Anyone had Doxil chemo alone

[msjazz]

I may be changing to Doxil Monday, if my ca125 is still high. I know about the hand/foot syndrome, and had the echo-cardiogram this week. What is the pattern for treatment and does it also cause nausea, blood count problems and bone pain like the other chemos. Thanks  Donna

[msjazz]

Thank you all for the info. If I get past the no hot water, and no heatng pad ( I have a king size I turn on all the time for bone pain gemzar) I have a sun issue. After being in all winter, I ride over on the golf course in the cart . I have just stated this on days I feel good, and have really looked forward to getting outside. But the sun comes in the cart, so if you can't be in it long, that is messed up. Maybe I can go very early or late I guess. I think we will probably move this fall to town and sell this house, so I wanted to enjoy the last rides, it is in the country with woods trails and lakes on the course. (See photos)
I even thought about keeping the cart and riding on the neighborhood in town, lol, but I would probably get run over by a car.     Thanks all Donna

[Helmar]

Hi Donna... I'm on my second lot of Doxil...had it a coupe of years ago, and just recently had the second treatment of this round. The only real side affect that I had/have are mouth ulcers. The first time, I had large and very sore ulcers, which prevented me going beyond 4 treatments. The Doxil worked really well, and was still working at bringing my CA.125 down, for 3 months after I'd stopped taking it. This time, however, I've been told to suck on ice cubes while being infused, and so far this has been a great help, as I've only had a couple of ulcers to date, and they are much smaller and not so sore, so sucking on ice seems to be the go for this. Iv'e not had any problems with bloods, hand/feet, or sore bones, but then I guess we are all different, as some women don't get the mouth ulcers.
Generally it takes 2-3 treatments before it kicks in, but then you should get good results. Wishing you all the best...hugs..Helen..

[gah_70]

The sell a mouth rinse at drugstores called Prevention Oncology Rinse.  I have had a couple of mouth sores, mainly on my tongue, and that seems to help it.  I haven't sucked on ice chips during the infusions yet, but they do say it helps.  When I started it, they gave me a bag of stuff from the makers of Doxil that included sunscreen, a thermometer to measure the temp of water (no hot showers), sunscreen, a cooling wrap for your neck, a hat, a water bottle that turns purple when exposed to UV light (to let you know you've been in the sun too long), some Udder Cream, and gel packs for your wrists and ankles to use during infusion.  They keep the gel packs at the chemo center in the fridge, and put them on me when they start it.  The idea is to slow circulation to your hands and feet to hopefully keep the hand/foot syndrome at bay.  So far, it's worked for me.  

My counts are always bad, but as you know, I am on Gemzar, too.  I attribute it to that.  But, after my appt. this past Wednesday, I think I'm probably done with both Doxil and Gemzar.  CA125 shot up to 147.  It hasn't been that high since just after surgery 2 1/2 years ago.  So, we'll see what's next.

Hope it works well for you.

Gail  

[mariak]

Hi, I was on doxil alone for 10 months and I did well with it. My hands and feet were slightly red and itchy at times but nothing major.I used the Udderlly Smooth cream that I bought at CVS. No mouth sores or nausea or bone pain.CA125 started in the 50's . After the 3rd treatment it was 25, 21, 17, 11, 14, 13, and now 19. so we are stopping to see if it is leveling off. I'm having a CAT scan this week and taking it from there. I also had 2 muga scans before and during treatment. My blood counst were always good.. Doxil is given every 4 weeks and it takes 1 hr, no premeds except for Kytril. Good luck.

[msjazz]

I didn't get any info from the dr yet, except if this last gemzar didn't work, we would probably go with the gemzar. I looked on chemocare since I posted, I really don't want mouth sores.I have seen some people keep ice chips in their mouth during infusion too.  It also said the h/f/ syndrome didn't happen sometimes for 2/3 treatments. I have a mitral valve prolaspe and take atenelol, and I am kind of concerned about the heart thing too.I wonder why she did an echo instead of the muga? She had also considered topotecan or taxol alone, but last visit decided on doxil. I will keep the phone number. Thanks Donna

[Terrin2]

Just started last month, had one, CA went up from 97 to 267, Dr. said will monitor each month to see trend if working.  Had the muga scan for heart.  Neusea, only took one compazine, no nausea,  my blood count was good,  that was a surprise to me.  All other chemos effected my counts. No bone pain,  did the cool gel pads like suggested,

Did you get the info to call Doxil Cares, 1-877-227-3749