Topic: Anyone on Gemzar?

Well, today should have been tx #3 for me, but counts were too low and they turned me away.  Actually they were very low...  WBC 1.3, PLT 36.  I go back on Monday to recheck bloodwork, and they scheduled me for next Thurs. for my next tx.  Onc. wants to wait on the Neulesta for now.  I am feeling really wiped out (H&H are down a bit too).

Bonnielv:  Hope the Neupogin works for you, and hope this tx kicks butt for you too.

Hi Linda and Bonnie,

I did 3 cycles of Gemzar/Cisplatin.  1 week it was both, 2nd week was Gemzar, 3rd week off... for 3 cycles.  Does this make sense?  I always got the Neulasta shot.... didn't get a choice on that one.  But I was very, very tired with lead/cement legs. I did end up getting on Arnasp shot (but I don't think they do that anymore) for red blood cells probably after the 2nd treatment and was close to a platelet transfusion for last cycle but he let me do the treatment without.  Gemzar is supposed to be a pretty good chemo... so hang in there.... you have a cheerleader here for you two! 

As always, best wishes.

Hey Linda, I'm glad to hear you aren't have too much trouble with the Gemzar...Yes my counts kept diving too, but they will give you shots for that and they will really help..I think I only missed one treatment the whole time because of counts...It is strong, but it means that it is kicking butt.....and kicking cancer.....sorry you are tired, I was also very tired, but I guess I got use to it, and once I stopped I realized how much better I felt...Good luck and know that we are thinking  about you.....Big Hugs KLynn....hang in there sweetie....you can do it....

dear nanalinda

my mother was on gemzar ,she also progressed after first line chemo,the drug worked well and i think  it s a very tolerable drug with few side effects.cheer up

mariebrahim:  Glad to hear your mom had good results.

Lifestooshort:  Congratulations on your good PET scan.  I would be glad to give cancer a going away party.  In fact, I know Gemzar is already working - the tumor in my neck is shrinking; I can barely feel it anymore.

I had tx #3 today!  PLTS came back up to 300.  WBC is still 1.3 (the cut off is 1.5) but they let me go ahead with treatment.  I will be starting Neupogen tomorrow.

Good luck to all of you on your upcoming treatments.

Konakat..

If you are having some change, even a little bit at this point on the good side I would stay with it...I was on Gemzar for a year....I know it seems long, but if it is working and you have little s/e's I think you should try not to switch off too soon..May isn't really that long ago, and for some reason the Gemzar doesn't show fast results...If you keep switching you won't really know which is working and which isn't..This way when you go into remission, and some day (way down the line) you have to do chemo again, you will know what worked...I'm thinking if I have to go back to chemo , I at least have the gemzar as first shot...it worked once why not again..Right  ??? Don't give up on it too soon and have them rule that out as a drug for you..JMHO.....It makes me happy too to see you all doing so well on it..

I know I will be on herceptin for life so I guess the year of gemzar didn't seem that long..lol strange how things have a different perspective....I remember thinking how I'm I going to fit in a full month of rads in the beginning..lol, and when I was put in the herceptin trial with my orig. dx, I was put into the yr long treatment plan instead of the 6 months half....I thought there is no way I'll make a yr of this drug...who know huh ???? oh well one day at a time now....Good luck and I wish you well on Gemzar..hang in there..Hugs KLynn....

Ooh, I hated Neupogen. It just makes you feel so miserable! I've managed to avoid it so far. Had 4th Gemzar/Cisplatin on Friday.

Konakat, I think a little shrinkage is good. I'm completely with you, though, on the let-down feeling. I really went into my scan after Taxol/Avastin expecting shrinkage, and there was none. 

 I'm hoping for SOME good news out of my scan Thursday. 

 Hugs all,

Paula 

Scheduled for 3rd Gemzar after missing last week due to low platelets. Met with onc and have a new tx plan.  Will do Gemzar at a reduced dosage for 2 weeks on and 1 week off. After each 2nd tx will have neulasta shot. Oh by the way, wbc were borderline for tx but I was able to still have it.

Well had tx #4 today.  My WBC and PLT were OK (Neupogen did the job!).  They said my liver enzymes tripled since last week and ask if I was on any cholesterol meds or any new meds.  I have been on lipitor for a number of years, and recently started CoQ10; they told me to stop both meds to see if the liver enzymes go back down.  Maybe it is the CoQ10... have any of you had a problem with it?  I'll have to look up the Neupogen also to see what se's it causes.  It just never ends doesn't it?

PJB:  Good luck on your upcoming scan.

Konakat:  I hope they get your scans straightened out.  It does sound like the radiologist dropped the ball on reading yours.  I hope Gemzar kicks butt for you, and if it works well, you can save the Taxol to try again at a later date.

Bonnielv:  I hope the 2/1 schedule works for you, it seems it would be much easier on the body.  Do you get the same aches from Neulesta as you get from Neupogen?

Wickedfran:  Good luck on your Gemzar treatments.  Keep us up to date on how you are doing.

Thanks Laurie:  I forgot the Gemzar could do it.  My enzymes went up when I was on Taxol, but came back down once the dose was lowered.  Thanks for the reminder.  Linda

Well, it looks like I am not going to be able to have Gemzar 3 weeks on/one week off.  I just can't seem to get the 3rd week dose in.  Yesterday, my PLTS were only 32, so they had to hold the dose.  WBC was OK, liver enzymes were still up but improving.  They scheduled me to come back next week.  The good news is that it is working!  The tumor's in my neck are no longer palpable at all!  How is everyone else doing?  I am very tired.  My husband and I played golf yesterday afternoon and I could barely make it through 9 holes.... I felt like I was going to just drop.  Golf is the one thing we love to do together and I would hate it if I get to the point where I could no longer do it.  I told him we need to get out more often so I can keep my strength up, but unfortunately the weather has not been cooperating much around here - it rains all the time.  Good luck to all you Gemzar girls!!!!  Linda

Wonderful news Nanalinda!!!  Yeah, seems that it's hard to do the 3 weeks on schedule -- same thing happened to me. 

PJB - I understand -- it's never fast enough.  It's hard for me to get excited about stable, but good news all the same.  I noticed these "forgotten" things with my onc -- do they think we can't handle everything?  My onc is more concerned about my liver than my bones so liver is always on the menu for discussion.  Please let us know what MD Anderson says.  You and I seem to have a similar situation (liver then bone showing up, unexpectedly...)

EDIT:  PJB -- is your onc going to add Zometa (or equivalent) for your bones?

Looks like we can add two more success stories, and that's what I love to hear.  I'm going nuts waiting until my PET, I just want to know one way or another!!

Have a great day!

Elizabeth

hello ladies!  was just on abraxane for a few months and ct showed major liver progression, so wednesday i will be switching to gemzar.  would love to join you all to share experiences.  abraxane was a breeze for me so i was sad that i had lots of progression on it.  hopefully the gemzar will be easily tolerated.  i feel like i have been on every chemo imaginable at this point.  if you have any advice for me, please send it along.  i requested no premeds, and PA advised at least 8 mg zofran one hour prior.  i do not like decadron....i like my sleep.  hope everyone is feeling well today.  hugs to you all.

August 10 for the PET. So one more Gemzar infusion on this Monday (Aug 3), PET Aug 10, Onc appt Aug 17 for results. I usually don't mind waiting until my onc appt for results, rather get them in person. I might not be able to wait this time...

roachrp:  Glad to have you join us.  Keep us up to date on how you are doing.

ilovemysweetmomma:  Thank you for the link.  I will look at it tomorrow when I am not so exhausted.