repeat platinum? but platinum resistant

[jane65]

Judging by only getting one reply to Etoposide I'm assuming no one else has been on it, or know anyone who's been on it.

I'm not comfortable with taking it, and my oncologist said it's usually used late stage but he's hoping that since my body is still handling chemo well, we should try it now.
My cancer is still in the lymph nodes, not the major organs so I'm NOT READY TO GIVE UP!

He doesn't feel repeating carboplatin is an option, even though I had it 3 years ago as my first line drug with taxol.
My remission was 4 months, so I'm platinum sensitive.

I've had Topo. Gemzar and Doxil, and I feel that I'd rather retry carbo although my oncologist said the cancer gene has probably mutated, and it probably won' work this time. He and his associate also don't do assay testing because the feel the cancer mutates quickly.

My question is have you repeated a platinum drug and did you have success with it?

Thanks for your support, it's so important for all of us.
Jane

[jane65]

HI Gabby,
My oncologist said the same as yours, my remission after carbo/taxol was 4 months so he's not confident that it will work again.

My oncologist called yesterday and my CA dropped 30 points, so I'm hoping he'll decide to stay with Doxil for now.

I never heard of Etoposide either, hope we can hold off on that.

Take care,
xoxo
Jane

[gabby55]

HI JANE ITS GABBY55 WHEN I SAW MY ONCO LAST WEEK I ASKED IF I COULD GO BACK ON CARBO TAXOL,HOWEVER SHE SAID BECAUSE MY REMISSION WA SONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER FINISHING 9 ROUNDS OF THAT CHEMO AND I BECAME PLATNUM RERSISTANT IT WOULD NOT WORK FOR ME SO NOW I AM ON DOXIL A SYOU KNOW AND THIS WILL BE MY 7TH ONE WE R GOING MONTH TO MONTH NOW AS LONG A SMY BODY CAN TOLERATE IT...SO THATS WHAT I KNOW I NEVER HEARD OF THE ONE ETOPOSIDE??LET M EKNOW HOW ALL GOES FOR YOU CONTINUED PRAYER SFOR US AL LOVE AND BLESSINGS GABBY55

[jane65]

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post, yes I'm platinum resistant since my initial remission was only 4 months.

After carbo/taxol I've only had single chemo drugs each time, no combos.

I can't respond to each post, I'm losing my mind thinking about all this, but I do appreciate all the suggestions.

It looks like my husband's union may refuse to allow Etoposide (VP-16) and I don't know what we'll do next. I'm hoping Genentech will approve me for Avastin.

I have to call again to try and get my latest CA results.

Jane

[abrite1]

Hi Jane,  

Today marks 5 years since my surgery for 3 C OVCA. My remission was also only 4 months. My chemo has been as follows:

Taxol/Carbo/Avastin...6 cycles...then Taxol/Avastin 6 months (A year long clinical trial)
After 4 months, CA 125 rose with no cancer on CT scan
Femara: 4 months while watching CA 125 rise with no cancer on CT scan
Doxil: 10 months
Taxol: almost 2 years
Carbo: 6 cycles  finished July 29, 2010 (My CA 125 went to 7 and my CT scan was clear for the first time since my initial recurrence) After the 2nd cycle, I developed a hypersensitivity reaction but because the chemo was working so well, they then used a desensitization procedure. Very tough but worth it because...

I have not had any chemo since July 29 as my CT scan was clear and my CA 125 was 7 (the lowest it has been since before surgery when it was 8500)

Since my recurrence, my cancer has always just been in 2-3 lymph nodes and/ or a few spots on the lining of my liver.

Not sure if this is useful to you. We are all different; however, repeating carbo for me has had very positive results. I wonder if your Dr. would consider single agent Taxol. Also, are you eligible for any clinical trials?

Have you posted this question to Dr. Goodman on the Expert Forum. She always has excellent ideas about options and may also know something about etoposide.

Best wishes and prayers to you!

[gah_70]

Oops. I'm using my phone and hit the wrong button. Anyway, I wish I had more info for you about etoposide. I'm sending you positive thoughts and saying prayers that you'll find the right one.

Gail

[gah_70]

You mean you're platinum resistant rather than platinum sensitive, right?  I'm not sure what the protocol is for platinum resistance after 3 years. What about Navelbine? That one was rough for me but may not be for you. Has he mentioned maybe doing Taxol alone? I just think there has to be a single agent or combo left to try without it being something thats terribly hard on you.

As far as etoposide, Chris was on that along with Avastin. If I recall correctly, she had Avastin every other week and that was the week she was sicker. So the etoposide alone wasn't quite so bad. I wish

[junamgen]

Pink tissue:  So happy to saw your post and know that your mom is doing great!

Love
jun

[PinkTissue]

Hi! My mum had carboplatin/taxol 3 times and it still works. The first recurrence is 9 months after the first line of defence. After recurrence, switched to gemzar, navelbine and doxil - only worked partially. Only worked after switching back to carbolplatin/taxol. Unfortuantely, cancer recurred again after 5 months. Again stick to carboplatin/taxol + avastin. Tumor marker dropped to normal and 95% of the cancer gone after 2 course of treatment only. My mum tolerated carboplatin/taxol+ avastin well - she could go shopping on the same day of the chemo and karaoke singing at the community center the day after the chemo.....

[junamgen]

Hi Jane:  I did had Carbo with Gemzar as my second line of chemo, it didn't work so well for me. then had Doxil with Avastin which worked very well. A friend of mine second line was Carbo and Taxol exactly as her first line, still worked like charm.  So everyone is very different. I kind know why it was not working for me.  My ca125 didn't drop below 35 after 3 cycles when I had it first time.  If ca125 drop to normal after you had 3 cycles of Carbo+Taxol first time, you are called sensitive to Carbo+Taxol like my friend.  Not sure about your situation. If you are sensitive, I would definitely request for Carbo+Taxol  ( I thought it is the protocol to use Carbo+Taxol as a second line when a patient is sensitive).

Have you always had single chemo except your first chemo (carbo+texol)?  Maybe you should ask your dr about combo next time.

Hope it helps a bit!
Peace and Love
jun