Topotecan

MichaelaMarie
MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello everyone! My doctor wants me to start on Topotecan in two weeks. I know that many of you have already taken this chemo. I would appreciate it so much if I could get your feed-back about your experiences with this drug. Did it work and what were the side effects that you experienced? I guess I am feeling pretty down in the dumps after my appt yesterday. I need a "group hug." And, Bonnie, I'm happy to hear that you were up and out of bed for awhile the other day. I'm so sorry that you have to be so sick. You are such a trooper. Take care everyone. With much love, prayer and hugs, MM aka Keelie

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    topotecan
    I have not had this one yet. keep us posted as how you tolerate it. Are you coming out of remission or NED? I think I am and will find out tomorrow what is the next course. (((HUGS and prayers))) Saundra
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #3
    Topotecan
    Thanks, Saundra, for your good wishes! No, I'm not in remission. I just came off of a regimen of Taxotere/Avastin for approx. 8 months in length. I've had about a three month "chemo break", but it has not served me well. My recent Cat Scan showed a mass on my colon. Taxotere is no longer working for me, so that is why my doctor wants to try Topotecan. The Taxotere caused me severe problems with my eyes since February.....excessive tearing (to the point of not being able to hardly see), pain, extreme redness of the eye and rim, etc. It doesn't appear that Topotecan really helps too much, maybe a two month remission or so. I sure hate the idea of a third surgery though. They would probably take quite a bit of the colon, don't you think? I see your posts all of the time and always appreciate them, along with your kindness. With love and hugs, MM
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #4
    Topo
    Hi there MM

    I finished a 6 cycle round of Topo back in June. My side effects were minimal.I was on the 3 weeks on and 1 week off chemo schedule. The day of chemo I had some head aches but tylenol took of them. Minimal fatique and nausea,no hair loss,but it did thin a bit. I had a good appetite and for the 1st time I never needed any booster white or red cells shots. My ca-125 went into the normal zone after the 1st treatment. For me the worse part is it gave me hardly any remission time. I was enjoying my time off when it came back with a vengence!!!Only 9 weeks off chemo. I wish you the best of luck and have heard many ladies have had much success with this chemo. (((hugz))~~Joanne
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #5
    floridajo said:

    Topo
    Hi there MM

    I finished a 6 cycle round of Topo back in June. My side effects were minimal.I was on the 3 weeks on and 1 week off chemo schedule. The day of chemo I had some head aches but tylenol took of them. Minimal fatique and nausea,no hair loss,but it did thin a bit. I had a good appetite and for the 1st time I never needed any booster white or red cells shots. My ca-125 went into the normal zone after the 1st treatment. For me the worse part is it gave me hardly any remission time. I was enjoying my time off when it came back with a vengence!!!Only 9 weeks off chemo. I wish you the best of luck and have heard many ladies have had much success with this chemo. (((hugz))~~Joanne

    Topo
    Well I was the opposite, I was always having to receive blood transfusions. It did a number on my blood counts. I received it 5ays on 14 off. It works well for some though.

    Good Luck and God Bless, Jan
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #6
    Topotecan
    Hello, Jan. Thanks for writing. Your side effects with Topotecan sound terrible. Isn't it odd, how everyone has so many different reactions to all of these drugs? Which ones have you already had? How are you now? I'm a nervous wreck about my appt with my doctor tomorrow. I'm not sure what he will have to say. Thanks again, With luv and hugs, MM
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #7
    MichaelaMarie said:

    Topotecan
    Hello, Jan. Thanks for writing. Your side effects with Topotecan sound terrible. Isn't it odd, how everyone has so many different reactions to all of these drugs? Which ones have you already had? How are you now? I'm a nervous wreck about my appt with my doctor tomorrow. I'm not sure what he will have to say. Thanks again, With luv and hugs, MM

    Topo
    ya know for some reason my doctor does not give shots so I was getting blood transfusions often. In Aug I had my last, because I guess it was 2 weeks and I was in the hospital dehydrated for three days. Then at my doctors app. aug.29 I was very sick they admitted me and I had the tube ran down my nose to drain my stomach, I will never never have that done again, I will just have to puke it all out. lol I was in the hospital 13 days they ended up doing surgery on my hernias I had a bowel obstruction... But the good thing is is that I am on a break now until mid Jan. I had to beg, my doctor really did not want me to take one.
    Ya know what is strange also actually I will give God the glory when they did my ca-125 this month it had dropped 100 points. They cant explain that one. I can.
    You ask what all I had been on I started on the Carbo/Taxetere Gemzar, Doxil and Topotecan.
    It was time for a break, I am going Sat. to start a liver clense I am not sure what that consist of. I just my poor liver after filtering qall this chemo and everthing else I have put in my body it certainly wont hurt. I am also ordering Cell Quest while I am on my break.

    God Bless you and I hope things go well for you.

    Jan
  • MichaelaMarie
    MichaelaMarie Member Posts: 163
    #8
    JanQ said:

    Topo
    ya know for some reason my doctor does not give shots so I was getting blood transfusions often. In Aug I had my last, because I guess it was 2 weeks and I was in the hospital dehydrated for three days. Then at my doctors app. aug.29 I was very sick they admitted me and I had the tube ran down my nose to drain my stomach, I will never never have that done again, I will just have to puke it all out. lol I was in the hospital 13 days they ended up doing surgery on my hernias I had a bowel obstruction... But the good thing is is that I am on a break now until mid Jan. I had to beg, my doctor really did not want me to take one.
    Ya know what is strange also actually I will give God the glory when they did my ca-125 this month it had dropped 100 points. They cant explain that one. I can.
    You ask what all I had been on I started on the Carbo/Taxetere Gemzar, Doxil and Topotecan.
    It was time for a break, I am going Sat. to start a liver clense I am not sure what that consist of. I just my poor liver after filtering qall this chemo and everthing else I have put in my body it certainly wont hurt. I am also ordering Cell Quest while I am on my break.

    God Bless you and I hope things go well for you.

    Jan

    Topotecan
    Hi, Jan, You mentioned that you had a blockage and were in the hospital 13 days! Yikes! Was the blockage from tumor or from your hernias? I've heard that both can cause blockages. Several years ago I had surgery for 5 incisional hernias. Now, it seems that I have another 'small' one that they don't seem concerned about. However, my ct scan did show growths on my colon. My doctor is concerned about possible blockage from those. Me too! Thank goodness my doctor does give the shots! It sounds like you and I have been down the same route, with the exception of me having Taxotere/Avastin this past year. Has your doctor mentioned which drug you will be on next? My doctor acts like there isn't many left to try. Congratulations on the 100 point drop! Wow! What is your number now? Who gives you the liver cleanse? Is it an infusion? I've had about 4 months off of chemo, but my number went up to over 300.....from 200. But, isn't it nice? I'm finally feeling normal again, just in time to start back on chemo. I sure hope I don't get as sick as you did with the Topotecan. I'm really dreading the whole process again. Well, thanks so much for sending all of the information. I really appreciate it. With hugs and best wishes, MM

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