Doxil, what can you tell me about this chemo treatment?

DeeDee,

If you go the left of this page, you'll see a list in blue that has various headings. Open the search heading, and input "doxil" as your key word. You'll have to do it several times, perhaps, as your browser's autocorrect will try its best to change it to "dioxin". Then limit the search to stage 4, so that you get posts about late stage use of doxil, which is different from early stage use of the drug.

Like many others here, I had it as part of my early stage treatment. It was a specific push into my IV that lasted for about 4 minutes. It was known for causing an awful taste in the mouth during the push, so they gave us popsicles. The cold also helped keep the drug from being picked up by oral tissue, which helped avoid mouth sores. Sadly, popsicles - to this day - make me want to hurl by association.

It's a drug I am most familiar with as a drug of last resort, which means nothing really, as I could be stunning in my ignorance. But, do ask your MO why she doesn't want to try some of the other second line chemos, like Xeloda, Navelbine, Gemzar or Halaven. They are all heavy hitters, without the cardio-toxicity that doxil can bring to the party.

Hello Dee Dee, I've been on Doxil since July and close to being NED from the neck down. My hair is two inches long and I dont have hand and foot syndrome. I get doxil once a month and Ive had no side effects with the exception of a little fatigue.

Interestingly, at my last appointment my onc also mentioned Doxil if my next scans confirm that my current Xeloda is starting to fail.  She felt it was a good drug and the once-a-month dosing and less severe side effects would be a good fit for me.  I wonder if there's been new studies or something for it to come up like this recently?  At any rate I'm glad you asked the question and thanks Jennifer and Geeper for the info!

After Ibrance not working at all, I am now going to start Doxil (as soon as I have a port put in). I will be having it once a month. 90 min infusion (not counting the steroid infusion before). When I was first diagnosed Stage 4, 7 years after first being diagnosed Stage 1 in 2005, I was put on Faslodex, it lasted 1 1/2 years. Then we tried Femara, it did not work. Then Xeloda for 2 years. Ibrance was the next one. I've had Zometa infusions through the past 4 1/2 years at stage 4. I'm hoping this one works. Glad to hear that those of you who have been on it, don't seem to be having many side effects. Wish me luck!

Hi Lynne, I will be starting Doxil this Friday if all goes well with the port. After reading your experience, I have to admit I am a little nervous. This will be my first chemo since 2011 when I was initially diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. I will be getting infusion every 2 weeks instead of every 28 days. How are you feeling now?

Robin

Thanks! So glad to hear you had a complete response. I hope I do, but I'm not getting cytoxan. Thanks for the ice tip I will definitely try it.

Thank Lynn! I hope you do better on the 31st. Seems like if they slow the drip down, you should be ok. I pray you have great results on this chemo!!

Robin

I had my first treatment of Doxil on Tuesday. They gave me a pre-treatment of pepcid, benadryl, steroid, and anti nausea meds. Then they started the Doxil very slowly and every 15 minutes or so, sped it up just a bit. They started me out on 20mg per squared metered inch and I will receive treatment every 2 weeks. My MO said they would up the dose to 25mg if all goes well with first treatment. I did not have any problems at all. I have been taking my Zofran around the clock and I have no nausea! The neulasta on body injector gave me the dose last night. At first I had some arm and hand bone pain, but took tylenol and it went away. My back muscles were achey so I used a heating pad. I still feel great and hope I continue to feel good.

Lynne, Good luck tomorrow with your infusion. I pray you have no allergic reactions with your infusion. A slow drip with no reaction is better than speedy drip! My MO gave me the option of doing monthly Doxil or every 2 weeks because you have less chance of side effects. I am thinking if all goes well, I may want to switch to monthly.

Let me know how your treatment goes tomorrow! I pray everyone on this treatment will have a complete response!!

Robin

Hi Lynne, Glad to hear you didn't have any problems this time. I felt fine after my first treatment until the neulasta was injected the following day. I had unbelievable bone pain in my spine and back side of my ribs. It was a pounding pain and would be worse when I first stood up and took a few steps. It would pound with every heartbeat, sort of like a migraine does. That pain lasted for 4 days and finally went away. Now the fatigue has set in and constant nausea! I was taking Zofran every 8 hours like clockwork to avoid the nausea and now the Zofran doesn't seem to work. I always have a big problem with nausea and I'm just miserable. My next treatment is coming up next Tuesday, and I may opt out of the neulasta if my counts are good.

Did you get the nuelasta?

Welcome chirps, there are not many of us at all. It makes me wonder why? Good luck with your treatment tomorrow and let us know how it goes!

Robin

Howdy!

Doxil #1 went off totally fine (started almost 24 hrs ago). What a relief! I'm leaving for the afternoon soon but will be checking in here hopefully later this weekend. I think yesterday is counted as Day 1. Really I have felt only the steroids so far. I have blood work on Day 8 ("8" if I know how to count the day numbers correctly). They say I'll get the Nuelasta only if my blood work then is very low.

Robin, what is your cycle interval---4 weeks? That's what mine is. I was told "Your counts would typically be at their lowest day 10-14 after chemo, recovering around day 21" as a general rule. This might be what's underlying your symptoms? But you had the shot, so I'd think you'd not have terribly low counts now?! Sorry you're feeling so crummy ... hopefully you'll pull out of it soon! Did you call to talk to someone about your symptoms? Hope you're not getting sick. Please consider calling (if you haven't yet) to get their input. Personally I'd call! NOT to worry you, just to make sure your team is informed and will be keeping you out of trouble!

HI Robin, so glad you had it checked out! Not sure why they'd give antibiotics if they think it's viral but maybe just for in case it's bacterial. ? Soooo good that you're feeling better! Now you hopefully can rest up with some serious napping. Tuesday will be here before long... sounds like you're on a 2 week cycle, so maybe things they tell me about what to expect will be different for you, idk!

Robin I see you had xeloda for a spell... when you're up to it can you tell me how that went for you? There's talk about that Tx as a next option for me.

Today I discovered that one of my huge trees fell against my house while I was gone to Chemo! Wind and rain. Ugh!

Welcome Chirps! I am also on the 4 week cycle. I've had 2 treatments so far. Will have blood work on Friday. Sorry to hear about the tree. Glad your treatment went well. I was also on Xeloda for 2 years and the only side effect I had was the hand foot syndrome (my feet peeled a few times), but I started taking 100mg of B6, and that stopped it. I went on Ibrance after it stopped working, for 6 months (it did not work at all), and then started Doxil.

Robin, my fevers started after a couple days the first time. They went high as 102. I went to the ER the first time, and found out I had a kidney infection (3 days after the first chemo). I was put on cipro. I had the same thing happen the second time around. It started 2 days after chemo, with chills, and temp from 99 to 102. I took some tylenol and a cool shower, and it went down the first night (Sunday), it happened again in the morning and I called the office. The nurse called me back and said the PA said to just keep doing what I was doing, unless other symptoms happen. They didn't. I guess this is just how my body acts to it. I'm glad you went to the ER. Chirps is correct that our immune system bottoms out between day 10-14 (that's when I have my blood work in between, 2 weeks after my chemo). I'm glad you are feeling better.

Robin, oh Dear! So sorry you're having all this trouble. They gave you multiple nausea meds didn't they? I think mine are zofran each 8 hrs as first line, and a 2nd medication (cannot find name) if that's not enough. I wonder if your symptoms are from whatever bug you might have? And if so it might run its course with time? So sorry you're feeling so sick. I hear your discouragement but please don't give up hope... are you able to stay hydrated or keep anything down? Hope you're feeling better soon.

Lynne thanks so much for all the helpful info. Really appreciate!

Got lucky with tree, now cleared away along with another. House still needs repair but looks like it won't be bad, the flexible spruce limbs seemed to protect much of the roof where a lot of the tree came to rest.