Gemzar alone

Hi, I was diagnosed with stage III Ovarian cancer in January, had debulking surgery in Jan., did the 6 rounds of carbo/taxol treatments, now on Gemzar.  My CA125s were 5569 before surgery, 309 after surgery, went down steadily during carbo/taxol, but I have not had a big drop yet.  After all the Carbo/taxol, it was 141.  Right before first gemzar treatment it was 136.  I had my 2nd treatment yesterday.  I'm not happy that carbo/taxol didn't do better esp. for all the painful neuropathy I'm having.  My oncologist says we'll do another CA125 after this 3-treatment series to see what gemzar is doing.  I've read enough to know that platinum based drugs should be given no more than 6 months apart, so gemzar is not being paired with anything else.  Has anyone else had this experience?  If so, how did it work for you?  I'm concerned that my CA125 continue to run so high.  Also I'm dealing the rheumatoid arthritis which was suppressed during carbo/taxol, but is now acting up big time.  Will see my rhuematogist today about changing my drugs for that.  I'm 61, but feel much older at this point.  Still holding down a full time job and hope I can keep that going - need the health insurance (obviously).

Virginia in S. IL

Hi Virginia,

So sorry to hear of your marker not going down with the Carbo/taxol.  I have been on Gemzar/Carbo for 14 months as a maintenance chemo and it is keeping  my 125 down below 10.  I hope Gemzar works for you.  I had not heard that "platinum based drugs should be given no more than 6 months apart."  I will definitely talk to my oncologist about that, as I would love to get off of Carbo.  Good luck with your treatment and please get back to us on how your marker goes.

Gayle

Hello, I took gemzar alone for 6 treatments, found it to be very workable and my numbers stayed under 30 after the 4th.  Last count and treatment was June 22 to 24. I reacted to the carb. twice in Feb. Pam

Thanks, Pam, for your response.  I have my 3rd treatment tomorrow and then we'll do a CA125 and see how I'm doing. 

RA meds couldn't be changed as long as I'm on chemo.  My RA doc gave me Prednisone to get rid of the pain.  I started that this week and it does work - I just don't know what side effect Prednisone will have.

On 8/28/2009 Itsallgood wrote:

Hello, I took gemzar alone for 6 treatments, found it to be very workable and my numbers stayed under 30 after the 4th.  Last count and treatment was June 22 to 24. I reacted to the carb. twice in Feb. Pam

Hello,   I am researching and trying to be proactive as to what my next treatment will be.   How often did you take the Gemzar alone?  My CA125 is over 400 at this point.

I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to get back.  Thanks to all who have responded.  After 2 series (4 treatments - 2 weeks on, a week off, two weeks on, a week off), we did a CA125 on 9/30 right before my 5th tx.  It came back at 113.  I was so in hopes that it would drop more than that (was 136 previous to Gemzar), so it is working, but slowly.  Today was my 8th tx and last of series 4.  My oncologist says we'll keep doing this until my CA125 gets below 30 or I can't tolerate this drug any longer.  It's been a long haul - discovery on Dec. 11, 2008, more tests, surgery on Jan. 13, 2009, and lots of chemo and I'm not in remission yet.  I will keep on as long as I can.

Virginia in S. IL