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Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
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Vegas, Abraxane IS indeed used for advanced/metastatic BC, with Avastin. There is a thread just about this combination on the boards (search with abraxane or avastin as key words). Some have incredible response with it.
In my case, of course, it's a toxicity level study, so I'll know how efficient it is for early stage BC only as years go by...
There are a few women I believe who are getting it outside of a study, and they may have advice on how to have it covered by insurance and/or the lab which manufactures the drug (they have special programs to provide financing of treatments).
Hope you find the info, and I sure hope your friend will get better and beat that BC. Turns out, I have even less se's after tx #2 than after #1... very nice, I am extremely grateful to my lucky star, guardian angels and other fairies that got me randomized into the Abraxane group (on top of Avastine given to both groups).
Take care,
Catherine0 -
Catherine, that is wonderful news that you are having less side effects! The toxicity has always been the down side of the taxanes and if that can be brought under control what a blessing. How did you get into the study in the first place? I looked around here, but there wasn't anything very promising that hadn't already been done before.
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Hello all, I have not written much lately. I've been having some terrible bone and joint paint, caused from Taxol. One more Taxol this Wednesday then I move on to Cytoxin. Does anyone have any suggestions for Cytoxin? I hear it's much easier on one has anyone experienced it yet?
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Good morning all!
Like Catherine, I've been having less SEs with #2 than #1, and I'm on taxol! With #1, I had rather bad neuropathy in my hands, with my fingernails particularly sensitive. Made it difficult to help my ds with his Lego creations! However, this time -- no neuropathy! I have had a bit more nausea, particularly on day 3 and 4, but if you remember, I was bad on AC. If it wasn't for the nausea and the mild bone pain, I would have worried that they put sugar water into my drip instead of the taxol!
Carol -- Nice to hear from you. Can't help with the Cytoxan, as I had mine with Adriamycin. I'm sorry to hear about your bone and joint pain. Has your onc given you anything for it? My onc would have written me a prescription for percocet if I didn't have any left over from my surgery (which I did).
Steph -- Good to hear from you. As I've said above, I've got the queasiness as well. However, I can't drink as much as I did on AC. Water tastes funky and sodas (my main stay during AC) taste too sweet. I've been eating a lot of watermelon, which seems to taste good and help me with fluid. On another topic, how are your kids holding up? My son is having a lot of meltdowns this weeks, which is quite unusual for him. I don't know why. I'm worried that this long cruise is getting to him, with mommy being sick all the time.
Terry, Vegas, and Catherine -- I'm so sorry to hear about your port problems. Just hang in there and think of it as one more SE from our lovely cruise!
Marsha -- We expect a full report on your social activities.
Carynn -- We expect a full report on your mountain getaway with dh!
Melanie -- Not only do I have no nose or ear hairs, but I have almost no facial hair, with my eyebrows and eyelashes quite sparse. I've been too scared to actually count the number of eyelashes left, but lets just say that it is a small number! On the positive side, I haven't had to shave my legs or underarms for months!
On another note, Melanie, I don't know that they know the difference yet between TAC every three weeks, and AC every two weeks followed by T every two weeks. AC every two weeks is better than AC every three weeks, but the study about TAC vs. AC/T is ongoing. Still, I admire you for being so proactive with your oncologist!
Jan -- I hope that you and your hubby are coping! Can you get someone to help you with the yardwork and horses?
Well, I'm hoping that the thunderstorms hold over until after my son's T-ball game today!
Hugs to all ...
-- Hillary0 -
Vegas,
I mentioned abraxane to my onc and he was ok with it if we do a taxane next. I am Stage IV, so that might be why he wasn't anticpating any problem getting it. I can't take Benadryl or decadron, so taxol is not for me. I will push for it for sure when I get there. MAKE HER ASK before they start. Two of the nurses I talked to said they had administered it before, so it doesn't sound that uncommon.0 -
All,
Revolting development: 5 weeks past last AC, and I have just lost 90% of my eyebrows and all pubic hair. But the hair on my head is growing. How confusing. Lucky for me I had the twice the legal limit for eyelashes, cuz now with half gone, they still look ok. Sheesh. I never expected this!
On another note, just saw my MRI on my own computer (you can ask for a CD of it) and I have to say that emotionally, seeing it in the duct in your breast, it kind of takes away some of its power. I haven't had the surgery yet, so it is still there to be seen, albeit 65% less of it than the first MRI. But now I know I want it gone and am actually glad that they do now operate on Stage IV people, which was not the standard of care up to about 2 years ago.
Carynn/Melanie, just started a project to upgrade our Oracle to 11.5.10, as well as get off Sun Solaris and going to Linux. Also new database version- all by 9/3. Think I will be a little busy the next 4 months???????? I own about 6 major modules from the functional standpoint. Testing, testing, testing...........................0 -
Just about to go to bed. Have had a busy day but not feeling too bad despite it being late.
Add me to the bar reservation for this week. Thursday Taxol 1
Hope everyone had a great weekend. didn't get any gardening done here as it rained on and off.
Alyson0 -
Leah, my friend is also stage IV and has been battling this for about 15 years now. So I am really hoping she can get the Abraxane as she is 79 now and not very strong.
I also had my last AC 5 weeks ago and lost my facial hair afterwards! 90% of eyebrows and lashes gone with the wind!!! I had sparse lashes to start with so I am just putting lots of eyeliner (which I never wore before) around the eyes. And for lashes there is a Maybelline eyebrow shadow that actually stays on well and looks pretty natural. I went to a cocktail party last night and spoke with a gal there who knew about my BC and she was commenting on how I had not lost my brows or the hair on my head. She was amazed to find out the hair was a wig and the brows were "painted" on!
Hillary, glad to hear you are having practically no SEs this round! That is awesome!! Just hang in there with your DS. You are almost done and pretty soon you will be feeling much better. And young kids move on quickly, so hopefully he will get through the meltdowns soon too. But I am sure that right now it is hard and very worrying.0 -
Leah, I lost my head hair day 16. Six weeks or so after the one dose of chemo, all of a sudden I lost the pubic hair but still have my eyebrows. I didn't know that fact about stage IV people! You have been an inspiration for us here in this thread!
I just recieved my very short brown (sunkissed Claudia) wig from tlc yesterday and hubby said this one is even better than the short redhead one, that the style/cut seems to fit even better on me! Its going to be in the mid 80s this week so it will probably get alot of wear right away.
Our son in law helps us with the horses, he's due out this weekend yet to roll out some hay. I managed to mow the yard yesterday with the riding mower. It was really needing it.0 -
Vegas and Leah (if you find it relevant), here is the link to the study I am on (from there you may find other studies with those drugs):
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ViewClinica...earchid=3001763
I got in there by chance: right oncologist at the right time with the right parameters: had I seen him a month later, the study would have been closed. It is a very small study (200 women for the entire US), for early breast cancer (stage 1x and 2x), grade 3, no visible mets on bone scan, with or without positive nodes (not more than 3, I think)... anyway, you'll see the details on that site above. I hoped for all my blood work, scans and markers to be good enough to qualify (I knew my grade was good enough... unfortunately), and they were... To my eyes, the big thing here is that both groups are getting Avastin (anti-body which cuts the blood supply to tumors), and then I got lucky enough to be randomized in the Abraxane group, the other "arm" getting standard Taxol. Now, nothing is without risk... did I need to go through all that? I don't know, only the future will tell (at least they'll have to keep the follow-up for a long time). The advantage of the study of course is that those 2 drugs are free (given by the labs) and you get a heart echography evry 3 months for quite a while. Avastin is more of concern to them, looks like, they monitor blood pressure and proteins in urine. So far I have had no problems at all (except a bleedy nose). Abraxane seems to be merciless on anything that looks like a hair... some bone pain this morning, but very mild.
And they need women to participate in as many studies as possible (only 5% of BC patients, as opposed to 90% of children with cancer).
I am also in a chemo brain study (Institute of health for Aging)- The first round of tests + MRI was before chemo started, then the whole thing again 3 and 6 months after end of chemo... there is a thread here by women who were interviewed by the New-York Time about chemo fog... interesting. It is on-line already but will be in print in today's paper, front page, I understand.
Jan, I wish you both to overcome all those health issues. I hope your husband is not in too much pain and not too frustrated to be limited in what he can do... you both seem so energetic people with projects that require physical stamina...
Well, time to get outside (glorious weather here), dh just mowed so the doggies can enjoy a nice lawn... some watering is in order already...
Thinking of you ALL, and wishing you the best of Sunday with extra special time with the little ones who need comforting (would there be any help on this account from the boards, here?)
Hugs all around,
CatherineH0 -
Catherine, thanks so much for the link! I am going to send this to my friend right away along with the information on Avastin as well. I am curious, what did they tell you the side effects of the Avastin might be? What was your personal experience?
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Vegas, Avastin main side effects: high blood pressure and proteins in urine (but does not damage kidneys as such). For now, I have none of the above (after 6 avastin). Just back from my 3.5 mile walk... feeling great, although it is getting very hot (high 80's for today...). Go get ready for not running late (Mozart's Requiem concert this afternoon...).
Good luck for your friend.
CatherineH0 -
Hillary, I can't remember if it is you or Carynn that is preparing the log for this week. I have Taxol#12 last one, woohoo. Then I have 2 weekes off before I start FAC.
I am going to take a road trip with my daughter and son-in-law to Chapel Hill, NC to pick up my granddaughter from UNC. She will return to Houston for the summer. I am real excited for the change of scenery and circumstance.
I have had a really hard few days. I have developed some neuropathy in one foot. I worked Thurs. and Fri. and being on my feet so much irritated those nerves. I am just really, really tired. I am trying to organize my closet. Getting rid of 75% of the clothes, finally. Cancer has really helped me with letting go of unnecessary things. Like clothes I haven't worn in 5 years. LOL
Hope you are all having a lovely Sundsy. Hugs and good fairy dust to all. Love Sammie Kay0 -
Narberth, thank you so much! My doctor has given me Vicodin it did not cut it so he gave me Oxicotin but I will not take that, I feel that I can push through the pain. At times it's been unbearable but I've not heard alot of positive recently about oxicotin on the news. Perceset I'll ask about it, I thought that it was for nerves am I incorrect? This weekend the pain was not as bad, however I have chemo on Wednesday my last of Taxol and I'll be right back to the pain level again by next Friday.
Thank you all for your words and My prayers and thoughts are with all of you.0 -
Leah and Vegas -
I am just now hitting 3 weeks out from my last AC. I have thinning lashes and eyebrows, but when I asked my onc if I would lose them at my last tx, she said NO, if I haven't lost them by now, I wouldn't.
Here I am, so excited - and I see you guys saying 5 weeks out, and you DID LOSE them!! OMG! - Now, I will be paranoid for the next two weeks! I have to admit, however, that this past week they do seem to be thinning more, and I have been nervous! Does seem to be a bit unfair to lose facial hair same time as our hair on our heads is coming IN! LOL
Have liked not having to worry about under arm and leg hair however!0 -
Monday -
Tuesday - SammieKay
Wednesday - CarolM
Thursday - Carynn, Pat
Friday - Karen (1st Abraxane)0 -
Hi everyone! This is day 4 of 2nd taxol and only experiencing very minimal tingling of fingers. Nothing to feet. Yesterday I worked in my yard redoing flower bed brick borders and mowing lawn. I found I had to take frequent breaks as my energy level felt good but at the same time my "hang time" was short. But I feel really good today and got the yard done in time cuz the rain is back.
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Good for you Pat... looks like for most of us, we DO have a life with Taxol... At least, if you feel achy later today, you'll know why... normal muscle soreness from physical work... Wishing you a good rain for your plantations and lawn... We could use it here again, it's been so hot...
I had a great Mozart moment yesterday, so emotional... The school of music on campus was performing the requiem, dedicated to the victims of the shooting at Virginia Tech. I do believe they gave their best: the voice of angels... I had never been at a live concert with such a big choir (about 150 singers), the orchestra was excellent, and the soloists, too... could not stop the tears, it was so powerful. The sound was so good, so "clean" and the silence of such quality... it was wonderful. As we were leaving the concert hall, somebody tapped on my shoulder and said "good luck to you"...!!?? I turn around, and a nice little lady gave me a big warm smile, adding "I am wearing a wig... BC, too, here" I guess my bandana is as telling as if I were going around bald (although it is cuter), not too mention the eyebrows (or lack of) and skin colors that are not exactly the same. BC sisters' solidarity... something... I got back home all teary from all this, but very happy I went. I will watch Amadeus (Milos Forman's movie, 1984) again via Netflix, this week... such a destiny and talent this Mozart...
Well, yesterday I walked 6km (3.75 miles or so). I will go do the same now, but maybe not that long, my dog can't take it... he lays down on freshly mowed, watered and shady lawns on the way, to recuperate...
It's going to be another beautiful day in the yard...
You all take care,
Hugs,
Catherine0 -
Hi all,
I'm glad to hear that the effects of taxol seem to be better with treatment #2 than treatment #1. I got to experience firsthand the aches and pains from the first taxol this weekend. I admit that although I didn't feel as bad as I did on AC, I didn't feel that great either. Today, seems to be better - I actually got up and worked a full day, but now I am tired. It seems like the fatigue with taxol kind of sneaks up on you. The better news is that my fingernails finally stopped aching, so that was a relief. If I can just make it through these next three treatments -- I am just so looking forward to being done with chemo!!!!
Hillary - my kids are holding up okay. My 7-year old hates to see me not feeling well, but he deals with it pretty well. My 3-year old just doesn't understand and still expects for me to baby him. He has been suffering with a terrible cough that has made me very nervous, but what can I do but just deal with it. Like we have said before, going through this with young kids adds a whole new element. Some days I feel that I should just check into a 5-star hotel for the weekend by myself and just relax. I think that I will plan a getaway in between chemo and radiation, as it will be much needed and well-deserved.
Well, it's time for me to pack up and head home for the day, and boy am I looking forward to getting in my bed!
Take care everyone!
Steph0 -
Melinda, I just retrieved you message(PM). I just remembered that little flashing envelope. LOL.. Sorry about that. Hope you had a nice trip to West University. I would live there if I could. I love that area. You are finished with chemo now? I will finish Taxol tomorrow(had 12 doses). I felt pretty rotten Thurs,Fri,Sat and Sun. Today is a better day. Then back for more tomorrow. I will start FAC in two weeks. I have 4 daughters in Houston, so I visit there quite often. Sammie Kay
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Carol, I am finishing Taxol and starting Cytoxan in 2 weeks. I will have 5Fu and Adriamycin added to my Cytoxan. I am only getting 4 doses, one every 3 weeks, so the onc isn't too worried about the heart side effects. He said with only 4 doses it shouldn't be a problem. Hope he knows what he is talking about. I hear such conflicting information from others oncologists, makes me wonder. I felt really rotten after dose 11 of Taxol. Days 3,4,5,6 were rough. Lots of back pain, neuropathy pain in one foot and 3 toes on that foot and mild tingling in hands. I worked Thurs and Fri and was on my feet all day. I think that made it worse. I did absolutely nothing Sat and Sun. I feel better today. Take care, hugs to all. Sammie Kay
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Carol, just a word about pain medicine. I have chronic back issues and see a pain specialist. She tells me and I have found this to be true..."if you are taking pain medication for pain, you will not become addicted, because the pain receptors receive the medication." I have taken pain meds for a long time and I have experienced periods without pain when I quit the pain med and never experienced any kind of withdrawal. For me personally, and I add everyone is different, oxycontin doesn't work. I don't know why, but hyrocodone(Lortab,Vicoden) works and Oxycontin doesn't. My doc limits the ones with Tylenol because she is concerned about my liver, with the chemo drugs being processed by the liver along with the Tylenol, which is hard on the liver. I guess what I wish for all is that they not fear pain medication and that they not suffer unncessariy. Hugs to all. Sammie Kay
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Hi Everyone,
Add me to the list on Thursday for chemo. Then I have my last chemo on the 23 of May. I am counting the days to the last one. I have been working alot lately so I have not been on only to read to see how everyone is doing. So far I have been feeling really good. Have a good week and good luck to every one this week.
Theresa and Scott0 -
Monday -
Tuesday - SammieKay
Wednesday - CarolM
Thursday - Carynn, Pat, Theresa
Friday - Karen (1st Abraxane)0 -
Hi all! Just a quick post tonite to let you know we made it home safe and sound from a wonderful over-night trip to the Mountains in Pine, AZ.
Unfortunately, I fell asleep with my contacts in and scratched a cornea but good. Will catch up on the posts soon. Best to all who visited the bar today and will tomorrow.
Hugs!
Carynn0 -
Carynn
Addme to the reservation list for Thursday. Hope your eye is better.
I am making notes the meds of people are getting with their taxcol. See the onc tomorrow morning.
Think I will have to have a very early night tonight as I have parent teacher interviews tomorrow night.
Alyson0 -
Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement. I am going for my last of (4 Taxols) this Wednesday. I am looking forward to moving on to Cytoxin. Thank you all for the suggestions and words of wisdom.
God Bless You All0 -
Good morning all,
Feel pretty good today after a lousy weekend. Went to work yesterday.
Had hubby shave my head on Sunday. It was finally just sooo thin and brittle and gray that it was more depressing having that hair than not. I have patchy bald spots. I did not cry like I thought I would, it was a relief. Got lots of complements on my wig yesterday. I think the hair loss with the TCH is more long and drawn out and depressing. At least you AC girls got it over with and moved on.
Catherine, I did not get any seeds sown. It poured rain on Friday and was just too muddy over the weekend for the final tilling and sowing. So maybe this weekend.
I was scheduled to go to LGFB this thursday eve, but am going to re-schedule. My son is playing a double header and his school is playing my nephew's school. He will probably pitch and I don't want to miss it. So, LGFB can wait. Maybe next month, although it is on my chemo day, so maybe I just don't need makeup, since I am sooo ravishingly beautiful!! (not!)
Well...getting ready for work.
Please know that I read all of your posts and would love to individually respond to all of them, you are all so wonderful.
Carynn, hope your eye is mending...my kids have done that. I wear gas permeables, so it is a little harder to scratch my eye...but those softlenses really dry out.
I hve a question for you all...my sister wants me to fly down to Myrtle Beach in June, as she is having a 75th bday for my mom there. Mom will be there for my nephew's graduation. I only lost 3 lymph nodes in my biopsy. Do you think I can fly without a sleeve for my arm? My onc told me I really should be "normal" - after the blood pressure cuff was left on my arm during my port surgery. And I have had no problems. I really hate to go to the expense and hassle of a sleeve for a 1 hour flight. What do you think? My daughter and I could drive if we have to.
I am just trying to get through these next couple weeks until next chemo...then I may ask for a medical leave. I am just whipped. The fatigue is my worst SE. Dr says it is the cumulative effect of the chemo. I am a bit worried about the radiation too..I am very fair skinned and in addition to fatigue, which is the main SE, I have read, I am worried about a burn. Anyone have any insight into any of this yet??
Well...got to get off to work...making my green tea for the road.
Love to all of you,0 -
Good morning ladies........Glad to hear, for the most part, that everyone is doing pretty well. I'm looking forward to my "good" week/weekend after the last few days of having bone pain. That really is my only SE so far. And I mean ACHE in the legs really bad and overall stiffness. I felt this way after #1 also but didn't get the Neualsta then, and did this time, so thinking maybe that has made it worse. This morning less pain, so doing aleve instead of loratabs.
OK, I only made it to one social event over the weekend! LOL The Volunteer Picnic at the theatre was only 2 hours long, in the middle of the day Saturday and that is my one outing over the weekend. Geez.......pitiful, but plan to make up for it before taxol #3 next week!
Carynn, we want to hear all about your mountain trip. Watched the race yesterday, seems like every time I watch that dang Jeff Gordon wins (he pukes me). You would think if they are going to bump each other off the track like they did yesterday, someone would give Jeffey a little tap. LOL
SammieKay, have fun on your road trip, NC in the spring should be beautiful. I've done the same as you, especially right after a big dose of steroids, going thru closets and tossing things left and right.
Have a good day everyone....this is the last taxol for you today, isn't it SammieKay? Hugs to you, Marsha0 -
Terry, like in chemo I saw rads patients reactions are different too. For me and one lady we both started burning on day 18 of rads and hers was on her upper chest and mine was under my arms and ironically we both got the fatigue the same time which was during day 26. This is day 7 of 8 boosts or day 32 for me and I'm really really tired this morning and am glad I have my friend still driving me. My rads doc was kind enough to give me pain pills when the burns wouldn't let me sleep on my sides. I've been taking them ever since. I will say though rads has been a breeze compared to one dose of chemo! Tommorow is my last day of rads!!!
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