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Hello Everyone, I am wondering if I should take 12 months of IV Taxol for Stage IIA OVCA. I have already had 5 rounds of IV, IP Taxol and Cisplatin. I couldn't do the last round. This taxol treatment would be once a month for 12 months as a preventative measure. Of course I would rather not do it. I am hoping that some of you can help me make the right decision.
You want my honest opinion? Heres my answer. Im a stage 3b Ovarian Cancer, while your not as advanced as me, I am doing that now. My doctor ordered 12 rounds of Taxol. Ive done 9. I was declared NED as of this round.
Im doing it for a well as my doctor says a security blanket. If you can tolerate it with no heavy side effects or mimial ones, why not?
Taxol for me was a BREEZE. I had nothing nada, I wasnt even tired. Its like I get the treatment and I never knew I had it. I only suffer from mild leg pain from the nerulasta which I control with Tynol.
I dont get nausea or vomiting. I find the secret to it is to stay active it really makes it smoother for me.
As for no hair who cares. I can always wear a funky hat and you know my freinds love me no less with no hair.
So Jan yes I would do it, and if I had to do this AGAIN
I would 150 times over.
Good luck in what you decide I wish you all the best.
Hugs Cheryl
From the things I've read, it hasn't been proven to improve the outcome and some feel it is better to have a longer time off chemo for when you do have a recurrence your body is stronger and better able to handle it. I would think if your doctor wants you to have it and you feel better about having it then you should but if you aren't sold on the idea then you probably are not doing yourself any harm by saying no.
Good luck.
Hi Janto,
Stage IV here and I did all 12 "maintainence" rounds just fine. I just completed in August. I actually got my hair back after the initial 7 treatments of Taxol/Carbo last year. The Taxol alone did not affect my hair. Frankly, at stage IV, nothing to lose so I went for it. My CA125 went down to 5 and still looking good.
No proof it helps but I'm glad I did it.
Keep in mind, the dose is adjustable and depending on how well you tolerate they can infuse faster. Due to nueropathy in my hands my Doctor decreased ml's but wouldn't shorten the time to infuse. Still had to sit for 3/4 hours.
Worth every minute to me.
Good luck to you!
have you been tested for brca gene? in doing my research i found that if one had the gene then the effects of the maintenance taxol weren't clear. the trials on it dont separate out gene positive people. and if you do have one of the brca genes it suggests longer remission and survival. There isn't any medical evidence yet as the trials are still ongoing.
good luck with whichever decision you make!
With Stage 3C I was not offered a maintenance chemo from my doctor. I would say as everyone would agree that each doctor has there own protocall. I went by my dr suggestion. I went through the IV of carboplatin or cisplation and taxol for 2 cycles and then the IP treatment of carboplatin or cisplation and taxol for 4 cycles. sorry I can not remember which one of the carbo or cis that I used for IV and then IP. I know this sounds like I am not answering your question, but what do you feel comfortable in doing? Best wishes to you!
My tumor was resistant to taxol from the very beginning, otherwise I would be doing the same maintenance you are considering.
Hi Janto,
I just went through the same decision process. I was declared NED after my last round of carbo/abraxane(taxol). My doc wanted me to do 1 a month maintenance for a year to ward off a recurrence. I was leaning toward doing it but still had reservations about the weakening of my immune system. I ended up going to MD Anderson for a 2nd opinion. The doc there recommended that I not do it, but rather build a strong immune system in case it came back, we could then hit it hard again. I chose not to do the maintenance. That was in August. Today I feel great and have no reservations about my decision. But, it seems it's just that! our decision to make because there is no proof one way or the other. Good luck which ever way you go. p.s., I was Stage IIIC. Susan
I did not do the Taxol consolidation. A friend had a hard time deciding whether or not to do it. Her nurse told her she did not have to make a commitment to a year of taxol. The nurse said she could do 1 or 2 or 3 or however many she wanted and could stop at any time. She gave my friend the power to control her treatment!
I choose a clinical trial of ovarex and was in remission for two years and then it stopped working.
When I finished chemo in Nov., 2007, it was still experimental. My oncologist offered it, and I said, "It seems to me all it would is prolong my neuropathy."
He said, "You're probably right, but ethically, I have to give you the choice."
Of course, we didn't know I was BRCA1+ at the time. I still have neuropathy in my fingertips and my feet, two years later, so I think not taking it was the right choice for me. I want my body to have as long a rest from chemo as possible.
I was Stage 2B with clear cell. Two years later I'm still NED.
If you didn't have many side effects from Taxol, I'd read up on the latest findings and then decide. I imagine every person reacts differently. Just don't forget most chemo is poison.
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