I have just finished my first chemo treatment at the Dana Farber. I had 3 days of ifosfamide and doxorubicin. After 2 rounds they had to stop the ifosfamide due to some side effects that they were concerned about. I was very disappointed because I want to get all they have to stop this scarcoma.
Has anyone else had this issue with these drugs? Will start 2nd round in 21 days. Hopefully we will be able to continue if I can tolerate. This is a reacurrance.
Please advise.
What side effect did you get that was concerning?
Hey! I am finished chemo. I actually have been in remission for 8 months now. But I had both of those drugs. My regimen was 4 days a week, both drugs. Neulasta shot on Fridays and then 2 weeks off. I instantly had side effects the following week. I did a total of 6 rounds (3 weeks each round). I had fluids on the weekend after treatment and always that following Wednesday, I would end up in the hospital with very high fevers. Some side effects for mouth sores, so bad where I couldn’t talk or eat or swallow. I couldn’t even take oral medications. The pain was always just excruciating. Mouth sores and fevers were always the worst of it. I had to get a good amount of blood transfusions and platelet transfusions cause my counts were always really low. And this happened after every single cycle. My doctors were concerned but they were always able to get the counts back up just in time. I would suggest during chemo, don’t eat any produce unless you thoroughly clean it with a produce cleaning spray. You need to stay away anything that could possibly interfere with your immune system. I hope this helps at least a little bit. If I can help in any other way, please don’t hesitate to contact me back!! Good luck and kick this cancers butt!
- Julie
Last year for my 3rd local recurrence had both of those drugs also following the nulasta shot like Julie but I also got radiation therapy as well. After 6 rounds as well and 28 radiation rounds 5days a week I did surgery to remove 8 tumors in my leg(3rd surgery btw) got clear margins! Was in remission for 6 months and although no local recurrence thank God… It had metastasis now stage 4 in my left lung! Been on a new trial (TRC105 & Votrient) and have been feeling great with this chemo! But in regards to the isfosfamide and doxorubicin my side effects were almost instantly the next day like you and the nulasta jus made it worse. Also I got neutropenic and was hospitalized so watch out for that!! Anyhow I hope you get well soon and keep fighting!!! #WeAreTheWinners God Bless!!!
Been on the trial since March and have been stable with the disease. I’ve met about 6 other people on the trial that are also stable and I even had a tinyyyy shrinkage!! All of us seem to be stable and tolerating this chemo well!! Again blessings and stay strong!
Thanks for the update Yenessa! I hope it keeps working!
I have just completed 4 round of chemo 5day ifex + 6 day Mesna+ 3 day Doxu, at MD anderson and my tumor in left lung is almost dissolved and fluid remains in the bottom of lung approx 500ml and my surgeon suggested to remove entire left lung even though 20% healthy tisses remain there, and in affected area i do not see any tisses so consented for surgery, going by above I understand Votrient is also an option in future as i am going to have a risk of single lung
Surgery is a shot at a cure. Good luck!
mike13 said:
I have just completed 4 round of chemo 5day ifex + 6 day Mesna+ 3 day Doxu, at MD anderson and my tumor in left lung is almost dissolved and fluid remains in the bottom of lung approx 500ml and my surgeon suggested to remove entire left lung even though 20% healthy tisses remain there, and in affected area i do not see any tisses so consented for surgery, going by above I understand Votrient is also an option in future as i am going to have a risk of single lung
God bless you, those are very powerful drugs. My body wasn’t able to tolerate the ifosfamide I was experiencing halliucations and generally strange behavior. Doctors immediately ended it and I went to higher doses of doxorubicin and then neulasta for 6 rounds every 21 days. Just finished 6 weeks of radiation now waiting to heal a little and get stronger for my 3rd surgery on my calf. Hoping to avoid amputation. The chemo and radiation prevented the tumor from spreading but didn’t shrink it. So we go back to surgery. This is a reacurrance in the same calf same area after 2 years. A long battle,but I am fighting hard to win.
God Bless you too, yes, I also had some heavy headed and kind of bad dreams as if i had lost momories in last days of chemo with ifex, and after two cycle of chemo my tumor start dissolving and I went ahead with another two but it worked further reduction of tumor, doctor suggested 6 cycles but I suggested to remove fluid content and remove left lung as well after 4 cycle of chemo and I m getting surgery done on this week, then he suggested radiation too after 8-9 weeks of surgery, as seen in discussions I guess Votrient is good medication to slow down recurrances, and I am awaiting for T cell based immunotherapy as a lasting solution but still on trial stages
Elodie Espesset said:
Surgery is a shot at a cure. Good luck!
mike13 said:I have just completed 4 round of chemo 5day ifex + 6 day Mesna+ 3 day Doxu, at MD anderson and my tumor in left lung is almost dissolved and fluid remains in the bottom of lung approx 500ml and my surgeon suggested to remove entire left lung even though 20% healthy tisses remain there, and in affected area i do not see any tisses so consented for surgery, going by above I understand Votrient is also an option in future as i am going to have a risk of single lung
thanks Elodie
I had pretty negative reactions to the ifos as well. I ended up in a coma briefly from it, and was given methyl blue to soak of all those toxins! Not meant in any to scare you-everyone is different.