Doxil Update

I just wanted to say I had my first doxil treatment one week ago, and I am feeling fine. My appetite has returned and I am able to go all day without napping. My doctor recommend a product call utterly smooth for hand and foot problems- so far none. I was really afraid to start this new chemo so I thought I share some of this information cause so far its not that scary. Now if Doxil works at killing cancer I'll be good. And i am crossing my fingers that my new hair that I just got back does not fall out!!

[RAS50]

Hi - thanks for the update; glad you are doing well.  I will be starting Doxil this Friday.  Let's keep in touch and compare notes.  Best wishes, Rachael

[SimplyStar]

how is the doxil given?  headlines this morning  US cancer deaths declined again this past year.  I have a gut feeling that they  are close now to a huge discovery.

[RAS50]

I LOVE and share your optimism!  I believe Doxil is given via IV.  Waiting for my onc to call me today to get all the details and then meeting with her & other oncs in a full departmental conference tomorrow before I begin treatment on Friday.  I am extremely optimistic and know God's Hand is on me.  I have had so many instances of His presence through this which some might call "coincidences", however my brother always says "Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous".  Just this past week, when I was diagnosed with this 1st recurrance, I was technically only supposed to have had a CA-125 blood test per MD Anderson standard protocol (you only get a scan if there is reason for one - pain, elevated CA125 trend , etc.).  My CA 125 was 8 (very normal) and when I went in for my bloodwork, my onc had also scheduled a CT scan which showed the 2 cm tumor.  Otherwise, without the scan I'm not sure she would have "searched so hard" to feel anything during the pelvic exam (or if she even would have given me a pelvic) and I might have been sent home on my merry way.  Not sure why the CT scan was scheduled- it really shouldn't have been!  We all need to keep the hope.  There is so much rapid promise on the immediate horizon.  Jatoo summarized many of them for me in a prior posting.  I read a very inspiring book called "Healed of Cancer" yesterday (a small book- took me about 20-30 minutes to read it) by Dodie Osteen.  It's really helped me stay strong right now and have tremendous faith.  I think a large part of winning this battle is positive attitude & prayer driving good internal chemical behavior by our bodies to fight!  Take care.  Rachael

[Helmar]

Just want to wish you ladies all the best with the Doxil. It worked well for me, so I hope you both do well too. Watch out for the mouth ulcers or the sore hands/feet... they are the worst side affects. I managed to avoid the sore hands etc.. but got stuck with the sore mouth ulcers.... but the stuff worked, and that's the main thing. Btw.. it's given by IV and only takes about 35 mins, which is good.
Best wishes... Helmar...

[gail47]

How many treatment did you take or are you still on it?  I've had 9 treatment so and will take a scan Thrusday to see how things are looking.

[freshair]

Good luck to everyone on Doxil. You are fortunate to be doing it in the winter because the heat really affects you. I lost my toenail with it. The rubbing on my sneaker during the summer caused it. You just have to watch out for any constant friction you have on your body, heat making it worse. After I was on Doxil for 3 months it made my count go up and also my CT showed growth so I took 1 month off. Next month being off Doxil my counts went down 50 points. I've heard from others that Doxil can do that. I then took another 2 months off and now doing Taxol. So its 3 or 4 months. Symptoms were not too bad except for queezy stomach. Also I had to do a Mugascan to check my heart because it can be hard on some people's hearts.
Helen

[RAS50]

Thanks, Helmar/ Christa fo rthe positive energy!  

Christa- what exactly is a "less than normal ejection fraction" ?

Rachael

[RAS50]

Gail- after 9 treatments, what were your side effects?  Did your CA125 rise?  I am seeing that the CA125 can rise until about the 3rd or 4th treatment; if that is the case, how do you know until then if Doxil works or should be replaced by another drug?  Do you get CT scans more frequently?  Thanks and hoping for great results for you!  Rachael

[gail47]

My hands and feet are dry, no hurting or blistering.  I use to get blisters on my arms and legs, but that is not a problem anymore.  My back hurts sometimes, but my main problem now is sore gums.  I had a scan in October and things were looking good.  I have one schedule for Friday.  My ca125's have been jumbing around also and I really don't think they are accurate for me.  But here they are

April - 6.5
May - 10.7
June 2 - 8.1  
June 30 - 9.2
July - 3.4
August - 7.2
Oct - <5
Nov 13 - 6.1
Nov 24 - <5
Dec  - 5.7
They did not one for September for some reason.

[Christa54]

Hi Rachel,

I also read Dodie Osteen's book and found it very helpful to me as I was going through my initial treatment.  The Scripture references inspired me to really get back into God's Word.  It was a definite faith builder for me.

I will pray that you and everyone else does well with the Doxil.  I have a less than normal ejection fraction so if I recurr again, they will most likely have to look at something else.

Christa

[Helmar]

Hi Gail... I only had 4 treatments, mainly because my Oncol. doesn't like it at all... and I had about 5-6 large and very sore mouth ulcers. Also, because it worked so well for me, he didn't want to over-do it...as it can be very harsh on the heart. He wants to keep it up his sleeve in case we need it later on. It took the 4 treatments to get a good reduction in the CA.125 and it was still working 3 months after I finished the last treatment, so it was good.
I wish you well, and hope you get good results without any of the nasty side affects. All the best...Helmar..