Gemzar/Carbo for reoccurrence of PPC & Breast Cancer

I would like to refer to Harriet' s comments in "4th round" wherein she says "The new trend seems to be Gemzar."

I'm in my 10 month of reoccurrence treatment on Gemzar/Carbo and my CA125 now fluctuates between 8-10.  The last PET scan I had showed no sign of the breast cancer in lymph nodes under my breast bone, and only 1 small spot of PPC  (1.5 cm) in my abdomen.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago and it reoccurred along with the diagnosed  PPC3 years ago.  I had the surgery and Taxol/Cisplatin then a rest for over a year until  the CA125 climbed over 50.

Both my GYN/Oncologist and Breast Cancer oncologist agree that Gemzar/Carbo is the Cadillac of maintenance treatments  and I will remain on it as long as it works.  I asked for time off,  but they said that once you quit a particular chemo you can't go back.  Therefore I would question Drs. who want to go back to previous chemo treatments until they have tried Gemzar.   They also said that once you have a reaction to a "platin," you can't take any platins.

I have a lot of faith in both doctors as their treatments are working.  I don't like the treatments, but it has become a way of life for me and I am thankful  for every day. 

One thing I would like to add if any breast cancer survivors read this is to have a hysterectomy.  I feel that if I had had one after my mastectomy,  I would not have PPC today.

I hope this information might be of help to someone out there, and remember "Keep the faith."

Teal Warrior Gayle

Hi Gayle, I'm too am on Gemzar. I started it 4weeks ago. It does a number on my counts so it looks like I will be getting it 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. I was hoping for a month break in August so I can go on vacation. I hope they let me back on it. I will have to ask my Onc.

That was good information you had given , I hope it helps someone out.

Love, Terry

Teal Warrior Gayle,

I am just recently back from Houston Texas from MD Anderson,  They suggested for my treatment Taxol and Carbo again for my treatment.  In 2003 and 2006 I had very good luck with these drugs.   I had this combination for 6 treatments in 2003 and then again in 2006 I had this combo for 2 treatments before becoming allergic to Carbo on my 8th treatment so my dr decided to go with just taxol.  We have tried many drugs since then but none seamed to work like that combo.  In Houston they suggested giving me drugs to desensitize me so that I could take Carbo again.  I have had 1 round of carbo and taxol and did just great. It is a bunch of drugs I take the day before and the day of treatment and then I am good to go.  It has worked for one treatment so we will see what happens the next time. 

 

On 5/1/2009 MOM!! wrote:

Teal Warrior Gayle,

I am just recently back from Houston Texas from MD Anderson,  They suggested for my treatment Taxol and Carbo again for my treatment.  In 2003 and 2006 I had very good luck with these drugs.   I had this combination for 6 treatments in 2003 and then again in 2006 I had this combo for 2 treatments before becoming allergic to Carbo on my 8th treatment so my dr decided to go with just taxol.  We have tried many drugs since then but none seamed to work like that combo.  In Houston they suggested giving me drugs to desensitize me so that I could take Carbo again.  I have had 1 round of carbo and taxol and did just great. It is a bunch of drugs I take the day before and the day of treatment and then I am good to go.  It has worked for one treatment so we will see what happens the next time. 

Thanks for the info.  I'm always looking for new ways to treat this disease.  I'm well aware that my Drs. don't know ALL the answers.  I think we all can learn from each other.

When you say after Taxol/Carbo that you are "good to go," don't you have side affects that prevent you from doing a lot of things?  I'd love to find out how you can do that.  Gemzar and Carbo give me about 2 days of real misery.

Keep fighting,

Gayle

When I said I was good to go, I was talking about, I take drugs the day before my treatment so that I am not allergic to carbo.  The drugs really helped me be able to take my whole treatment.  I am like you and have a couple of rough days after treatment from taxol and carbo.  But I only take a treatment every 3  weeks so when you figure 3 bad days out of 21 days that isnt to bad.  Keep the faith.

What do they give you to keep your blood levels up?  I think the Neulasta shots I get after each treatment give me almost as much misery as the chemo itself.

I would love to be on chemo every 3 weeks.  I used to have 2 wks. on then 1 week off.  Now I get it every other week and the numbers still seem to be staying down.  Maybe I will some day extend it to every 3 weeks.  That would be nice!

Good luck

Gayle

I think you are right about the Neulasta shot I think it causes alot of pain also, mine always comes 2 days after Chemo.  But I just start taking pain medicine in the am and take it for 2 days straight every 4 hours and it really seams to help.  My nurse told me once you can just as well take any medication to help you because there isn't gonna be a star behind you name for not taking it.  Take Care and stay positive.

I got good new yesterday.  Dr. is moving chemo to every 3 weeks in order to give me a chance to recover and have more quality of life.  We're hoping this will be enough to keep the numbers down.

She increased the Gemzar yesterday from 750 to 1230 so it will be interesting to see if I feel much different.  Thanks for your comments.

Gayle