Topotecan

[saem]

Hello, Some of you know about my mother-in-law.  She has be fighting OVCA for about 4 years. She tried carboplatin and doxil and neither of those chemotherapies have worked.  She now has 1 cm spot on her liver and a 1 cm spleen, but her lymphnodes are still clear.  They have now put her on Topotecan.  We don't know anything about this type of chemo.  Is there anyone that can tell me about this type of chemo?  Thank you for taking time to answer my question.  I appreciate it very much!!

[Diana14]

I don't know much about this drug but my prayers are with you both

[Helmar]

Hello... I've had Topotecan on two different occasions... without success. I was taking it daily for 5 days consecutively, and the only side affect that I can report was terrible fatigue. I've never ever felt so tired and listless with any other chemo, as I did with Topotecan. My Oncol. has a theory that it 'splits the cells' thus showing a high reading for the CA.125 but then he switched me onto Taxotere/ Carbo which brought the numbers tumbling down, so I guess the Topotecan did work to make that a little easier. I've met other ladies who have had good success with Topotecan, so as always with any of these drugs.. it's 'trial and error' for each of us.
I wish your M.I.L. all the best, and I hope she continues to do well.   hugs...Helen..

[freshair]

I have not taken it. I know that is a good second line chemo. Sounds like your Mom has minimal disease.

I tell you she is a very good candidate for radio frequency ablation on the liver since she doesn't have it much elsewhere. It is a rather easy procedure. UMASS does it and other well know centers. I have it on the liver but am not a candidate cause I have too much elsewhere.
I know that topotecan is harsh on the blood and there is a lot of fatigue. I hope this works. We never know what is going to work. That is the problem. We can only hope.