dave2018 Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2018 #16
    Carbo/Taxol 5X + 25 Radiation -> PET Scan & EGD Biopsies clean

    I had Carbo/Taxol 5 Times (once a week) with 25 concurrent radiation treatments in May of 2018.   Subsequent pet scans and biopsies via EGD showed no evidence of cancer, but I went ahead with the surgery to remove half of stomach and half of esophagus as recommended.  GLAD I DID.  Real time pathology during surgery showed no evidence of cancer, BUT subsequent analysis of removed tissue showed rare, isolated, but poorly differentiated cancer cells in the tissue.  

    Surgical recovery has been easier than I expected.  To those that wonder whether surgery is worthwhile if all looks clean, I say do it if you are otherwise in good health.

    Dave

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