2nd time around

catcan
catcan Member Posts: 119
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,

My name is Cat and I just found this web site. I was diagnosed with stage IIII OV cancer last April. I had the complete hysterectomy and most of the omentum removed. I went through 6 rounds of carbo and toxil chemo every 3 weeks and did well. My markers started out at 2300 and went down to 184 when I finished on Sept 30. I have had a break from chemo and of course it has decided to let me know it's still here. I am going to start Doxil on Thursday. I know some of the side effects it has and really appreciate the fact that so many of you have chosen to share your experiences and thoughts. I have a great support system of family and friends who cheer me on and it really helps to know there are so many here that can understand all the emotions that go with it. Thanks for caring

Comments

  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #2
    good luck!
    I too started on Doxil in Jan. for my first reoccurence after an 8 month remission. You were off chemo for 6 months? I too was diagnosed as stage 4 Sept of 08 and completed chemo April of 09. Sounds like you read through the previous postings in regard to the Doxil side effects. Good luck and please share your questions and concerns!!!
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #3
    nancy591 said:

    good luck!
    I too started on Doxil in Jan. for my first reoccurence after an 8 month remission. You were off chemo for 6 months? I too was diagnosed as stage 4 Sept of 08 and completed chemo April of 09. Sounds like you read through the previous postings in regard to the Doxil side effects. Good luck and please share your questions and concerns!!!

    Thanks for replying Nancy. I have been off chemo for 5 mo. Did you use ice before and after treatments? I have that full feeling right now and coughing. Did you have that.Good luck to you too.
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #4
    Hugs
    So sorry to read you are dealing with a recurrence. Glad you have a great support system as that does make a difference, and yes lots and lots of women here to encourage you. I have dealt with ovca for seven years and although not curable it has been doable. So hang in. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #5
    BonnieR said:

    Hugs
    So sorry to read you are dealing with a recurrence. Glad you have a great support system as that does make a difference, and yes lots and lots of women here to encourage you. I have dealt with ovca for seven years and although not curable it has been doable. So hang in. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    Thanks Bonnie

    I plan on hanging in there and hope to be able to help someone in seven years. I'm hoping for some good results from the Doxil. Thanks for the support and prayers coming right back to you
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #6
    catcan said:

    Thanks for replying Nancy. I have been off chemo for 5 mo. Did you use ice before and after treatments? I have that full feeling right now and coughing. Did you have that.Good luck to you too.

    ice
    I did not use ice because I couldn't think of a way to secure it while I was recv'ng my infusion. After the first treatment I did soak my feet in tepid water a few times. Honestly, since then I haven't done any icing or cooling of my hands or feet. I am still trying to figure out how to anchor the darn icepacks. After the two infusions my side effects are a rash and mouthsores. The mouthsores have mostly healed with a presciption mouth rinse.
    You feel fullness in your chest? I had a scratchy throat and a bit of a cough prior to my infusion that lingered for awhile. I didn't think it was associated with the chemo. It is so hard sometimes not to blame every side effect on the chemo.
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #7
    nancy591 said:

    ice
    I did not use ice because I couldn't think of a way to secure it while I was recv'ng my infusion. After the first treatment I did soak my feet in tepid water a few times. Honestly, since then I haven't done any icing or cooling of my hands or feet. I am still trying to figure out how to anchor the darn icepacks. After the two infusions my side effects are a rash and mouthsores. The mouthsores have mostly healed with a presciption mouth rinse.
    You feel fullness in your chest? I had a scratchy throat and a bit of a cough prior to my infusion that lingered for awhile. I didn't think it was associated with the chemo. It is so hard sometimes not to blame every side effect on the chemo.

    I heard WalMart sells ice packs with velcro so i am going to look for them. I have this nagging cough that really kicks up if I laugh. go figure. I'm hoping it goes away once I start the chemo again. Will keep you updated
  • d.lee
    d.lee Member Posts: 31
    #8
    welcome
    hi cat ,


    welcome to the web site. i am also stage 4 but uteran cancer i was diag. the end of 2008 . i have been on doxil almost a year now and im doing ok on it. i was on carbo/taxol but i could not tolerate it at all. i also had a hysterectomy. my side effects from doxil are mouthsores, hands and foot syndrome,my hands swell up but its not bad. i have a little coughing, but not much. my skin has darken on my hands and feet. i have eye tearing and now im getting sores were my clothes rub to much on my skin when i go to chemo they put my hands and feet on ice packs. they strap the ice packs down with that elastic kind of ace bandage the kind they put on you when they draw blood you know the sticky kind. i know all this sounds bad i really dont want to scare you. its not so bad especially compared to the other chemo i was on so i deal with it. my numbers are dropping so fast on this chemo. my side effects progressed slowly so that was good. im hoping doxil is ok for you hang in there.

    best wishes ,
    d.lee
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #9
    Hi Cat,
    After 1 year and 1
    Hi Cat,

    After 1 year and 1 month remission (after carbo/taxol), I too began doxil/carbo and avastin (a research study med for women with recurrent ovc).

    I suffered with the hand and foot syndrome as well and my gum tissues took a hit. But after all was said and done; once finished with the treatment everything returned back to normal in a matter of months. One other thing while on the doxil; they did constant muga-scans of my heart, apparently doxil also has the potential to damage the heart? My came out clean though.

    I'm glad you found this board because you will see as you go through your journey, that you are not alone. I think it's very important to feel you are not the only person going through this.

    I know it gave me peace of mind.

    Wishing you the best and stay strong.

    Sharon
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #10
    d.lee said:

    welcome
    hi cat ,


    welcome to the web site. i am also stage 4 but uteran cancer i was diag. the end of 2008 . i have been on doxil almost a year now and im doing ok on it. i was on carbo/taxol but i could not tolerate it at all. i also had a hysterectomy. my side effects from doxil are mouthsores, hands and foot syndrome,my hands swell up but its not bad. i have a little coughing, but not much. my skin has darken on my hands and feet. i have eye tearing and now im getting sores were my clothes rub to much on my skin when i go to chemo they put my hands and feet on ice packs. they strap the ice packs down with that elastic kind of ace bandage the kind they put on you when they draw blood you know the sticky kind. i know all this sounds bad i really dont want to scare you. its not so bad especially compared to the other chemo i was on so i deal with it. my numbers are dropping so fast on this chemo. my side effects progressed slowly so that was good. im hoping doxil is ok for you hang in there.

    best wishes ,
    d.lee

    Thanks D.Lee

    This site is great!! I can't believe all the support here. It helps when someone can give you a heads up on what might happen. The concensus seems to be mouth sores and hand and foot syndrom. I will update everyone after I start the Doxil on Thursday. Thanks for your support
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #11
    msfanciful said:

    Hi Cat,
    After 1 year and 1
    Hi Cat,

    After 1 year and 1 month remission (after carbo/taxol), I too began doxil/carbo and avastin (a research study med for women with recurrent ovc).

    I suffered with the hand and foot syndrome as well and my gum tissues took a hit. But after all was said and done; once finished with the treatment everything returned back to normal in a matter of months. One other thing while on the doxil; they did constant muga-scans of my heart, apparently doxil also has the potential to damage the heart? My came out clean though.

    I'm glad you found this board because you will see as you go through your journey, that you are not alone. I think it's very important to feel you are not the only person going through this.

    I know it gave me peace of mind.

    Wishing you the best and stay strong.

    Sharon

    1 yr and 1
    Sharon- You are so right about peace of mind. it is wonderful to be able to talk to women who actually know what you're going through. I had read that Doxil can damage the heart but mine is strong so hopefully it will stay that way. I did get mouth sores when I had carbo/toxil and will deal with the hand and foot syndrom. The side effects are just something that have to be dealt with. I presume now that my hair is coming back I will probably lose it again? Oh well i'm getting use to really short hair or no hair. The best thing is I can be ready before everone else. lol. Hope all is well with you.

    Thanks for the support

    Cat
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #12
    catcan said:

    1 yr and 1
    Sharon- You are so right about peace of mind. it is wonderful to be able to talk to women who actually know what you're going through. I had read that Doxil can damage the heart but mine is strong so hopefully it will stay that way. I did get mouth sores when I had carbo/toxil and will deal with the hand and foot syndrom. The side effects are just something that have to be dealt with. I presume now that my hair is coming back I will probably lose it again? Oh well i'm getting use to really short hair or no hair. The best thing is I can be ready before everone else. lol. Hope all is well with you.

    Thanks for the support

    Cat

    Cat,
    welcome to this sight, so sorry you had to join this board. You will not loose your hair on doxil, but the hand/foot thing is very real. After my 4th infusion, I had to go to the couch for 3 weeks, i could not walk, the blisters were so bad. Icing during infusion is supposed to help, along with all the other precautions. I am on the lowest dosage now, 30mg x m2 and have not had any problems since. I will be receiving carboplatin together with the doxil tomorrow, 6th infusion.

    Warm hugs,
    kathleen
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    #13
    nancy591 said:

    ice
    I did not use ice because I couldn't think of a way to secure it while I was recv'ng my infusion. After the first treatment I did soak my feet in tepid water a few times. Honestly, since then I haven't done any icing or cooling of my hands or feet. I am still trying to figure out how to anchor the darn icepacks. After the two infusions my side effects are a rash and mouthsores. The mouthsores have mostly healed with a presciption mouth rinse.
    You feel fullness in your chest? I had a scratchy throat and a bit of a cough prior to my infusion that lingered for awhile. I didn't think it was associated with the chemo. It is so hard sometimes not to blame every side effect on the chemo.

    Nancy,
    I just now realized that you were asking about securing the ice packs, so you could do that during the infusion. The chemo room nurses provided the packs with the velcro on them for that. If they don't have them, why not try a long sash or obi and tie them on your feet?
    Your hands are easy, right, you can just hold or rest your hands on the packs. Are you showing any symptoms?
    Hugs,
    Kathleen
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #14
    kayandok said:

    Cat,
    welcome to this sight, so sorry you had to join this board. You will not loose your hair on doxil, but the hand/foot thing is very real. After my 4th infusion, I had to go to the couch for 3 weeks, i could not walk, the blisters were so bad. Icing during infusion is supposed to help, along with all the other precautions. I am on the lowest dosage now, 30mg x m2 and have not had any problems since. I will be receiving carboplatin together with the doxil tomorrow, 6th infusion.

    Warm hugs,
    kathleen

    Hello
    I too had ovarian stage 3
    i have had 3 round of chemo so am half done
    did i read right that they can tell from a blood test if the chemo is helping or not?
    If you all pray , I could use prayers right now. The pain in my stomach and back is very bad

    Hope to make some friends here

    Az Grandma
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #15
    kayandok said:

    Cat,
    welcome to this sight, so sorry you had to join this board. You will not loose your hair on doxil, but the hand/foot thing is very real. After my 4th infusion, I had to go to the couch for 3 weeks, i could not walk, the blisters were so bad. Icing during infusion is supposed to help, along with all the other precautions. I am on the lowest dosage now, 30mg x m2 and have not had any problems since. I will be receiving carboplatin together with the doxil tomorrow, 6th infusion.

    Warm hugs,
    kathleen

    Hello
    I too had ovarian stage 3
    i have had 3 round of chemo so am half done
    did i read right that they can tell from a blood test if the chemo is helping or not?
    If you all pray , I could use prayers right now. The pain in my stomach and back is very bad

    Hope to make some friends here

    Az Grandma
  • catcan
    catcan Member Posts: 119
    #16
    azgrandma said:

    Hello
    I too had ovarian stage 3
    i have had 3 round of chemo so am half done
    did i read right that they can tell from a blood test if the chemo is helping or not?
    If you all pray , I could use prayers right now. The pain in my stomach and back is very bad

    Hope to make some friends here

    Az Grandma

    prayers
    The prayers and good thoughts coming your way.

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