Ovarian Cancer Support Group
Ovarian cancer is a malignant ovarian neoplasm (an abnormal growth located on the ovaries). It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and the exact cause is unknown. Join this community to get support if you or someone you know is affected by ovarian cancer. Share your story and learn from the experiences of others.
hello. i have recently started a new chemo. Doxil. I am also in a drug study for something to boost the immune system while on chemo so patients dont miss any treatments due to low counts.
i was happy to be in the study, and i was certain i would be in the 50% that got the placebo. Well it seems i am getting the real deal. i was told to expect flu-like symptoms, and soreness at the injection site...Well. the flu-like symptoms have me so sick i do not get out of bed for the duration, with temps. up to 102.6, severe chills, migraines. the first one knocked me down for about 14 hours. this one was more severe, and lasted over 24. the soreness at the injection site is a pain so awful my arm is useless for 3 days and still sore for 5. i do not think my medical team "gets" just how sick i am getting, they are all just happy i am getting the drug. i can not quit, i want to be a part of it, and i am not a quitter. i just dont know if im going to survive it. lots more injections to go.
i was happy to be in the study, and i was certain i would be in the 50% that got the placebo. Well it seems i am getting the real deal. i was told to expect flu-like symptoms, and soreness at the injection site...Well. the flu-like symptoms have me so sick i do not get out of bed for the duration, with temps. up to 102.6, severe chills, migraines. the first one knocked me down for about 14 hours. this one was more severe, and lasted over 24. the soreness at the injection site is a pain so awful my arm is useless for 3 days and still sore for 5. i do not think my medical team "gets" just how sick i am getting, they are all just happy i am getting the drug. i can not quit, i want to be a part of it, and i am not a quitter. i just dont know if im going to survive it. lots more injections to go.
Have you asked if there is anything they can give you to help with the side effects.
I do plan to try to get across to them just how sick this is making me. and all for something just to boost my immune system... its not even killing cancer cells. does not seem worth it .
keep us posted about your progress, we all count on "guinea pigs" to find a cure.
Good luck and keep us posted. Diane
i made it clear about just how sick i am getting from these shots. It turns out it is perfectly normal, and can last up to 48 hours... i guess if they told people how sick they would be, no one would join the study. LOL.
i am going to stick with it, i have 4 months of a shot at day 3, 10, and 17 after my chemo.after 4 months it goes to once a month. Sure seems like a long time , and im not enjoying being so sick all the time, but they explained to me a little better how this drug is supposed to work, and that they have had very positive results from the first study, so i can not stop if it is going to help fight this cancer.
spider, yes, the nurses in the infusion center told me to try claritin, i already have benadryl at home so i am taking that along with the tylenol, and the last shot was not quite so bad.... i slept for about 12 hours , and the headache was not as bad, the injection area is still very, very painful even with an icepack continuously on it for 48 hours. if anyone has any other suggestions, im sure willing to listen. thank you for all your advice, and support.