Anyone have info or experience with Ifosfamide (chemo)

My brother is starting this treatment tomorrow for ehe in his liver and mets to spine and hip. Any word on this medication would be appreciated. Blessings to all of you on your journey.

-Angie

My 75-year old Father is starting this as an in-patient tomorrow.  It's for his angiosarcoma of the scalp. I know only the little I've read. I'd also love to hear about others with experience with it. For my Dad it's a longshot; his options are very limited. Gayle

Hi Gayle My brother just barely got through it honestly. They stopped on day 6 (instead of 7). Not In-Patient but with a chemo pump. It was awful. His wife and I spent 6 days trying to keep him alive. They didn't tell us anything. I'm glad your dad will be in the hospital. Much much better! They will need to monitor him and feed him through an IV. My brother wouldn't eat ANYTHING for days---but if he had an IV, it would've helped. Also, he slept most of the day and night when he wasn't vomiting. PLEASE make sure they give your dad anti-nausea meds the FIRST NIGHT. Stay ahead of the nausea. And also my brother got very very confused---but that cleared up by the 3rd day after the treatment stopped. I will be thinking of you both. Please write back if you have more questions. I don't mean to scare you---I just mean to give you the info I wish they had given us last week. Blessings, Angie

Hi Guys,

My husband, Art, will be getting his second round of Ifosimide tomorrow.  This is in addition to the other components of R-ICE chemotherapy.

 In his case, the first round went amazingly well.  No Nausea or vomiting.  He was inpatient (the ONLY way to go) and received zofran for nausea prior to the start of infusion.  It was continued through the entire chemo.  He rinsed several times per day and had no mouth sores either.  Preventing the nausea was the best thing for him.  He did start to get naseaus when he came home, but we got control of that quickly with compazine and Anzamet.  Both are anti nausea drugs but work differently.  Anzamet is a God send.  It's expensive $40.00 for 3 pills after our insurance portion, BUT most chemo doctors offices have samples.  Be sure to ask for them.  I also believe that because you're hooked up to continuous IV's that keep you hydrated during the infusion that works wonders on a variety of fronts.

Robin

I just wanted to say that at the last minute the oncologist vetoed this and he will start radiation instead ASAP. His scalp is bleeding, ulcerated, tumerous and quite suddenly unmanageable. We understand rad is his last ditch effort. Best of luck to everyone!!!!!!!!!! Gayle

hope all is well!!!  i to took ifosfamide it was my treatment was  called  ''aim ''  it was ROUGH i never had or ever want to be that sick again.. i was so sick i went from 121 to 112 in 4 days, as others when i wasn't vomiting i was sleeping and beggin for sleep when i was vomiting... cause i was in a whole nother world, dr had to stop treatment but lower dose 21 days later and that treatment was better, but by 4 i was losing my mind and had them stop.... should have had 5 treatments...

good luck and GOD bless  

I recently found this message board, so I am way behind in viewing posts.  I have myxofibrosarcoma (muscle and tendons).  The tumor was located on my outer calf.  As with most of us, I had not heard of this type.  However, I fell right into the age group for this one....60years old and up.

My diagnosis and treatment began 1 year ago/August 2008.  Chemo, surgery, skin graft, radiation.  

The chemo was adriamycin/ifosfamide/mesna.   As with the previous post, I was treated in-hospital, going home each evening.  Included were adequate IV hydration, the mesna to protect the bladder, and anti-nausa drugs. There must have been an appetite stimulant!  I had a good appetite during the early part of treatment.  Mouth sores showed  up later.  A "Magic Mouthwash" was prescribed to help out.  Another suggestion was to use a baking soda/water rinse often.  Also had chemo pump for the adriamycin.  This was continuous for 3 and 1/2 days. of each cycle.

I am being treated at the University of Michigan Cancer Center/Sarcoma Clinic.

I have read that chemo is sometimes not used in the treatment of sarcoma.  The reasoning for mine was to shrink the tumor (which did not happen) and to kill off any escaping cells. Hopefully, it did it's work in that area.

Correct diagnosis, rapid treatment and competent doctors in sarcoma treatment is so vital.  In my home area that meant U of M.

Radiation was used after surgery.  Unfortunately, the skin graft was damaged in part.  Currently, I am under treatment to clear out the wound bed area and prepare for another skin graft. This would be a subject of another post, I believe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 9/5/2009 CeeZee wrote:

I recently found this message board, so I am way behind in viewing posts.  I have myxofibrosarcoma (muscle and tendons).  The tumor was located on my outer calf.  As with most of us, I had not heard of this type.  However, I fell right into the age group for this one....60years old and up.

My diagnosis and treatment began 1 year ago/August 2008.  Chemo, surgery, skin graft, radiation.  

The chemo was adriamycin/ifosfamide/mesna.   As with the previous post, I was treated in-hospital, going home each evening.  Included were adequate IV hydration, the mesna to protect the bladder, and anti-nausa drugs. There must have been an appetite stimulant!  I had a good appetite during the early part of treatment.  Mouth sores showed  up later.  A "Magic Mouthwash" was prescribed to help out.  Another suggestion was to use a baking soda/water rinse often.  Also had chemo pump for the adriamycin.  This was continuous for 3 and 1/2 days. of each cycle.

I am being treated at the University of Michigan Cancer Center/Sarcoma Clinic.

I have read that chemo is sometimes not used in the treatment of sarcoma.  The reasoning for mine was to shrink the tumor (which did not happen) and to kill off any escaping cells. Hopefully, it did it's work in that area.

Correct diagnosis, rapid treatment and competent doctors in sarcoma treatment is so vital.  In my home area that meant U of M.

Radiation was used after surgery.  Unfortunately, the skin graft was damaged in part.  Currently, I am under treatment to clear out the wound bed area and prepare for another skin graft. This would be a subject of another post, I believe.

 

 

 

Hi, I have been searching for info on Ifosfamide and adriamycin with mesna therapy. My sister has some type of sarcoma  that hasn't been figured out yet . She has started the treatment w/AIM and had her first treatment 9/18 . I have never seen her so sick but the dose is vey high. Supposed to have the treatment every 3 weeks being inpatient 3 1/2 days like you did. Do you know the dosage of yours? Her cancer is a reccurence in her axilla intertwined around major nerves and vessels (inoperable). Hoping to shrink it. Started in the rt breast and had a mastectomy May 08. Since has had 3 reccurences . Had surgery first 2 times but this one is inoperable. Tumor  grew very fast . she found it on a Saturday and by the next  Tuesday was 7.5 cm . It has been 3 weeks now since she found it and it has grown to about 11 or 12cm. I sure hope this chemo shrinks it. Dr says they will do a PET scan after next round of AIM. Her arm is very swollen and she can't use it, but has stopped hurting so bad. 

Like you she has had intense surgery and has problems with wound due to radiation and has a hole that won't heal  Has had 6 different chemos and tumors have grown during treatment. Hoping and praying this one works.

I will keep you in my prayers and hope you have success with  with your cancer and skin graft.

Sandra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Sandra:

 My prayers are with you and your sister.  I do not know the dosage with the Ifosfamide chemo which I received.  From your description of her sarcoma, it is so much more than mine.  She is probably receiving the maximum dosage in order to achieve that tumor shrinkage.  What I can remember, was the importance of liquids (via IV) to protect the bladder.  That is what the Mesna does.  There were IV bags of fluid given before the Ifosfamide was started.  And probably afterward.  Its hard to remember now.....its been one year.

On a lighter note:  being bald last September, I thought I would never have hair again!  But, this September, I do!  I'm sure other cancer patients can relate to that feeling.  It's a small thing when compared to the serious issue of cancer, but it's so real to the patient.

Dear CeeCee,

Thank you so much for the reply.I am sorry for your skin graft problem .I have had a hard time finding  anything positive about this type of cancer  and any thing I hear from anyone is so much appreciated. My sister is having a bad time with this as I am sure you have too. Her next chemo is next Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday at Vanderbilt University Hosp.I just feel so helpless.I stayed with her Monday, Tuesday and today and it is almost unbearable to see her so weak and miserable. She is my only sister and has always been the rock of our family. I knew that a cancer diagnosis was bad and so terrible for everyone involved but I guess you just don't know how bad until it is someone so close to you.. It really gives you a better understanding of the stress people go through. I am glad yours is not as bad as hers and i truly hope you continue to do good . Also good luck on your skin graft.I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Thanks again for the reply.

Sandra