Carboplatin & Taxol Chemo

Hi! I was diagnosed with stage 3c Ovarian cancer in February 2022 just as I turned 70. It took seven months to diagnose so I understand your frustration. I had six sessions of carbo/taxol from April & my op was in June. I had another six sessions of chemo a month after my op & also had Avastin. I inherited the BRCA2 gene from my mother so have also had two years of Olaparib tablets to try & slow the growth of further tumours. The BRCA2 diagnosis was a total shock. I finished Olaparib last September & now just have three monthly blood tests. So far, so good although I am aware it will return at some point. During all of this I felt a lot better than I thought I would & nobody who met me had any idea I was ill & told me how well I looked! I have always been positive & that is the way forward for me. I coped with chemo quite well although I felt tired & a little nauseous at times. I took Domperidone tablets for the nausea & completely went off chocolate!! I opted for the cold cap even though it put at least an hour on my treatment time & the hair on my crown thinned a lot and there was a general thinning all over. I noticed more hair loss within a month of starting the chemo but the cold cap was definitely worth it for me although it’s not suitable if you suffer from headaches as it really is super cold (obviously)!!

I do hope this helps & wish you well. I went through my treatment realising that there are many people with worse problems than me! Linda

Hi Linda,

Thanks so much for your reply and I’m sorry to hear about the BRCA2 diagnosis. I’m booked in for my biopsy on Thursday. My tumours are all over my pelvis and have spread to my stomach lining which is why they won’t proceed with surgery until they shrink. I do hope chemo relieves some of the symptoms in my abdomen. I’m interested in the cold cap but I’ve seen varying outcomes. I have very fine hair but lots of it. I don’t really want people to know what’s going on as I can’t really handle the constant questions about it. I’m 45 and love my hair so might have to start searching for a good wig. 

Great news you’re doing well. I hope so much you stave off any return. ️

love Nadia x

Hi Nadia, I had my 6th chemo session of Carboplatin and Taxol yesterday. Keeping my hair was really important to me for the reasons you give so I know just how you feel. I also have very fine hair and using the cold cap I have managed to keep most of it and haven't needed to wear the 2 wigs I bought in preparation. Because this chemo regime takes several hours i was attached to a Paxman cold cap machine. For the first minute the machine is switched on I thought that I couldn’t cope with the cold and then after that I honestly forgot about it. I am so pleased that I persisted. This aside I found that I coped really well with the chemo and have been so lucky that I have been able to carry on with my normal life. I have about three days where food tastes awful and a couple of days where I’m more tired than normal.
I really hope that the cold cap works for you and that your treatment goes well. Sending my very best wishes to you. Helen x

After being unwell for for some time I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the beginning of 2025 after a visit to A and E 

I was judged to have a good basic health for my age , 74 , and had a 9 hour debulking surgery in March . They removed cervix ,womb, Fallopian tubes , ovaries , omentum , some peritonium,appendix and some bowel. I now have a colostomy bag and am copthen ing ok with it. I was in hospital for 11 days and am recovering slowly but surely. I have 6 rounds of Carboplatin and Taxol to come … had second round 3 days ago . There are 3 weeks between each chemo. The first few days , and the chemo itself have been ok then the next 2 weeks are a bit grim. Bone pain in legs and lower back for a few days then diarrhoea for about 3 days , deep fatigue and slightly sore mouth. My oncologist was happy with the reduction in CA125 tumour marker after my first cycle … down to 8 from 47 after debulking and 247 before surgery. I am aware though that the blood test is unreliable in isolation. She had reduced my chemo strength by 20% for the second cycle as judges my side effects moderate / severe. I’m hoping this will help me to cope better. 
     I decided against the cold cap . As my hair came out in handfuls it really upset me ( shoulder length pale ginger hair ) and I sobbed but once I had it all shaved off I found I felt more confident and decided to “ rock it “…, long dangly earrings really cheer me up !! I’m going for a wig fitting next week . I find people stare at me briefly then give me big smiles because they know what I’m going through so I’m happy to go out bareheaded. 
     I have grade 3c HGSC so know that it can be treated but not cured. I’ve had genetic tests done but don’t know the results yet. 
      I still have bad days when I have a good cry and regret the various misdiagnoses but try to remain positive and look for the good things in every day.That’s all you can do really. Having chemo has made me realise how many others have this horrible disease and are going through difficult treatment, often much worse and much younger than me. The hospital staff are wonderful and keep us all going .

I wish you all the best . New treatments are being discovered all the time and this gives me hope. I try to find as much to look forward to each day even if it is a good bar of chocolate or a decent coffee at a nice cafe. I’ve found short , daily walks at a local nature park raises my spirits …… I’ve even hugged a few trees !!! 
J xx

Hi Helen,

Thank you so much for your lovely reply. Hearing you’ve coped so well has really cheered me up. I’m currently taking Heparin injections which I hope stop before treatment starts as I feel like I need to boost my immune system and I find these quite restrictive. I’m just keen to get started in shrinking these things as I’m in constant discomfort and disappointed my surgery has been delayed. 

It takes me a while most days to feel normal but I’m trying hard to keep doing things I enjoy and keep my mind off things.

keep in touch,

Nadia xx

Hi J,

I hope your recovery from surgery is progressing well. Thank you for sharing your experience with me, it really helps to know what to expect. I have a biopsy this Thursday and then another couple of weeks before I can get started on the chemo. I just hope it works so that my surgery can go ahead. I won’t lie I’m not looking forward to any of it but the biggest tumour in my pelvis really causes me so much discomfort I just want it gone. I’m also scared that for every min they delay this is spreading more and more.

I love to hear you’re rocking the earrings, I love a good bit of fashion too

I agree we need to take as much joy as possible in the smallest of things. One of the other ladies told me to take it one day at a time, sounds like good advice.

sending love and strength, please do let me know how you’re doing.

love Nadia x

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing Nadia. Just a thought if you are struggling, I contacted Macmillan and had some telephone counselling sessions. They were arranged really quickly and  the counsellor was amazing and really helped me. X