How did you decide which chemo to take??

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DayleL
DayleL Member Posts: 2
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I'm on this board for my sister, DD. She has had a round of radiation and then Chemo. The newest PET scan shows that the lymphnode that was enlarged is now back again and the doctor said it is from her uterine cancer. She is totally boggled at what to do. Even though I am a retired nurse, I did not work with the cancer patients and with all the changes, I do not know which drug to tell her to take. Her cancer doctor is not helping, just giving her info pages on three drugs and said pick one! They are Cisplatin, Doxil and Rubex. They all look horrible as far as side effects go. She works two jobs. A daycare in her home Monday through Friday and then she works a night shift Friday thru Tuesday at a disabled adult home. Has anyone had any of these Chemos?
Thanks for any input...
Dayle

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  • TiggersDoBounce
    TiggersDoBounce Member Posts: 408
    #2
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    Dayle
    I am astounded an Oncologist would have a patient pick one...

    I have heard alot of things on this board, but never just "pick one".

    The choices should be evaluated according to her cancer, her overall health situation and which med can help more than harm in her state.

    I have taken Cisplatin...none of the others. The Cisplatin is an older but yet still very effective Chemo which has harsh side effects effecting the Kidneys. However physcians KNOW this and take precautions to protect the Kidneys. Have they discussed Carbo/Taxol which is more of the standard protocol?

    Has she already been treated prior to this?

    Laurie
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #3
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    Dear Dayle:
    I would have
    Dear Dayle:

    I would have your sister get a second opinion from another doctor. After my original doctor retired, I ended up getting three different opinions until I was satisfied with one of them. If the doctor gave her three, he should have explained what each one was, the side effects of each, and then told your sister the drug that he would prefer. It also depends on what grade and stage and other factors. Did she have an assay done? There are so many factors. My best to your sister. All chemo drugs have terrible side effects if you look at the fine print. But it depends on the dose and how it is administered. And if you look on the internet, some of the stuff there is old if you look in the wrong area.

    My best to your sister. But I would tell her to get a second opinion.

    Kathy
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #4
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    Kaleena said:

    Dear Dayle:
    I would have
    Dear Dayle:

    I would have your sister get a second opinion from another doctor. After my original doctor retired, I ended up getting three different opinions until I was satisfied with one of them. If the doctor gave her three, he should have explained what each one was, the side effects of each, and then told your sister the drug that he would prefer. It also depends on what grade and stage and other factors. Did she have an assay done? There are so many factors. My best to your sister. All chemo drugs have terrible side effects if you look at the fine print. But it depends on the dose and how it is administered. And if you look on the internet, some of the stuff there is old if you look in the wrong area.

    My best to your sister. But I would tell her to get a second opinion.

    Kathy

    Dayle
    This is definitely a strange situation. Question: Did your sis have a functional profile (assay) done of her cancer tissue when she had original surgery? This test helps to find the best chemo drugs to treat the cancer and obviously saves time and side effects by treating with most effective drugs first. Most of us with uterine cancer have gotten the standard carboplatin and taxol mix for initial treatment.

    I had enlarged lymph node a year after finishing initial treatment (which was 6 rounds of carboplatin and taxol chemo). My doc said the first step would be a biopsy to determine if this is recurrence of uterine cancer (it was). He then recommended carboplatin and radiation together to deal with my resistant lymph nodes. This did the trick and I am again NED.

    I would ask lots of questions and consider a second opinion mentioned earlier. Perhaps an assay could still be done of original tissue - if it was me, I'd check on this.

    Best wishes to you and your sister. Mary Ann
  • Sara Zipora
    Sara Zipora Member Posts: 231
    #5
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    daisy366 said:

    Dayle
    This is definitely a strange situation. Question: Did your sis have a functional profile (assay) done of her cancer tissue when she had original surgery? This test helps to find the best chemo drugs to treat the cancer and obviously saves time and side effects by treating with most effective drugs first. Most of us with uterine cancer have gotten the standard carboplatin and taxol mix for initial treatment.

    I had enlarged lymph node a year after finishing initial treatment (which was 6 rounds of carboplatin and taxol chemo). My doc said the first step would be a biopsy to determine if this is recurrence of uterine cancer (it was). He then recommended carboplatin and radiation together to deal with my resistant lymph nodes. This did the trick and I am again NED.

    I would ask lots of questions and consider a second opinion mentioned earlier. Perhaps an assay could still be done of original tissue - if it was me, I'd check on this.

    Best wishes to you and your sister. Mary Ann

    Run don't walk to second opinion
    The Doc seems to have less hope and skill than we warriorettes!
    Make sure the second opinions from a OncoGyno.

    Also in joining this group you have been introduced to the most wonderfully intelligent and optimistic group around.

    Wishing DD a speedy alternative doc and positive treatment plan!
    She's lucky to have you in her corner!
    Sara
  • DayleL
    DayleL Member Posts: 2
    #6
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    Sara Zipora said:

    Run don't walk to second opinion
    The Doc seems to have less hope and skill than we warriorettes!
    Make sure the second opinions from a OncoGyno.

    Also in joining this group you have been introduced to the most wonderfully intelligent and optimistic group around.

    Wishing DD a speedy alternative doc and positive treatment plan!
    She's lucky to have you in her corner!
    Sara

    Second Opinion
    Unfortunately, the doctor my sister has is considered the Guru of OncoGyno in Spokane. She just has the manners of a slug. One thing that could be in her favor is she may have told my sister about the chemos, more than some of the side effects, but in her "state of stress" DD may have missed some things. I had her request that I can call and ask questions. Now I will be able to call and talk to at least the nurse. Both of us went to her in 2007 when it was discovered that we both had abnormal cells on our paps. We both went in to surgery on the same day, but I had a great and kind Gyny doc who did mine, she got stuck with the Guru. I personally will not see the Guru ever again which clouds my judgment about her. So, the way I look at it is she handed her three boxes, labeled...
    1.Cobra, 2. Rattlesnake and 3. Asp. Then told her, you have to choose one box. You have no choice or you will die. But, when you open the box, you will get bitten by the snake inside. Here are a list of the things that will happen with the venom from that snake. You may not get all of the problems that the venom can cause, but down the road sometime, you may have some side effects of the venom and or the treatment. Pick one. There was no explaination on any of them per se, nor has she discussed DD's condition. Luckily she sees our Family doctor this coming Monday and I am going with her with a list of questions. We are going to show him the papers Dr. Guru gave her and ask him what he thinks. She will be having an Echocardiogram tommorw to check her heart function before any chemo starts, so that will be a help in deciding which one to use. She also does the chemo at the North Cancer care center and never sees the doc. She likes the doctor there that follows her care. Too bad he is just a radiologist.... Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts. I'll keep you posted on what is happening. Keep the prayers coming you guys.
    Dayle
  • Songflower
    Songflower Member Posts: 608
    #7
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    DayleL said:

    Second Opinion
    Unfortunately, the doctor my sister has is considered the Guru of OncoGyno in Spokane. She just has the manners of a slug. One thing that could be in her favor is she may have told my sister about the chemos, more than some of the side effects, but in her "state of stress" DD may have missed some things. I had her request that I can call and ask questions. Now I will be able to call and talk to at least the nurse. Both of us went to her in 2007 when it was discovered that we both had abnormal cells on our paps. We both went in to surgery on the same day, but I had a great and kind Gyny doc who did mine, she got stuck with the Guru. I personally will not see the Guru ever again which clouds my judgment about her. So, the way I look at it is she handed her three boxes, labeled...
    1.Cobra, 2. Rattlesnake and 3. Asp. Then told her, you have to choose one box. You have no choice or you will die. But, when you open the box, you will get bitten by the snake inside. Here are a list of the things that will happen with the venom from that snake. You may not get all of the problems that the venom can cause, but down the road sometime, you may have some side effects of the venom and or the treatment. Pick one. There was no explaination on any of them per se, nor has she discussed DD's condition. Luckily she sees our Family doctor this coming Monday and I am going with her with a list of questions. We are going to show him the papers Dr. Guru gave her and ask him what he thinks. She will be having an Echocardiogram tommorw to check her heart function before any chemo starts, so that will be a help in deciding which one to use. She also does the chemo at the North Cancer care center and never sees the doc. She likes the doctor there that follows her care. Too bad he is just a radiologist.... Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts. I'll keep you posted on what is happening. Keep the prayers coming you guys.
    Dayle

    Decisions
    I have never heard of this happening before. Could you sign up with a medical oncologist to give your chemo? She might respond better if she talked with another Doctor about what to give you. Then you could talk to the medical oncologist (who hopefully takes the time to discuss this with you) and still get the best treatment.

    I also believe there is more than one great Doctor. Some of them get the reputation of being the Guru but often there are others out there just as good. I'd still look around for another Gyn oncologist.

    Your friend,
    Diane
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #8
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    DayleL said:

    Second Opinion
    Unfortunately, the doctor my sister has is considered the Guru of OncoGyno in Spokane. She just has the manners of a slug. One thing that could be in her favor is she may have told my sister about the chemos, more than some of the side effects, but in her "state of stress" DD may have missed some things. I had her request that I can call and ask questions. Now I will be able to call and talk to at least the nurse. Both of us went to her in 2007 when it was discovered that we both had abnormal cells on our paps. We both went in to surgery on the same day, but I had a great and kind Gyny doc who did mine, she got stuck with the Guru. I personally will not see the Guru ever again which clouds my judgment about her. So, the way I look at it is she handed her three boxes, labeled...
    1.Cobra, 2. Rattlesnake and 3. Asp. Then told her, you have to choose one box. You have no choice or you will die. But, when you open the box, you will get bitten by the snake inside. Here are a list of the things that will happen with the venom from that snake. You may not get all of the problems that the venom can cause, but down the road sometime, you may have some side effects of the venom and or the treatment. Pick one. There was no explaination on any of them per se, nor has she discussed DD's condition. Luckily she sees our Family doctor this coming Monday and I am going with her with a list of questions. We are going to show him the papers Dr. Guru gave her and ask him what he thinks. She will be having an Echocardiogram tommorw to check her heart function before any chemo starts, so that will be a help in deciding which one to use. She also does the chemo at the North Cancer care center and never sees the doc. She likes the doctor there that follows her care. Too bad he is just a radiologist.... Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts. I'll keep you posted on what is happening. Keep the prayers coming you guys.
    Dayle

    Second Opinion
    Dear Dayle:

    I too had one of the "top docs" in my local area. Although he was a new doctor for me since my original doctor retired, I never felt comfortable with him. In 2009, he said I had a recurrence, that he wanted me to start chemo right a way, then surgery, then more chemo and that I would probably end up having a permanent colostomy. I went for another opinion at another hospital, but they were tied into the same doctor and this doctor told me that they couldn't operate (or wouldnt because they couldn't get it all and it was too long of an operation) and they wanted to just radiate the area (and once they radiate it I couldn't have radiation again in that area).

    So I went to another state. Saw a doctor who met with a team of doctors. I had an operation for a small mass (which was missed during my original surgery back in 2005). They were able to get it all, I do not have a colostomy, I did not need chemo. And everything came back negative.

    So tell your sister, just because she has the "Guru", it doesn't mean that they have the best interest for her. By the way, when I went to get a "second opinion" that "top doc" dropped me as a patient.


    Sending prayers your way.

    Kathy

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