Gem carboplatin

Hi. I was given gem carbo as my 3rd line treatment. Of the three regimens I've had, I found gem carbo  the most tolerable. The downside is that you also have to attend on day 8, as gemcitabine is given in two parts.  This extra treatment wasn't too kind on my veins and cannulation got increasingly difficult. Some people experience low white blood counts on this combo but this can be sorted through neupogen injections. My overall impression has always been that the gem carbo combination can indeed be effective, it certainly was in my case. 

Thank you that’s really encouraging. Mum found the taxol the worst and the Kalix wasn’t so bad. (Excuse my spelling)

She is feeling frustrated about having an extra appointment on the 8th day and is also aware a picc line maybe necessary. They have already mentioned this as they are already finding it hard to canulate now. 

Have you managed to have a stable gap after you gem Carbo or are you still having treatment? 

Its so amazing what treatment is available. Mum is goes to the Churchill in oxford and they are amazing. 

Hi again. I had a good response to the gem carbo combination. Afterwards, I went onto a clinical trial, so it's hard to say which has had the greater benefit in the long term. All I will say is that gem carbo did a good job at the treatment stage, and as a foundation for the trial drug.

I've had taxol twice - it's a tough drug for sure. The worst for me has been cisplatin, which I got after becoming allergic to carboplatin. Thankfully, I am now able to have carboplatin again on a desensitisation protocol.

Something to watch out for once treatment starts. I mentioned in my previous message that lots of women experience low white blood counts  (neutropenia) on the gem carbo regimen. You will probably already know if this is a weakness in your mum's profile (I have become neutropenic during all of my chemotherapy). What can happen with gem carbo is that the white blood count doesn't bounce back sufficiently for the day 8 treatment - which can lead to either a dose reduction or no treatment at all. The doctors insist that it's the day 1 treatment that matters most, so not too worry too much, but for us patients it can be incredibly frustrating and upsetting - we obviously like to make sure we get the full whack. Following my first day 8 dose reduction (which I think happened after one or two treatments) I asked for neupogen injections which resolved the problem, and I had no dose reductions after that. This may not be an issue for your mum but it's something to be aware of. 

Gosh it sounds like you have had a lot to go through. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. I know everyone is different and so much depends on the individual but it’s nice to hear of other people’s experiences.

where are you at now with treatment?

My mums cancer has spread considerably so I’m not sure how many more options she has left bless her.

X

It's good to be able to share experiences and pass on hopefully useful information. I am still on the clinical trial I mentioned but have recently had to have surgery again. It is tiring to keep having treatment just to stay on top of this disease but I knew from the start it was going to be this way. I keep focussed on the other treatments out there, particularly the new ones coming through.  Here's hoping that your mum has a decent response to the gem carbo and that it will get her to a place where other treatments will be available should she need them xxx