gemzar

collins
collins Member Posts: 69
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
My onc is looking at gemzar as a possible option. How many of you have used gemzar and what side effect did you have? My chemo was delayed again because of low platelets. I get another blood test next Wed and will probably have to make some decisons then

Comments

  • lizper
    lizper Member Posts: 199
    #2
    My Mom is on Gemzar plus Cisplatin for 1st recurrence, it has been hard on her because it's every 15 days...she gets very very tired, almost drags herself from bed for about 4 days and numbers get knocked hard, there has been some chemo delay too, but CA 125 has lowerd and right now she is having a PET, hopefully all the side effects have been worth it and all the bad is gone. I've heard Gemzar doing good on lots of women. God bless you. Liz
  • paula2
    paula2 Member Posts: 162
    #3
    It's pretty hard on the blood counts, but I've been able to take reduced dosage rather than skip, and the results have been quite good...lowered ca from 121 into the 20's. I'll know more with today's test. Side effects have been mainly fatigue and nausea and some edema. Not my favorite drug so far, but it is working. Some weeks I get 600 to 800mg. and some, only 200. It has been important to have even this little bit of therapy because the ca elevated when I took a week off. Everyone seems to respond differently to Gemzar. I was told early on to drink tons of water. I would add, watch out for salt in your diet. Good luck! I hope this one gives you a good result and that you tolerate it well.
    Paula2
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #4
    I have been on gemzar and unfortunately for me it didn't work. But as you have read from others they have had good results. Each of us is so different, I did get shots for blood counts after treatments and I did keep my hair.

    Praying this is the one to work for you and put you into remission.

    Bonnie
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #5
    I went through 5 cycles of gemzar and had to stop because of the side effects...for me they were really bad I was almost in congestive heart failure. However until I got sick for the first 4 cycles I found it easy to handle with very mild side effects. Watch for the swelling of the feet and ankles as mine got progressively worse during the tx, which led to the CHF. It id however put my numbers back in the normal zone. Right now I'm on a 10 week vacation to rebuild my strength before any more chemo is given. Good luck..(((hugz)))..Joanne
  • paula2
    paula2 Member Posts: 162
    #6
    Some good news on Gemzar, I just dropped another 7 points in the last 2 weeks of treatment, from 28 to 21 on the ca125. Suddenly all the effort seems worth it. I really have had a time with nausea and fatigue and this week, had a shot called ipo, for low hemoglobin. Still nothing to be done about low platelets except lower the dose, which has worked in my case. Thought I'd offer some hope for you today. I have been on Gemzar since April, so it's been slow, but working!

    All the best, hope you are feeling better.
    Paula2
  • paula57
    paula57 Member Posts: 93
    #7
    Hi! I have not been on Gemzar but I have a cousin that has been own it for over 2 years. She has fatigue and a little nausea but she says it is nothing compared to carbopatin and taxol. Everyone will react differently. I'm hoping that you will have the success that my cousin has had. She is a 6+yr survivor. Best of Luck! Paula

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