Hexalen option

BackwoodsPat
BackwoodsPat Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
First time poster so bear with me on this one. :)

My mother has been fighting this for roughly ten years and the options are getting slim for her I believe. The doctor has put her on all of the primary and several secondary chemos. This last visit he pretty much confirmed that surgery was not really an option due to not having a viable part of the intestine to operate with. Her CA count was at 1500 at the last visit and should have a new one this Thursday. His last resort was to put her on Hexalen but he didn't seem too positive about it. She is concerned with all the side effects and just being tired of hurting.

Does anyone know of someone taking Hexalen at this late of a stage(as far as CA count wise)? She is trying to weigh her options obviously. She had tried another of the secondary chemos and it wiped her counts down so low she had to get a transfusion and be in the hospital several days to recover.

Just looking for some options and experiences from whoever has been there already ;)

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Blessing to you
    Pat, I have not had any experience with Hexalen, but just had to send you positive thoughts. I was amazed to read that your mother has been fighting this for 10 years. That is a wonderful testament to her "Warrior" status and I send her my best. I have only been on this road for 2.5 years of Stage IV. Saundra
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #3
    Hexalen
    I was on Hexalen after my first round of chemo (2008) for maintenance. But it was as hard on my bone marrow as was carbo/taxol. So I did not finish it either. I actually did not like Hexalen at all.

    I am now in recurrence (July 2009) and on Cisplatin/Gemzar.

    Doubt this helps you, but I know when I was on Hexalen, not many responded here about being on it.

    In His Grip,
    Libby
  • BackwoodsPat
    BackwoodsPat Member Posts: 3
    #4
    LPack said:

    Hexalen
    I was on Hexalen after my first round of chemo (2008) for maintenance. But it was as hard on my bone marrow as was carbo/taxol. So I did not finish it either. I actually did not like Hexalen at all.

    I am now in recurrence (July 2009) and on Cisplatin/Gemzar.

    Doubt this helps you, but I know when I was on Hexalen, not many responded here about being on it.

    In His Grip,
    Libby

    Thank you
    I want to thank you for all the responses. She is definately a warrior. She has done several rounds and went in remission for about 3 years and a surgery, then another round and remission of 18 months. The next round was not really too much of a remission at all. Unfortunately she is looking at the quality of life thing now. From what I am reading, the Hexalen side effects are not so fun to deal with to say the least. We are trying to help her deal with "Do you want to go through the chemo if you will constantly be in bed and feel horrible or do you spend it doing stuff you have always wanted to do and enjoy the time you are given?" It is not a good choice for anyone to deal with. We are trying not to sound pessimistic with her but have to look at the quality of life thing as well.

    Just stumped as to what to do. I know that the CA125 of 1500 is definately not a good sign.

    I appreciate all the responses to help work through this.
  • BackwoodsPat
    BackwoodsPat Member Posts: 3
    #5
    BackwoodsPat said:

    Thank you
    I want to thank you for all the responses. She is definately a warrior. She has done several rounds and went in remission for about 3 years and a surgery, then another round and remission of 18 months. The next round was not really too much of a remission at all. Unfortunately she is looking at the quality of life thing now. From what I am reading, the Hexalen side effects are not so fun to deal with to say the least. We are trying to help her deal with "Do you want to go through the chemo if you will constantly be in bed and feel horrible or do you spend it doing stuff you have always wanted to do and enjoy the time you are given?" It is not a good choice for anyone to deal with. We are trying not to sound pessimistic with her but have to look at the quality of life thing as well.

    Just stumped as to what to do. I know that the CA125 of 1500 is definately not a good sign.

    I appreciate all the responses to help work through this.

    update
    Well just got a call from my mom and it is up to 2308 for a count from 1500. Not a good sign. She just got done with a round of treatment on the same level as Hexalen unfortunately. I don't think she is wanting to do another round. The warrior is thinking of quality of life at this point. How high does the CA count normally get? Is it different for every person? When she was in remission, it was down close to zero I think. She had the hysterectomy the first time at around the 2000 mark is why I am concerned now.

    Just looking for some information I guess.
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #6
    BackwoodsPat said:

    update
    Well just got a call from my mom and it is up to 2308 for a count from 1500. Not a good sign. She just got done with a round of treatment on the same level as Hexalen unfortunately. I don't think she is wanting to do another round. The warrior is thinking of quality of life at this point. How high does the CA count normally get? Is it different for every person? When she was in remission, it was down close to zero I think. She had the hysterectomy the first time at around the 2000 mark is why I am concerned now.

    Just looking for some information I guess.

    Hello fellow Mother care taker
    I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. I have only been fighting this for few months so you are my new idol. 10 years is amazing. Your mother must be quite a person! I think the CA-125 can get very high, and I totally understand your concern. What does your Mom's oncologist say? I also totally understand the quality of life thing, but that can be hard on us family members...It's a tough process and I'm glad you joined the board. Keep coming back for support..Keep us posted..
  • Michelle Nina
    Michelle Nina Member Posts: 1
    #7
    CA125, Carboplatin/Taxotere, then Gemzar then Doxil, nxt Hexalen
    Primary peritoneal cancer was diagnosed in July of 2008 (CA-125 was 883 and about three weeks later it was 2452.) The chemo I was given then was Carboplatin & Taxotere (my chemo #1) and by October the CA-125 was 6, and then 4. ( I had a hysterectomy with ovaries removed in the 1990's, but the cancer is being treated like ovarian cancer)

    April '09 the CA-125 started rising, from 16, to 5295 in May and, by July 16, it was 6705. I was given Gemzar (my chemo #2) from June to mid-July but I would say that Gemzar DIDN'T work for me because by July 15 the CA-125 was 6705.

    Then on July 18th, I started the first of 6 rounds of Doxil (my chemo #3). As of Sept 23rd, 2009, my CA-125 was 110 but started to rise after the 5th infusion, to 122. Because of the side effects I now off of Doxil. I will begin taking Hexalen pills(my chemo #4) in about a week.

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