Have you taken DOXIL?

[Lala]

Hello

I am thinking about Doxil as my next line of treatment.

I was wondering if any other Her2+ have taken Doxil with or without Herceptin.

What kind of results or side effects did you have? I have seen a few studies showing it works well with Herceptin. I appreciate your comments.

Thank you

[jojo]

Never took Doxil, but all I know about it is that it's similar to Adriamycin.

If I were you, I'd double check to see if it's safe to take Doxil & Herceptin simultaneously. Studies have shown that the combo of Adriamycin & Herceptin was quite hard on the heart, instead many oncs would be more willing to give Herceptin with a taxane chemo drug (Taxol or Taxotere or Abraxane).

Good luck!

[Lala]

Jojo

Thanks for your response.

I have looked into the safety issue of Doxil. Because it is encapsulated in a closed liposome its seems by studies to be less cardio toxic than the Adriamycin.

Studies showing usage of both Doxil and Herceptin seem very positive not cardio toxic.

In my case I have already done the Taxane drug line. So my next option is Doxil.

[Shell]

Lala-

I took doxil, but it didn't work for me...I took it with herceptin and avastin.

I presented with a non-productive cough, and not many symptoms. I recieved treatment every other week. I had just come off xeloda for 18 months, and my H/F was not totally cleared up. Despite the suggested cold packs during infusion (see their website - i recommend it), my hands and feet got worse. Fatigue was significant, but I think that was from the progression of it not working. i was also extremely short of breath (could walk w/out problem, but could barely climb stairs). I had nosebleeds, but think that is from the avastin... I took it for 3 cycles, and asked to get a CT scan instead of the 4th treatment, which indicated we should move on to something else. I have a pretty busy schedule, and was still able to work about 80% of FT and do family things w/ my 2 girls and husband....

I am now on navelbine with the herceptin and avastin, and I felt better within a few weeks.

I hope you have great success with it.

Regards,

[Lala]

Shell

Thank you for your response and advice. I appreciate your detailed information. I will certainly ask for the ice packs upon infusion. Hopefully I will be able to fend off the side effects.

I have also taken Avastin in the past. I did have nosebleeds, headaches and major fatigue on Avastin. I was lucky I did not have the high blood pressure side effect from Avastin. I did have good response on it too.

I hope that you get great response on your new line of treatment. Best wishes to you