Oncologists working together

[sanraemc]

I have gotten 2 medical opinions for my 2nd line of chemo-gyn/onc who did my debulking surgery in '06 and initial treatments,recommends Gemzar+Avastin 2 weeks on/1 week off. His practice is a 2 hours trip and would involve arrangements for someone to drive me there,wait,and drive me back.  The 2nd opinion is Doxil+Avastin every 21 days from a medical oncologist with 20 years experience as well,who just located a new treatment center right across the street from my office. You see where I'm going with this? I want to combine the 2 doctors. I want the Gemzar IV treatment AND I want it done right across the street.  Are large egos always a problem or can these two but aside prejudices and agree to do what works best for MY life. I've called  both offices this morning and told them of my request. I still haven't heard from either on and I need to have a port inserted and start treatments next week. Is what I'm asking too much? Do YOU have any comments on Gemzar vs Doxil?

[crecco]

My gyn/onc never had anything to do with my chemo other than to tell me that i would be on chemo the rest of my life. My med onc has taken care of all of that since dx. (he is also who referred me to my gyn/onc) And he says the same thing, that I will always be on chemo.
  I have been on both Doxil and Gemzar as single agents. And yes Gail is right, Gemzar can be very rough. For me it was the hardest chemo i have been on. I did not have much luck with Doxil. I was on it for several months and it mainly just leveled things out. I never did have a big drop in my CA. Now with the Gemzar, my CA dropped to the lowest point it had been in ove a year, but it just didn't stay there. It dropped over a few months and then went on the rise again. I am currently on Avastin/Abraxane. I too was concerned about the bowel perforation issues i had heard about. My onc explained that this was only a big issue if the bowels were already involved.
  Yes everyone does differently on chemos. The Gemzar really played with my white counts for awhile to the point where they were sending me home with neupogen injections that i had to give myself. But after awhile it eased off. With the Avastin my biggest problem has been high blood pressure. I am now on BP meds to level it out and having no more problems.
  As far as the drive? I have an hour drive to get chemo. My family will not let me drive myself. They switch off taking me and they stay or go shopping or whatever and bring me home. This due to the fact that I had a bad reaction to the carbo in the begining, so now they refuse to let me drive myself. (Kind of over pretective but it does make sense)
  I don't really know if i answered any of your questions I was just telling you my experience to give you something to compare it all to.
  Good luck on your upcoming CA check. I hope things are working for you
        Chris

[SimplyStar]

Leslee is my daughter  dx  stage 3  June 2006    just finished 9 months of doxil, counts went up  so supposed to start Gemzar  this next friday,   to prevent adhesions   we use a rubber ball to roll on  the floor  on the belly, it breaks up adhesions and also prevents them from forming.   I just researched about the fasting   there is a post about it a little futher back on the forum, it starves the cancer cells and makes them more susceptable to the chemo, she is going to try it and see if it works, it makes sense to me .

[sanraemc]

Thank you for the hint! I will try it.Is Leslee your sister?  Now...tell me about "body rolling for adhesions"and fasting before chemo?
Sandy

[SimplyStar]

Leslee was having so many problems with constipation untill we heard about MiraLax   it has worked miracles  for her, no more problems at all.  Leslee also cut down to half days  for about 6 months, now back to a full day, she only works 35 hours per week,  she doesn't try to find one thing that will "fix' all her aches and pains, she takes one at a time and works on that, foot clinic is working on her foot pain, got orthodontics for her shoes,  and last Friday  a new pair of shoes  , that the clinic reccomended, she of course does the body rolling  at least once a week to prevent the adhesions, she is going to start the fasting  for 48 hours prior to chemo this week,  and is looking into the maitake Mushrooms,  she is not going to blindly follow the clinic now, she is telling them what she wants to accomplish,  she is keeping up on her journal again to see if there is progress.   There are absolutly hundreds of things that we have found out that increase vitality  and quality of life. She is following the safe, researched and documented  aides for a healthy system.  marty

[sanraemc]

It's taking me a while to get back to the community. As a new member, I'm still trying to figure out how this all works. First-I want to thank you, Gail , and all the other's for your comments. My conclusion?Doctors have hugh egos that are eaily bruised and 2- It's a **** shoot!  Because most of us will have tried them all as we wait for newest,next best thing comes along. No one, including our oncologists, know how any one patient will react to treatment. I took my gyn-oncologist's suggestion of Gemzar over med-onc opinion for Doxil. But, in the end, they both agreed it doesn't really matter. With the lone Gemzar+steroid+anti-nausa med regiment and 3 sessions under my belt I've experienced low white blood count(for which I took 3 days of shots,,constipation(for which I've been using Senokote with alot of cramping,so now moved to a gentler fiber supplement. Some one is sending me an applesauce+bran+flaxseed oil receipe I'm going to try),and fatigue(which I handle with rest. My new normal I'm finding out, is only 3-1/2 days of work per week.  I'll have my first CA125 check on April 11th. So your doc combined Gemzar and Doxil,huh? I'm wondering why I'm only on a single agent,myself. The Avastin issue with bowel perforation concern is why neither Onc. thought I should do it at this point. And it's a issue with many insurance carriers. I"ll keep check back Gail to see what you're up to and the rest of you ladies. Thanks to all for being here.
Sandy

[gah_70]

I have a similar problem in that my local oncologist (who wants NO ONE telling him how to treat a patient) and my doctor at MD Anderson in Houston have two different opinions on how I should be treated.  My doctor at MDA is willing to work with my local oncologist, but the feeling is not mutual.  One would think the patient's wishes would outweigh a doctor's ego, but that is not always the case.  Has either doctor given you an answer as to why he thinks the treatment he is suggesting is better than the other suggestion?  What do YOU think is best for you at this point?  Of course you want the best treatment, but nothing says you can't choose one, then change if the original isn't working.  

I have been on Gemzar since August.  My doctor recently added Doxil to it.  I have not had Avastin because my insurance won't pay for it.  Gemzar alone worked for awhile, but when my CA125 started to rise again, he added Navelbine, then Taxotere, and now Doxil.  I haven't been on Doxil long enough to give you an opinion, but I have to say Gemzar can be pretty mean, depending on the dose you get.  My main problems have been low platelets, and nausea.  Some do quite well with it, however.  

I am sending you best wishes for whatever you choose.  Stand up for yourself and make both doctors understand this isn't a competition.  This is YOUR life.  Please come back and let us know how things go.  I am keeping my fingers crossed your doctors will decide to work together on this.  

Gail