[Full Timeline | Chemo | Radiology & Cardiology | Surgery & Related]
First Chemo: Gemzar/Taxotere (Gemcitabine/Docetaxel)
10/10/2017 – Day 1 of Cycle 1. Started Gem/Tax (Gemcitabine aka Gemzar, Taxotere aka Docetaxel). Gemzar on Days 1 and 8, every 21 days. Taxotere on Day 8 only, every 21 days. Neulasta given on day 9 of cycle. This was a Gemzar-only day.
10/15/2017 – Developed measles-like rash in reaction to Gemzar. It was moderately itchy but bearable. The rash did not repeat. Chemo RN told me that sometimes people get an initial rash reaction to chemo, but then it doesn’t come back. I was lucky that this was true for me. Unfortunately, in my case, this may have been a sign of things to come with the Gemzar.
10/17/2017 – Day 8 of Cycle 1. (Gemzar & Taxotere)
10/31/2017 – Day 1 of Cycle 2. (Gemzar)
11/7/2017 – Day 8 of Cycle 2. (Gemzar & Taxotere)
11/21/2017 – Day 1 of Cycle 3. (Gemzar)
11/28/2017 – Day 8 of Cycle 3. This is the last day I receive this chemo regimen. (Gemzar & Taxotere)
Results: Tumor grew substantially. Gemzar caused fluid build up on my lungs, and caused kidney failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome). I had to wait for my kidney function to be restored before I could begin a new chemo.
Second Chemo: Doxorubicin/Olaratumab (Adriamycin/Lartruvo)
1/18/2018 – Started Dox/Olara (Adriamycin aka Doxorubicin, Lartruvo aka Olaratumab) – Cycle 1, Day 1. Also started allopurinol with this chemo to help protect my kidneys.
1/25/2018 – Cycle 1, Day 8.
2/8/2018 – Expected start of Cycle 2, Day 1, but WBC and neutrophils too low.
2/15/2018 – Cycle 2, Day 1.
2/27/2018 – Cycle 2, Day 8.
3/13/2018 – Cycle 3, Day 1.
3/20/2018 – Cycle 3, Day 8.
4/5/2018 – Cycle 4, Day 1. Zinecard (chemoprotectant for the heart) started today.
4/12/2018 – Cycle 4, Day 8.
4/26/2018 – Cycle 5, Day 1.
5/3/2018 – Cycle 5, Day 8.
5/18/2018 – Cycle 6, Day 1.
5/24/2018 – Cycle 6, Day 8.
6/7/2018 – Cycle 7, Day 1. Olaratumab only.
6/14/2018 – Cycle 7, Day 2. Olaratumab only.
Results: Slowed growth of tumor, but didn’t stop growth of primary tumor, nor development and growth of regional metastases.
Third Chemo: Trabectedin (Yondelis)
7/5/2018 – Cycle 1 (Aloxi only for nausea).
7/26/2018 – Cycle 2 (Aloxi+Emend. Had breakthrough nausea anyway).
8/16/2018 – Cycle 3 (Aloxi+Emend+3-day cycle of dexamethasone. No nausea.)
Results: Tumor grew, as did other abdominal tumors. Have several more nodules in lung (unknown if cancerous or not). Yondelis did not work.
Fourth Chemo: Cabozantinib (Cabometyx)
10/24/2018 – Took first pill at 12:45am. This is a 60mg daily pill. No food 2 hours before or 1 hour after. Cannot be crushed or chewed. Must be taken with 8oz of water.
11/7/2018 – Taking a chemo break, with doctor’s okay. We will contact Dr. M. again on Monday and go from there. It had gotten to the point that I couldn’t keep anything but water down due to heartburn. Started taking Zofran and Compazine today for the first time with this chemo.