Connect
Any experience with the chemo drugs docetaxel or gemzar-gemcitabine?
I was diagnosed with synovial spindle cell sarcoma in my left lung in January of this year. The tumor was already 10cm when we found it. I had surgery in February to remove it, and a second surgery in March to remove it again, as it had grown back to 9cm in six weeks. I started chemo and radiation within days of my second surgery and have since finished treatments. Scans from a couple months ago were unimpressive. A ct scan from a couple weeks ago is showing 2 masses, one is a little smaller (2x3cm) but the other is already quite large(9x5cm). I'll be starting chemo next week with different chemo drugs than the first time. Anyone have any experience with docetaxel or gemzar-gemcitabine? Any side effects? How long til any improvement was seen, tumors shrinking or at least stop growing?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sarcoma Support Group.
Connect
All I could see was the online patient literature. That will certainly be bringing out the big guns - which seems appropriate. But primary side effects are low white blood cells - so no ability to fight infections ( lay in a new Box of masks)., - low red blood cells - the anemia will leave you cold, exhausted, and weak. But all of that is bearable and can be somewhat mitigated. Will you be in the hospital while they administer or will you have help around?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'll be receiving treatments as an outpatient. I have my husband, my mom, and really helpful neighbors for support. And my new palliative care team seems like they really care, so thats a plus.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsPerfect!! I’m sending good Juju!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionNo experience with docetaxel , but I've been on a triplet of gemcitabine + Abraxane + cisplatin for 11 months now (25 biweekly treatments so far) for Stage-IV pancreatic cancer and I'm doing OK.
We caught my recurrence fairly early (by Stage-IV standards), and I was pretty fit coming in at age 60, the treatment hasn't hit me too hard other than 3 days of fatigue and 2 days of mild nausea (never vomited) after an infusion. The latter two drugs (Abraxane + cisplatin) are generally more notorius than Gemcitabine as far as side effects go. For pancreatic cancer, Gemcitabine is generally the first ingredient in a chemo regimen for patients who can't tolerate the harsher alternative (Folfirinox), so by itself, I would guess/hope it's going to be fairly mild and tolerable for you. Not sure how it will interact with docetaxel in your system -- everyone is different -- but it sounds like it should be manageable. Definitely ask about what other anti-nausea pre-med and post-med options are available; there's quite a variety of ways to make the whole process bearable.
I have no idea how effective the treatment will be on your type of cancer, but for myself (and a few others with PanCan), the Gemcitabine-based regimens have yielded better results than the "big gun" Folfirinox. No explanation why, but the switch paid off. Again, everyone is different and your mileage may vary.
Wishing you the best!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsSuch incredible courage you both display. All the best to you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@scs23, I used the search function to find these related discussions, not all sarcoma specific, but specific to the drugs you asked about:
- docetaxel https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=docetaxel
- gemcitabine https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=Gemcitabine+
- Gemzar https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=Gemzar+
Are you getting docetaxel + gemcitabine? How are you doing?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI am getting both for palliative treatment of leiomyosarcoma. Main side effects I have are some fatigue around day 3 and 4. I also get diarrhea from the dicetaxal which I control with immodium. The good news is some of the tumors are actually shrinking so that plus prayer therapy is working!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThanks for the links! I did just start on a gemzar and docetaxel regimen. I've had one cycle so far, and im feeling pretty good with minimal side effects. Just a little bit of nausea the morning after chemo day. And I had heartburn a couple times last week, but that could also have been from the tumors pushing on my insides.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction