Heading in a new direction

Well, we finally did it, we changed oncologists.  The previous doctor was getting a bit long in the tooth.  We met with our new oncologist yesterday and already feel a lot better.  Jackie had pretty much given up hope that there were any options for her since her metastatic ovarian was platinum resistant (not that she will miss it), but now she clearly has a physician who has been NIH trained and is very up-to-date on all sorts of treatment options.  Sure, most of them have side effects, but she knows that she has to keep fighting.  After 7 months of cisplatin/taxol and getting no where she was really feeling low, especially if her original doc. had been aware that since her CAs weren't dropping after the first couple of treatments that she was probably refractory.

 BTW, has anyone who might read this had any experience with Doxcil?  This is one of the options mentioned. I've been reading up on it and it seems that some patients have had good experience with it; others not.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has had recurrent metastatic ovarian, especially if it's chest wall based in origin.  Thanks everyone. You're support has been great!

Andrew

My husband is currently on Docetaxel and Cisplatin, he does ok with the docetaxel but he has terrible side affects from the cisplatin.  He now has neuropathy in the legs and the mouth sores, metal taste and fatigue.  He is suppose to be on it for 3 more treatments and then onto just 5FU.  I just can't wait until he is off the Cisplatin. The docetaxel causes swelling of the feet and hands, his finger nails are hard as a rock, he also has extreme tearing of the eyes, which cause them to be red.  He has also lost most of his hear - from his head, face, eyebrows and now eye lashes, also around his feet and all his chest hair as well.

I keep telling myself it will only be 3 more treatments.

 Believe, we feel for you.  My wife was on the same regimen, except she couldn't tolerate docetaxol, and they switched her to just taxol.  She had similar symptoms to your husband, but she also had acute renal failure twice due to the cisplatin and she's now permanently off of it.

My prior message was referring to Doxcil, which is a different treatment (not docetaxol).

Tell your husband that it gets better, but not until the poison is out of his system. I don't what's worse; the treatment or the disease.

Best,

Andrew

On 6/11/2009 NJ123 wrote:

My husband is currently on Docetaxel and Cisplatin, he does ok with the docetaxel but he has terrible side affects from the cisplatin.  He now has neuropathy in the legs and the mouth sores, metal taste and fatigue.  He is suppose to be on it for 3 more treatments and then onto just 5FU.  I just can't wait until he is off the Cisplatin. The docetaxel causes swelling of the feet and hands, his finger nails are hard as a rock, he also has extreme tearing of the eyes, which cause them to be red.  He has also lost most of his hear - from his head, face, eyebrows and now eye lashes, also around his feet and all his chest hair as well.

I keep telling myself it will only be 3 more treatments.