First Topotecan treatment

[bohan54]

Following Teresa's lead, here's my experience.
Infusions will be every Friday for 3 weeks, then one week off.  I get a steroid and some Zofran first, then 30 minutes of the Topo thru my new port.  Did not have the port for Carbo/Taxol.  My CA 125 was 224 going in and I have 3 areas of malignancy which are being watched.
Side effects have been:  
1.  Significantly more chemo brain than with Carbo/Taxol.  My head felt fuzzy for 3 days.  
2.  Minor nausea - controlled by Zofran and compazine
3.  Dull taste buds
4.  CONSTIPATION - my usual recipe for action is not working!
5.  Fatigue - slept 11 hours yesterday
To summarize, QOL is about a 6.5 on a scale of 10, certainly tolerable for now.  One of my chemo nurses told me that she has a patient who has been stable for 18 months on Topo.  I am hoping for similar results!

[JC145]

PS:  I am scheduled for a Neulasta shot every Monday following chemo week for my white cells.  (I wonder if I really need it .. see: Jane65)

[JC145]

Just had first cycle of topotecan .. but mine is given Monday thru Friday for one week and then 2 weeks off.  Chemo week I am a little groggy and by the weekend, I have little or no energy and here it is Tuesday, and I am still listless.  My Hgb started at 10 because of having another chemo right before starting topo, so my counts are probably low.  Other than constipation (and exhaustion), I had no other problems round 1.  Too soon for labs.

I am hopiing and praying this works.  

Judy

[jane65]

Hi,
I've been on Topotecan since last June, I get iv premeds decadron and benedryl for 30 min. before my infusion, I also get an IV of saline solution running with, and after my Topo.
My CA125  went down a few points almost every month and now it's 14.0.
My last scan showed 2 of the 3 lymph nodes are now normal size, and the remainingproblem one, is smaller that it had been. A questionable spot on my liver, hasn't grown in 6 months, so for the medical part I'd say it's been a very good chemofor me.

I also have the constipation problem, I take a capful of MiraLax in a cup of water in the evening, a cup of prune juice in the AM,, and 2 Colace tablets. I've increased my fiber and fruits, and all this has worked for me.

My chemo brain is worse, too and I search for words, and I am more forgetful than I was.

Fatigue comes over me and I'm finished for the day, can't fight it.

My blood values drop and I get an Aranesp shot maybe once a month, maybe less often, depending on my hemoglobin number.
WBC are a bit low, but not low enough to cause concern.

I take a Zofran the evening of the chemo day, and a sleeping pill that night. Slight nausea for a few days, usually not bad enough to need another Zofran.

I hope it is a wonderfully successful chemo for you.
Feel good,
Jane

[ireneo]

My remaining friend with OvCa has been on Topotecan for quite awhile now and she's doing amazingly well. I don't recall what other chemo she's had before her recurrence. But this seems to be helping her quite a bit. I hope this works as well for you.