Carbo and Taxol midway thro Caelyx

[Ang80]

Hi

I have posted about my mum several times before. She is currently on Caelyx or Doxil but after her 3rd session her CA125 had risen by 5. She sees her oncologist this week. She has had 4 Caelyx treatments and they didn't have the CA125 ready for the last appt, delay at the lab. Her oncologist is recommending stopping the caelyx and starting carbo and taxol again. Its 18 months since she stopped this treatment.

Would carrying on with caelyx be better or starting the other combo, also would carbo and taxol be a good idea? Its 18 months since she last had it. I know caelyx is a chemo that kicks in alot later and so CA125 rise isn't too much to worry about.

Also, after her 4th treatment of caelyx her hair has started to fall out, not completely but more thinning, this didn't happen until 10 days after the last session. Is this normal?

Thanks once again for your time

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
thank you so much for the update. It sounds like your mother's doctor is taking get care of her He knows her the best. .I agree with the decision to change chemo.  

Doxil is slow acting and there are times where maintain on doxil when the CT scan is stable makes sense. But doxil can be used again in the future
best wishes

[Ang80]

bump

[Ang80]

Hi

There is no need to answer the above question.

Just to update, her latest CA125 is 106 from 80 2 months ago.
The Dr said her latest CT scan wasn't too bad, he said she had scatterings on the bowel. He said that as its 18 months since she last had carbo and taxol they are going to give her a months break from caelyx and start carbo and taxol. He also said that the reason they didn't start carbo and taxol in January was due to her having her bowel obstruction op, pnuemonia and c diff and they didn't think she would cope with the chemo so they went for caelyx as it would keep the disease stable while she got better from her op. Due to her bowel op has given her some stool softeners as she gets constipated sometimes.

If its 18 months since her last carbo, would be stand a good chance of working?
Also, does the Dr sound like he has most things covered and the plan of care sound appropriate?

Many Thanks for your time once again