How many lines of chemo?

[Katie116]

I read somewhere on this site or another one maybe, that a person can withstand only three different lines of chemo treatment. Is this true? If so, what is a line? FYI, My DIL was on Carboplatin/Taxol and then Carbo/Gemzar. Would that be considered two lines?

[jane65]

Hi Katie,
I don't know where you heard that we can only have 3 kinds of chemo, oncologists use as many chemo drugs as are necessary, to treat each recurrence of the cancer.

I've had carbo/taxol Topotecan Gemzar and now I've started Doxil. all over a 3 year period.

Good luck to your DIL.
jane

[Katie116]

Perhaps it's 3 lines of platinum related chemo? Please, dear readers, I'm making this up, son don't take it to heart. I just read something like that & am trying to ferret it out.

[gah_70]

I certainly hope that isn't true because I've had 9 diffrent ones.  I don't think there is any standard for how many different chemo's can be given.  If the chemo's are related like Carboplatin and Cispatin, a doctor might be hesitant to give one if the other isn't effective, but your DIL should be able to try as many chemos as it takes.

Gail