My daughter has been on Doxil also for 9 treatments, they are talking about changing to another drug now, but are continuing the Doxil as long as she tolerates it. Her cancer appears to be stable, they think her CA125 is normal at around 200, there have been no visable changes in the 3 small lesions on the abdominal wall. She did say it is taking longer to return to "normal" after each one. I had read that some cancer centers say that 12 might be the limit of Doxil treatments, but when we asked Mayo, they said there is no limit if tolerated. Her next scan is next month.
Thanks for the response. My last scan was in Oct, after #4. There were a couple of small lesions left, 2cm. My Dr doesn't like to do too many scans. He watches the numbers.
Thanks for the response. My last scan was in Oct, after #4. There were a couple of small lesions left, 2cm. My Dr doesn't like to do too many scans. He watches the numbers.
Hello... As Simply Star says... you can take Doxil as long as you can tolerate it. I know of one lady here who has had 18 treatments, but there is a possibility of heart damage with this drug, so you need to be alert to that. I only had 4 treatments as the one bad side affect I had was many large and very sore mouth ulcers, so my Oncol. withdrew this treatment. I hope it works well for you. hugs...Helen...
I am posing a scenario here, just suppose that there are 3 small "lesions" on the abd wall, that was the basis for the recur, CA125 does not move up, but down a few points at a time, scans show no further growth in the lesions, after 9 months of chemo how do we know if it is realy cancer? or not? could the lesions be scar tissue from chemo killed cells and tissue? Is surgery the only way to actually test for accuracy of active cells? what could happen if chemo was stopped and a determination be made to see if there is actually growth? With designated areas of suspecion , would pin point radiation be a good approach? so many questions, but I am always searching for answers. I try to out guess the experts, I would like to sit down with them for a week of straight talk about all avenues of this disease. What are we missing? I feel like I am trying to make a complicated recipe, getting suggestions from many sorces on what ingredients they used to make the best dish. and as we all know, a wrong ingredient can spoil the whole thing. I would like to find the cook that prepared the perfect dish and learn from her. That cook to me is any woman that has beat this disease and has lived cancer free for many years. I want to talk to her. Lets try to find some for us to talk to.
Wasn't there a 17 year survivor on the forum a couple of weeks ago? I am having a vague moment and can't remember her name
Jenny
There is a member of my support group who has had 26 treatments of Doxil, is doing well and is planning to continue them. I will start Doxil next week and as usual will have MUGA scans. Paula
That lady who was a 17 years survivor posted under the name of NolaBean. I think it was sometime before Christmas... maybe mid December.
Yep, I'll chime in with the rest...you can take Doxil as long as you can tolerate it and your oncologist sees that it is doing good! Fantastic that you found something that is working for you!
About the only thing I would recommend is getting your heart checked out. Doxil contains Doxorubicin which can damage the heart. if you are not being monitored now, talk to your oncologist about getting this scheduled.
Look into CoQ10 which has been shown to help the heart in regards to Doxorubicin treatments (but not studied with Doxil but many feel the effects will be the same since the core ingredient is the same chemo).
http://www.alanpeto.com/articles/3/1/Coenzyme-Q10-CoQ10-as-a-possible-adjunct-treatment-for-Ovarian-Cancer/Page1.html