Teal Warriors

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Hi Pam and Nancy,

I've been away visiting my daughter in TX and I took a nice vacation from cancer - didn't visit this site at all for weeks, and it is getting harder to find it with so many new messages. I'm so terribly sorry that both of you have had such problems! While I was out having a good time you two were definitely miserable. I hope things are better for you now.

About the constipation, here's what has worked for me. Walgreens Senna-S. Start taking it day before chemo. Also, my Dr. has me on 4 Magnesium tabs a day - I've been on these for 2 years. I think they help with the constipation because I used to take 8 a day and that was pretty bad - the other way.

I have been on carbo/gemzar constantly for 15 mo - although only every 3 weeks now - and so far no fevers, blood clots, etc. The side effects are pretty bad for a couple of days, but I have always recovered to feel really good the rest of the time. I feel fortunate that I am able to do this. Dr. is very pleased with my progress even though my 125 is now up to 20, the 27-29 BCA is down. Go figure.

Today is day 3 after chemo and I am still up and doing normal things, but I know that will change soon. I just keep looking ahead to Sunday when this will all be over or about over until the next time.

God Bless all you teal warriers and keep in touch.

Gayle

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Harrietg

hi girls! havent forgot you, just havent had much time for computers! sorry not everyone is as fine as i had hoped! this is "our" cancer month, so let's get the message out! dont let yourself be fobbed off by your gp or gyn! the radiotherapy did its work fine, had a scan & all u see is a sliver of moon-shape "something" on the left-hand side of the liver which should atrophy in the next few months: i dont if any of u would be helped by this (tomotherapy) but it is definitely a piece of cake compared to chemo. still tired tho; the funny thing is the radiologist who wrote the protocol doesnt seem to have read my case history (= just finished radiotherapy!) because he said i have metastasized cancer in my liver: duh! CA125 is back down to 6, where we started from, so whew!

my thoughts to all of u: keep up the fight! there are some new therapies being tested right at this moment, so if anyone wants to enter a clinical trial....Personally i get reports from medical news today, every day!

love, harriet

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Donna_Gayle

Harriet, thanks so much for sharing that info. I'm going to ask my onc/gyn about it next time. Sure would be wonderful to get off this chemo!

Hope the rest of you are doing fine.

Hugs to all,

Gayle

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PigNm

Hi all : i am here harriet, i check in now and then but no one has written anything new. Status on me is, i am still on lovenox injections for blood clots, and on the sept 29 treatment they took my 125 and it went up to 105 and liver emzyes were high. I had a rough two weeks, there, first with fevers and then with feeling like the wind was taking from me, especially on excursion. I was very tied too. On tuesday the 6 another blood test was taken, the day before so we would have results when we saw doctor. The good news is liver emzyes went down but still not normal, but enough to get my treatment. My 125 went up to 129 so my system is a bit wack out right now. Doc is not sure if gemzar is not working any more or if 125 is reacting to liver emzyes not being normal. The plan right now is he is taking blood a day or two proir to treatment and checking liver and 125, pending on that will determine if i get treatment. He is going to keep me on the 3 weeks of gemzar and one week off, and watch me carefully and see what happens. He is lokking into another drug in mean time to be ready if gemzar has stopped working. Ct scan a couple of weeks ago was clear, liver and cancer, so now its just a waiting game. Knock on wood i am doing ok this week from treatment, no fevers but i still am wind blowen on excursion. Not as bad as last week. Blood clots are doing this mostly but also the gemzar. The week of the 11 is my week off, but going in for blood work and flu shot on tuesday. He is taking blood evry week. So i have been catching up on things around the house here very slowly, due to i was very much out of it for two weeks and fell behind here. So thats where i am at, hope everyone is doing ok, glad to see pam and harriet on facebook. I am around.

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Harrietg

hi nancy: r u getting the regular flu shot or mexican flu? i'm of 2 minds about the last as they haven't spoken of any side effects yet! but i daren't even get on a plane until i get it!

i dont know where u have mets, but i can definitely recommend tomotherapy (radiation)!

keep up the fight, harriet

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PigNm

Harriet - my liver is Ok no signs of cancer and the high levels of emzyes are not high enough, plus ct scan was clear,. I am getting the regular flu shot for now and the n1n2 or whatever when slaon gets it.

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Harrietg

hi nancy, has your onc considered something new like a PARP inhibitor? this was a clinical study in the past year & i keep seeing it mentioned in various congresses

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PigNm

Hi Harriet and all,

I have been taking off Gemzar as my 125 keeps going up. Its now 150. He is starting me on avaistin and topotecan. My insurance approved the avaistin.

I don't know what the schedule will be yet, hopefully will know today.

My liver counts have come down so that is good. I am still on blood thinner Lovenox for blood clotting and will stay on it for awhile longer.

My Ct scan was pretty clear but he feels that some mirco cells are floating around, that ct cannot pick up yet, which is causing 125 to raise.

Instead of sitting around waiting for them to show up in scans, we decided to just stay on chemo but try a new one.

Thats where I am at right now, hope all is Ok with everyone.

Nancy

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Donna_Gayle

Hi all,

Have been reading through all the messages. Nancy, so sorry you have been going through so much trouble and have been taken off Gemzar. I will be most interested in hearing about Avastin and Topotecan. Have you had a treatment and if so what side effects have you had? I get Gemzar tomorrow and we are going to try not giving me a Neulasta shot for my white count. The shot is actually as bad or worse than the chemo as it lasts so long.

I missed the first flu shot clinic and am hoping I can be well enough for the next one. I don't know if the H1N1 will be available to me. They seem to be taking health care workers and children first, and I'm not really sure I want it. However, we are flying to see my daughter in Nov. and I'm a little aprehensive. Think I'll wear a mask.

Take care all, keep in touch, God Bless,

Gayle

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PigNm

On 10/19/2009 Donna Gayle wrote:

Hi all,
Have been reading through all the messages. Nancy, so sorry you have been going through so much trouble and have been taken off Gemzar. I will be most interested in hearing about Avastin and Topotecan. Have you had a treatment and if so what side effects have you had? I get Gemzar tomorrow and we are going to try not giving me a Neulasta shot for my white count. The shot is actually as bad or worse than the chemo as it lasts so long.
I missed the first flu shot clinic and am hoping I can be well enough for the next one. I don't know if the H1N1 will be available to me. They seem to be taking health care workers and children first, and I'm not really sure I want it. However, we are flying to see my daughter in Nov. and I'm a little aprehensive. Think I'll wear a mask.
Take care all, keep in touch, God Bless,
Gayle

Gayle, I don't have treatment until the 27 my doc is away and wanted to be here for giving me the new drugs.

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