gemzar or doxil?

kayandok
kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
HI ladies, I have a question for a Canadian friend who also has OVCA and lives here in Japan. She was dx 12-06 3C, had carbo/cisplatin/taxol for first line chemo, carbo/taxol for 2nd line and is going on femara to have a break for a few months. Her next chemo choice is gemzar or doxil. I have noticed that doxil seems to be common for 3rd line but not seen much on gemzar. Her doc is leaning toward gemzar, just because of all the doxil side effects and he has no experience with it. (doxil is just coming into Japan in May). I know some of you have been on and off chemo for years and might have good insight. Any input welcome.

As for yours truly, I go into hospital for 3rd cycle of gemzar/cisplatin. I have had a rough first two cycles, but hoping this will be a bit better, as I am getting stronger. Numbers are coming down, so that is good news.

Thank you so much ahead of time for your input.

You ladies are the best,
kathleen in Japan

PS Not sure why the date is January 1970! Hope this goes through

Comments

  • green50
    green50 Member Posts: 312
    #2
    Happy Your numbers are going down
    Chemos work different for different people. Gemzar and Doxil didnt work for me. Gemzar brought down count little but I had red mark from it on ankle that was sore. Doxil worked for a while it makes dark brown where your clothes are tight. Cisplatin didnt work on me at all. I have had somewhere around 8 different chemos. You have to find what works for you and hopefully it will be the lesser of the side effects. I am Happy gemzar and cis is working for you. Why some can take one chemo and others can only use something else dont know. Some people can take certain meds when others can't. I have seen women successful with gemzar and doxil. I hope you and your friend are successful and cured no matter what is used. I am on one that makes me feel achy for over a week then the usual weakness, its ETopiside drip. I have take the pills before too of Etopiside. I have ovarian stage 3 It will be 7 years this summer chemo keeps taking down count then I take breaks. But have seen women beat this. I pray both of you do.
    Prayers and HUgs
    Sandy
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #3
    green50 said:

    Happy Your numbers are going down
    Chemos work different for different people. Gemzar and Doxil didnt work for me. Gemzar brought down count little but I had red mark from it on ankle that was sore. Doxil worked for a while it makes dark brown where your clothes are tight. Cisplatin didnt work on me at all. I have had somewhere around 8 different chemos. You have to find what works for you and hopefully it will be the lesser of the side effects. I am Happy gemzar and cis is working for you. Why some can take one chemo and others can only use something else dont know. Some people can take certain meds when others can't. I have seen women successful with gemzar and doxil. I hope you and your friend are successful and cured no matter what is used. I am on one that makes me feel achy for over a week then the usual weakness, its ETopiside drip. I have take the pills before too of Etopiside. I have ovarian stage 3 It will be 7 years this summer chemo keeps taking down count then I take breaks. But have seen women beat this. I pray both of you do.
    Prayers and HUgs
    Sandy

    Chemo
    Hi Sandy, I love hearing from a veteran! Congratulations on your 7 years. Can I ask a couple questions? Was either doxil or gemzar chosen for your 3rd line chemo? Of all the chemo's you have been on, did any of them give you a remission? Which ones worked for you?

    Wishing you the very best with the Etopiside. I hope it is bringing your numbers down and the aches don't last long. I had that with Taxol, and somtimes had to go to bed for the pain.

    Thanks again for the info, I really do appreciate it!

    Warm hugs,
    kathleen
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #4
    kayandok said:

    Chemo
    Hi Sandy, I love hearing from a veteran! Congratulations on your 7 years. Can I ask a couple questions? Was either doxil or gemzar chosen for your 3rd line chemo? Of all the chemo's you have been on, did any of them give you a remission? Which ones worked for you?

    Wishing you the very best with the Etopiside. I hope it is bringing your numbers down and the aches don't last long. I had that with Taxol, and somtimes had to go to bed for the pain.

    Thanks again for the info, I really do appreciate it!

    Warm hugs,
    kathleen

    Sandy I just read your earlier post, no need to respond!
    Hi again, silly me, for not reading a bit before asking so many questions. You have given great detail in your earlier posts, that was very helpful. You are an inspiration!!
    kathleen
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #5
    3rd line
    Hi Kathleen, glad to hear the combo chemo is bringing your numbers down. Are you going to be up to visiting with Saundra while she is there? That would be awesome if you could. I think my third line chemo was doxil and it did allow me to take a 3 month break from chemo. I had gemzar before too and right now am on it again but taking the nexavar tablets with it. Gemzar didn't work for me last time, but the combination of the two drugs seem to be slowing the cancer down a bit this time.

    Gemzar for some women I know has been a great drug and others not, same with Doxil. Doxil side affects are a little rougher than gemzar, a person just has to follow all the do's and don'ts.

    This is my 12th line of treatment in 6 years, a few have been revisted or something added to try to help them. Our cancer changes, or I think so, so that may be why it works one time and not another. I know I am just grateful to get to the place where I am able to take a few weeks or months off from chemo. Also to be here for yet another family celebration. :-)

    You are such a wonderful friend to check this out for your friend ~ God Bless.

    Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #6
    BonnieR said:

    3rd line
    Hi Kathleen, glad to hear the combo chemo is bringing your numbers down. Are you going to be up to visiting with Saundra while she is there? That would be awesome if you could. I think my third line chemo was doxil and it did allow me to take a 3 month break from chemo. I had gemzar before too and right now am on it again but taking the nexavar tablets with it. Gemzar didn't work for me last time, but the combination of the two drugs seem to be slowing the cancer down a bit this time.

    Gemzar for some women I know has been a great drug and others not, same with Doxil. Doxil side affects are a little rougher than gemzar, a person just has to follow all the do's and don'ts.

    This is my 12th line of treatment in 6 years, a few have been revisted or something added to try to help them. Our cancer changes, or I think so, so that may be why it works one time and not another. I know I am just grateful to get to the place where I am able to take a few weeks or months off from chemo. Also to be here for yet another family celebration. :-)

    You are such a wonderful friend to check this out for your friend ~ God Bless.

    Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    Amazing
    Bonnie,

    It so amazes me that you have had so much chemo. Your body must surely be resilient! I could not even finish my 1st line of treatment and then could only take maintenance twice. I pray I do not have a recurrence as I have no clue how my body would handle more chemo.

    Praising the Lord for your strong body!

    Love,
    Libby
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #7
    Chemo
    Hi Kathleen, so glad to hear your numbers are going down. Bonnie and Sandy are both great Teal Warriors, they are my inspiration. They give me and this board so much encouragement and hope. I will be starting Gemzar next week , I will post to let everyone know how it is working. Keeping you in my prayers and thoughts and also your Canadian friend, hoping that the Gemzar works for her.
    Hugs, Prayers and love, Terry
  • Susan523
    Susan523 Member Posts: 231 Member
    #8
    Gemzar
    Hi,
    I am currently on Gemzar, but have only received 3 treatments so far.
    After only 2 treatments, it brought my CA down from 116.5 to 59.
    I only hope it keeps working... and the side effects so far are not that bad.
    (The best part being that most people keep their hair!)
    I think I'd try the Gemzar first if given a choice; although I realize that
    every body is different, and what works for some doesn't always work for others.

    Best wishes to you and your friend,

    ~Susan xoxo
  • NancyC
    NancyC Member Posts: 10
    #9
    Susan523 said:

    Gemzar
    Hi,
    I am currently on Gemzar, but have only received 3 treatments so far.
    After only 2 treatments, it brought my CA down from 116.5 to 59.
    I only hope it keeps working... and the side effects so far are not that bad.
    (The best part being that most people keep their hair!)
    I think I'd try the Gemzar first if given a choice; although I realize that
    every body is different, and what works for some doesn't always work for others.

    Best wishes to you and your friend,

    ~Susan xoxo

    Gemzar
    I am on Gemzar too. After 4 treatments my CA down from 276 to 35 with little side effects, red checks the day after, minor food issues and mild hair loss. As Susan said everyone is different.

    Our prayers are with you.

    Nancy
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #10
    treatment
    Hi Kathleen - I just wanted to comment on you saying you were having a hard time on Cisplatin. I took this only twice as part of my IP chemo and it was horrific. I would be sick for up to 13 days after treatment - and hurt so bad a lot of time all I could do was try to get in a position that was comfortable and cry. I know everyone reacts differently to the different chemo's - and I'm very sensitive to drugs any way - a lot of allergies - but nothing prepared me for Cisplatin.

    I did the rest of my treatments with taxotere and carboplatin with no real problems other then the normal stuff we all seem to go through.

    Good luck and congrats on your numbers heading the right direction.

    Hugs!
    Kris

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