Hello All!! Any info on Caelyx please!!

[tellme]

Hi All!!!
I am back - tellme here!
thought I would drop in and say hello and also pick anyones brains!!

I have just been told I am to start chemo again with Carboplatin and Caelyx as my tumours have
grown and also I have further half dozen nodules on the peritoneum of my bowel.

Wanted to know as much info or experience of anyone who has had caelyx please.

I first had ovarian cancer 20 years ago stage 3, and then it came back to haunt me in
2006 and had a clearish run till now....so please any thoughts.  thanks.

[rash196]

What is your caelyx and carboplatin dosage?
mine is caelyx30mg/m2 and carboplatin 300mg/m2.
this affects the reactions you will experience.
I have had 2 rounds so far and the worst has been nausea/vomitting after round 1.. this was also because my onco feared intestinal blockage developing so anti nausea medication was kept min. round 2 was nausea but actual vomitting much reduced.
using cooling packs on hands and feet during infusion definitely helps.
am taking homoeopathy preventive for mouth sores, hand/foot syndrome,constipation etc.it works.
there will be discolouration around area where cadula is inserted.if the "red devil" does not burn you in the first 5mins.......most likely you can take it.

good luck

[momofsandj]

I fyou don't ice the ankles and wrists (and some say the palms)  there is a high probability that the hands and feet will be very red and painful, and will blister and crack -- I fell asleep on one of my treatments and the ice packs fell off my wrists and I was miserable a week later.  The ice constricts the blood vessels and keeps the full brunt of the chemo from reaching your palms and soles of your feet.

You can just bring your own ice packs and ask them to tie them on to your wrists and ankles -- your doctor should have no objectons -- just put a thin cloth between the ice packs and your skin so you can tolerate it for the length of the drip.  You don't need them on for the premeds.  And yes it will affect walking -- the soles of your feet hurt so much you can't really walk on them for any real length of time -- I swear by the ice packs -- it's such a little thing and makes such a big difference -- the practice I go to didn't know about it -- I heard about it when I had this on a clinical trial five years ago and the drug rep said something about it -- I have to provide my own ice packs.

[tellme]

Thank you both for replying.
I will go to the website you suggested - thanks.
I am actually in London so things are different.
But I will bear it in mind when I speak to my oncologist in a weeks time.
So what happens to the wrists and ankle if you don't ice them?
I did read that they do get very sore.
I am worried about this as does it affect walking?

[momofsandj]

I'm on my second recurrence and have had 5 cycles of Caelyx/Doxil -- the dosage I got for the first four cycles was high enough to cause severe blistering and skin toxicity -- the last time he reduced the dosage and put decadron in the drip and I've been doing great this time around -- I do ice my wrists and ankles during the drip and follow all the directions and so my hands and feet have been ok -- Biotene has helped with mouthsores -- Oasis is supposed to be good too ---- I would suggest that you go to Doxil.com and call the 877 number for support -- if you sign up for their support program they will send you a goodie bag filled with lotion that helps the dry skin, Ice packs for your hands, and all kinds of other stuff for free, if your doctor didn't already give it to you.  They call a couple days after your treatment just to check on you and answer questions.  By the way, you really do have to take lukewarm showers or baths -- anything warmer than that will start hurting your feet.
Good Luck
Jeanne

[casey644]

I have just started on Caelyx 1 week ago.  I was on taxol, however, that has now apparently stopped working and my CA125 started to rise - from 40 to 87.  Still pretty small.  I have no symptoms.  I was fairly nervous also when I started as it was a pretty quick decision to switch on the spot when I got my results.  It would appear from "shopping" around on several forums that most people tolerate it quite well.  Just pay attention to what you're told to do as far as icing your ankles and wrists as well as rinsing to avoid the mouth sores.

My prayers are with you.  It's too soon for me to tell if it's working, but it may be that I'm on it for several months if it works out.