Topic: Anyone on Gemzar?

I'm getting Gemzar/Cisplatin after switching from Taxol Avastin. I've only had one round so far and am getting the two drugs together. I did get premeds, but those might be mostly tied to the Cisplatin. So far, my main complaint is fatigue, makes it hard to work. I think I'll feel OK again just in time for second treatment.... 

Good luck to both of you and let's hope Gemzar is really, really a cancer killer.

Paula 

Hey Linda..and Robin...

I had a great run with Gemzar...When I was dx with my  recur to the lungs, doc started me on taxotere, I was on that for about 3 months with no change, and tumor marks never dropped..He quickly switched me to Xeloda (which I hated)...caused terrible digestive problems for me, but I tried to stick it out, and had my dose lowered many times..I was on that for about 7 months, before I asked to switch again...That's when he put me on Gemzar..I was on that for about a year...My tumor markers were starting to come down on the Xeloda, and shrinkage was noticed, but with the Gemzar they continued to drop..I believe I was mostly tired on the Gemzar, and had to deal with some low counts, but it was much easier for me than Xeloda...I have been off of strong chemos for about 1 1/2 yrs.  only getting herceptin and the lupron shots..I just recently had some slight change in the lungs, and doc is trying to avoid chemo again for a bit, so we are trying a different route right now..I think I could always go back on Gemzar if I had to, since I had such good results..Hope this is helpful...and good luck to you both.... hugs KLynn 

Thank you all for responding to my plea for information.

Robin:  Good luck to you with the Gemzar.  We will have to keep track of each others progress.  Not loosing hair.... that is great!  I didn't even think of that.  Mine started growing back slowly while still on Taxol/Avastin.

Paula:  Good luck to you too.  Keep us informed of how you are doing on the Gemzar/Cisplatin combo.  I am surprised my onco didn't add the Cisplatin to my Gemzar as I think I read that it is a good drug choice for triple negs.  Fatigue....  I know it so well.  Not looking forward to it again.

Flalady:  Thank you for the info.  Sorry it only worked about 4 months for you.  I know you have been through alot.  It is good to hear this chemo is doable as I want to be able to enjoy the rest of summer.

KLynn:  I am glad Gemzar worked for you.  It sounds like it was a good idea my onco decided to wait on the Xeloda for now.  I am sorry to hear about the change in your lungs.  I hope you are able to avoid the chemo's for a little while longer.

Hugs and prayers to all of you.  Linda

Linda,

My hair started coming back with the Taxol also (I shaved it off after 2 tx and fallout).  I called it Taxol hair... very thin and gray.  I wanted to shave it again but my husband wouldn't let me.  When I dropped Taxol, my dark brown hair came back.  For a while the gray was still there but it eventually fell out and I've just got my regular hair.

 I had my bonescan today, a requirement for the trial.  I have a dr appt, blood and pregnancy tests tomorrow and I'm all set for next week.

I'll be thinking of you Friday.  Let's stay in touch.

Robin:  My hair grew back gray also, but I think it is going to stay that color but I am 52 after all.  Bonnie:  Good luck to you too on your knew treatment and keep us informed of how you do.  It looks like there are a few of us starting around the same time and it would be good if we kept tabs on each other. 

Vivo:  Thank you for the information.  It is always good to know that someone else has been through it and it is better tolerated.

Linda

Denise:  Congratulations on your remission!!  Great news.  Can you tell me about the red grape juice?  How often did you drink it  It is supposed to keep your counts up?  I have been lucky that my counts never dropped too low on the Taxol/Avastin or even on the TAC.  I am very glad for you that the Gemzar worked so well!  Now I hope I will see good results as well as all the other girls just starting on it.  Linda

Well, I had my first dose of Gemzar on Friday.  They did give me pre-meds, so I was a bit groggy the rest of the day from the Benadryl.  On Saturday, the steroids kicked in and I was Superwoman!!  I cleaned, cooked, and shopped all day.  By mid-day on Sunday, I was exhausted and in a lot of pain from my spine mets from over doing things on Saturday.  This morning the pain is better, but I am still a little fatigued.  I have had no nausea at all, but not much of an appetite either.  So, it seems this will be doable after all.  I just have to learn not to over do from the steroids.  Now, I just hope the Gemzar kicks cancer's butt!!!

Interesting that some have premeds and others don't.  Nanalinda, did you have anti-nausea premeds?

MaineCoonKitty:  Best of luck on your treatment.  Please keep us informed of how you are doing.

Bonnielv:  Yes, I had anti nausea as well as the benadryl and steroids.  It must be a physician preference as to whether or not we receive them.  I would rather not have the steroids as they jack my blood sugars sky high and I am now an insulin dependent diabetic.

Konakat:  That just stinks.  It is bad enough to have to have these damn chemo treatments but to have your face break out too just isn't fair.  Did you try to increase your water intake to see if it improves?  I know the more water I drink, the better my complexion looks.

Take care everyone....  Linda

Well I had my 2nd dose of Gemzar on Thursday.  They almost didn't give it to me because my WBC was borderline, but my onc. said give it but cut the dose a bit.  I may have to start Neulesta depending on how the WBC looks next week.  I also found out that they gave me 10mg of Decadron last week and that was why I was superwoman the day after.  While I was on Taxol/Avastin I had talked them down to 4mg on Decadron and assumed they had continued that dose.  So yesterday I asked for 4mg; the onc. was concerned I would experience nausea but allowed it and sent me home with some sample packs of Kytril.  Well, I was up at 2am last night very thankful I had it as I was quite nauseas.  The high dose of Decadron takes my blood sugars up into the 500's on chemo eve and I need to take high doses of insulin for a few days.  I still have some sugar elevation with the 4mg dose but it doesn't go as high.  I will wait and see how much more nausea I experience and make a decision next week on how much decadron to take before my next dose.

Had 1st tx Tuesday.  Did receive pre-meds.  Onc nurse told me that gemzar burns going into the vein and put a heat pack around my iv site.  Were any of you told this?  The only problem I've encountered is today, I feel somewhat weak and kind of light headed.  Wondering if platelets are low.  What do they do if platelets are low?

Hi ladies:  Hope you had a great holiday.  I have a port in so I did not have the burning issue with the Gemzar.  I am tired today, but I don't think the fatigue is anywhere near as bad as what I experienced with the Taxol/Avastin.  I think it is because of lack of sleep from the steroids.  Yeah, it is nice to have lots of energy though and get lots of work done the day after chemo, but my GP has fits over my blood sugars and I don't want to run into complications from diabetes along with everything else.  Oh well.  The platelets help your blood to clot so be careful about cutting yourself while they are low.  I hope we all have great results and minimal SE's from this drug.  Konokat:  How well is the neupogen tolerated?  Are there many SE's?  Take care all, and good luck with next weeks tx.

I forgot to mention my favourite SE on Gemzar -- my appetite has been supressed.  I used to joke with my girlfriends about wondering when the "cancer diet" would kick in with all the chemo.  From a combo of comfort food and Decadron munchies I put on 15 pounds.  Now it is finally coming off.  :-)

Ugh!  About half of my bloodwork came back in the "abnormal" zone.  Platelets still screwy but still got my infusion.  Because it is sending so much out of whack I'm stopping the 3 weeks on, 1 week off to getting my infusions every 2nd week instead.  I'll still get weekly bloodwork just to keep an eye on things.  It's funny that I don't feel bad, other than a bit tired.

But I still have great faith in Gemzar from what others have posted.  I have an MRI next Monday to see if it's working.  I'm not able to get a CT scan because the tumors were too small to show up on the CT part of the PET/CT a month ago.  At least they're small, but they are taking up more of the sugar stuff.  Grrrrr. Anyway, I hope I can contribute to the good reviews of Gemzar in just over a week.

I had my 2nd tx of gemzar yesterday and onc reduced my dosage in 1/2 due to low wbc.  Have neuprogin shot today to help boost them up.  Hope this stuff kicks butt!