Doxil Question

[ConcernedInNY]

With Doxil, assuming a woman responds to treatment...do they keep giving it until either 1.)NED or 2.) its no longer working?

OR is it like the taxol/carboplatin where its only like 6 sessions because its so toxic?

Is Doxil usually given once a month or every few weeks?

[kathy o]

Thanks so much my fellow warriors!! I feel better now! I won't know how to act if my hair stays, I have had very little in the last three years and it is coming back lush and BLOND????? Well off I go soon so you all take care...
kathy

[gail47]

I will have my 6th treatment of doxil tomorrow.  After this I will take a scan to see how these are going.  I had a scan after my third treatment and the doxil was working the tumors were shrinking and also nodes.  The doxil is an easy chemo compaired to the ones I have had before.  I do have the hand and feet problem, hot feet, and some blistering mostly on my arms and legs, but its not that bad.  Nothing is worse than having cancer.  If we can deal with cancer we can deal with the hand and feet problem with ease.

Keep the Faith
Gail

[sueg]

Hi NY and Kath,
Don't worry about Doxil its a lot easier than Carbo/Taxol.I had five cycles,given once a month.It stopped working for me after the fourth,but I had one more just as a double check,but its worked fantastically for plenty of people.
I took a week of steroids(dexamethasone) and vitamin B6 three times a day to ward of the hand/foot problem  every cycle and they really seemed to work until near the end when my feet started to blister.Your hands and feet will feel hot and dry and peel,so use LOADS of moisturiser,all the time.Don't have your hands in hot water,don't take hot baths/showers.Keep as cool as you can.Wear loose clothing,no socks,shoes around the house.I got the odd mouth ulcer and was given Gelclair for them to heal.
I didn't get any sickness,didn't lose my hair and was usually tired in the 2nd week,but I felt really good on this chemo.My neutrophils took a bit of a battering and my chemo was quite often delayed for a week.You will find your CA125 will probably jump after the first Doxil then start to come down.I had my first dose in January,my ca125 was 191 before and 824 after-thats the sort of jump I mean.Then it came down,552,135,117,then 157,176,114,141 and thats where I am now,I've been yo-yoing.WE stopped the Doxil once it started rising.I haven't had chemo now since June,I feel really good,they won't operate,so I'm stuck with this tumor and I couldn't care less.I think its here to stay,but I'm not starting another chemo until I feel ill or I'm getting pains and at the moment I'm feeling neither.
So don't worry about it.
Any questions,just ask.Take care everyone
Sue x

[Barney22]

To answer your query about my previous medications - very much the same as your mother - 2 cycles of taxol/carbo.  First got me down to CA125 of 9 but only lasted 7 months of remission.  2nd lot of chemo I had both drugs for half the course then only carboplatin for the last half due to neuropathy problems.  The remission only lasted 3 months and now I am looking to have a 3rd round but not sure yet exactly which drug.  I'm really sorry your mum is relapsing so soon - it must be terribly hard for her and the family, but other chemo drugs may work much better for her.  Good luck, Jenny

PS re your earlier question about placebos on clinical trials I don't think they would possibly put her on a placebo given her rising CA125 - very unethical.  Not sure if I misinterpreted what you said on that?  Apols if I did.

[ConcernedInNY]

Hi Jenny,

Thank you for the response.  ANd this clinical trial, no matter what, she is getting doxil at the very least....youre correct it would be unethical to give a placebo.

I knew chances were there would be a recurrence...but damn I didnt think it would be this soon.  Its heartbreaking and Im truly afraid of what lies ahead.

[Barney22]

I may be having Doxil (Caelyx here in the UK) shortly and my oncol said it would be 6 cycles, 8 possibly depending on how things go.  I have heard of women being on it considerably longer however.  I will be having it on a 28 day cycle so it comes to nearly 6 months, well 5 and a half, if I go the full 6 cycles.  As this is my 2nd recurrence this is no bad thing for me as remission may be hard to achieve afterwards.

[kathy o]

I will be having my first Doxil tomorrow and am scared s%6&L%$4
I am getting no prior meds and no nausea medication?? I have been allergic to Taxol and carbo. Nurse told me that other than the hand and foot syndrome (which I am already working to prevent) there are no side effects????? So everyone pray for me tomorrow and I will let you know whats up...... Also says for 3-5 days after to basically do nothing.!!
Kathy:)

[ConcernedInNY]

Hi Barney.

Thank you for sharing the information.
Do you mind if I ask what chemo medications you were on and how long until you recurred?

Thank you.