Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

I'm about to start Gemzar for my stage 4 cancer and was wondering about the side effects experienced by people and whether or not it has worked in slowing down the beast. Have already run through navelbene, tykerb/zeloda, doxil, taxol, one clincal trial of MM111 and the list is getting shorter. Wish TDM1 had been approved but there is no local available trial for me (Boston area). Any hints and or success stories for Gemzar would be welcome!

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi Laurie,
I've been on gemzar since March and it worked wonderfully on every area except one skin lesion on my chest which I had removed last week. I am on just herceptin/tyverb and zometa for now and will do scans in 8 weeks. I found gemzar very tolerable, a red face the day after infusion but that went away after a day or two, some nausea but the meds controlled it. I hope it works for you.

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Thank you so much for your reply. I got my first infusion of Gemzar today and your note makes me feel better. Best of luck to you. We can only watch and wait.... Laurie

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Laurie
I just started on my 3rd round of Gemzar...I do three weeks on and a week off per round. I am also getting Herceptin on the first and 3rd weeks. After this series of three, I will get scanned, again. So far the skin mets and neck nodes have shrunk to almost nothing. As far as side effects, it does a number on my blood counts, so they reduced the dose a little so I wouldn't have to skip doses. They do give me Zofran IV push with treatment , but I had them cut the dose in half and I have not had a problem. No hair loss so far, which is a plus. I did run a fever after the 3rd treatment in round 2, but might have been a coincidence. Seems that I am a little more tired, but that could be that my hemoglobin is lower....everyone tells me I look so healthy....is this the beauty secret or is it just the makeup?
Hoping Gemzar does the trick for you....I have been through a lot of chemos, they only seem to work a while, then I need a change. I also had a great response with Eribulen (Halaven) which is fairly new....it might be something to try if the Gemzar isnt the magic potion.
Hoping you are feeling great today after treatment #1!!!

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Thank you so very much for your response and encouragement on Gemzar. I noticed you tried TDM1 last Oct - I have been trying to find a trial that included that but haven't been able to. How did it go for you and where were you able to get it?

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

I am in a similar boat, only no invasive tumor in 1999- just extensive HER2+ DCIS. I had a metastatic recurrence in 1/08 by the time I was believing I was cured. I have been on similar treatments including the MM111 trial which did not do anything for me unfortunately. I am now on Tykerb and Xeloda and responding well at the moment although I hate the S/E. I have also heard good things about Gemzar. Good luck, and I think you still have lots of options left, and we all hope TDM-1 will be made available soon!

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Laurie
I had 3 treatments of TDM-1 in a clinical trial at Rush in Chicago....unfortunately, my neck node mets continued to grow, so I showed progression, and got the boot from the trial. It is a miracle for some, but not all unfortunately. I had high hopes, but no cigar. I then went on Halaven (Eribulen) and did quite well for 7 months, then started progressing again,,,hence the Gemzar. I had #2 of round 3 yesterday.

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi Sheila,

Nice to read your response on Gemzar.

I am currently on Herceptin (Every 3 weeks) + Gemzar (1st & 8th Day). Must say it has knocked me down almost. After 1st day of Gemzar + Herceptin my blood counts - Heamoglobin (taken on day 7) nosedived to 8.5. This feel to 7.7 after the 8th day of gemzar (blood count taken on 14th day).

My legs feel shaky and I hardly can walk more than a few steps. I feel really tired and feel like sleeping all the time.

Doctor has already extended my next cycle by a week. I have already taken 2 Neukine shots and a blood transfusion.

Can you and anyone tell me:

1) I took 2 neukine shots after day 8. Did you take any such thing and did it help?

2) In what ranges your Haemoglobin, RBC, WBC and Platelets varied?

3) I had a blood transfusion 4-5 days ago and my count has improved to 9.3 for Haemoglobin. Anyone with similar incidence with Gemzar.

Really Awaiting a reply,
HopeAbides

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi,
Sheila, who was a dear friend of mine, passed away in December but there are plenty of other folks who have experience with Gemzar an will hopefully give you some useful feedback. I do know that Sheila had a very tough time with WBC and sometimes platelets while on Gemzar, but remember everyone reacts differently.

I've only had one cycle (2 weeks Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin, 1 week off). So it's not exactly the same regimen as you. And I don't have a lot of tracking of my blood counts on GCH yet (really just 1 week since I go in for labs tomorrow!), but I can tell you my RBC and HGB, WBC and Platelets all dropped. I do take 2 neupogen shots, and my history with those is that they do help.

on day 10 I felt like I had been hit by a mack truck. So I did spend most of that day on the couch!

Sorry I don't have much "data" to share, but I do wish you good luck and increasing counts!

Chris

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi,

Sorry to hear the news. She put up a brave fight and I was awestruck by her signature "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." My prayers are with her.

Hopefully someone will give me more data but I am sure that gemzar is dirty on the counts. May it be good in performance.

Looking forward to more from everyone and all the best for your current combo Chrisy!

take care

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi Chrisy,

One clarification from your side. Did the 2 Neupogen shot you took was administered after both Day 1 and Day 8 of Gemzar?

I am on gemzar with two doses in a cycle, on day 1 and day 8. I am not sure, but i think my counts dropped largely because the onco didnt give me two shots after each round.

Please enlighten,

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

I got neupogen, two shots after each infusion. After the week off, my WBC and platelets are holding their own and within normal limits. WBC is because of the neupogen.

RBC is down to 3.06 from 3.53, hemoglobin down from 9.6 to8.5. So I'm getting 1 or 2 units of blood today for that.

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

You ll be in my prayers Chrisy, get a fast recovery to health and happiness!

Re: Gemzar - side effects and response rates?
 

Hi Chrisy,

Hope you are better now... my experience says there is recovery to an extent after 3 days of blood infusion...

My appetite is terrible though. Lost taste in most of the food...

Take care and keep me posted

HA