Chemotherapy for Stage IV
Comments
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Gosh Reesie, you seem to know so much about the diff types and meds for same. I hope I can become as informed as you are before too long. I'm maintaining with a great support group around me and of course my major POSITIVE 'tude! Haven't been privy to a real support group with others like us because of my locale and meds schedule, maybe I'd learn more in a group. But I'll keep my eyes open and see if I can find someone else in this forum who can help...you've been great, thanks bunches!
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Haha Mema what I know doesn't come close to what others here know. And everything I've learned has been in these forums. Hang around and learn more with me.
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Sounds good to me Reesie...hahaha I just tried to down load a pic, but not working for some reason, oh well. Gonna sign off for tonite...have a great evening and thanks again...I'll be back!
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Mema, They do use hormonal with Herceptin. I think the combine quite a few things with it since herceptin is not actually considered a chemo.
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Thanks Marybe! U r right, Herceptin is not a chemo, just a HER2 blocker. The others I get are Denosumab, Diphenhydramine hcl, zantac, Palonosetron hcl and Dexamethasone. I am gonna look those up, I kno zantac and I kno 1 of them is benedryl, but don't kno the others, perhaps one is a hormonal. However, I thought being HER2+ I am NOT supposed to be getting hormones. And if I am...how come I'm still Power Surging all day and all night
. When I was diagnosed, they immediately took me off of my HRT meds. I see Doc on Monday....I'll have to ask. 0 -
Dexamethasone is a steroid, and zantac is for your stomach so you don't get nausea . They usually mix these in the the premeds and I aways got another one for nausea Aloxi. All I know is I sit next to a lady who has been on herceptin for years and she gets faslodex ( one of the hormonal drugs) injections once a month. Ask on here.....herceptin with hormonal?...maybe there is already a thread.
Edited to add......I just noticed up about Reesie is going to be doing a hormonal....ask her.
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Marybe - I won't be doing Herceptin (HER2-).
MemaSue - when we talk about hormonals here we're talking about the drugs that fight against the production or use of hormones (ER - estrogen/PR - progesterone). They're really anti-hormonals when you think about it.
Denosumab is for the bones, the diphenhydramine is the benedryl and I think the other one is Aloxi for nausea.
They don't usually give the hormonals with chemo (although there are a very few girls on here that get both). And I believe it's the ER/PR+ that is the reason you can't get hormones and caused you to stop the HRT.
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Thank you both, Reesie and Marybe. I've felt so good this week, almost pre-chemo. xcept for the headaches, altho not so bad. Energy and taste buds back, so been eating ALOT...LOL. This is the 1st time I've actually dreaded another round...but it's only supposed to be 2 more so I am grateful. Will keep you posted if I can get answers from my onco when I see her on Monday.
It is a great day to be alive and I am grateful to my universe for my healing!
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Ok ladies, I posted a new thread about getting scans so soon after chemo. We'll see what responses we get.
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Hello,
I'm a triple negative breast cancer patient. First diagnosed in 2004, had lumpectomy, then recurrence in same area with node involvement. Had bilateral mastectomy and 3 cancerous nodes removed. Chemo, radiation......now a recurrence to my lung and node near windpipe. Just had lung mass removed a few weeks ago. Did not take out node because of risks involving surrounding vessels. My oncologist said the chemo will take care of the node. My question to everyone is...does anyone have anything similiar and if so, what type of chemo are you taking or did you take. I want to make sure we are going to do the right treatment. My onc tells me chemo forever now....correct?
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wvdebbie, I'm not TN, so I can't help you with my treatment plan and which chemo might be next for you. You don't say what chemos you've already done - that might help others when they respond.
Unfortunately, it is my understanding that with TN, the only treatment option (currently) is chemo. I think that there are also some PARP inhibitors that have been successful with TN with chemo (although I'm not current on this since I'm not TN). There is a TN forum where you might be able to get some more information too.
Did they biopsy the new tumors? Sometimes, it seems, that it can change characteristics.
I'm sorry you had to join us here but welcome and good luck. There's a great group of women and men that can give you answers to your questions or just listen to you vent when you need.
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Thank you.
Originally, I did a trio of chemos in 2004...I would have to look up their names as I can't remember. For the 2007 local recurrence, I took Xeloda by pill. I have an appt. today to discuss the path report and the chemo direction we are going to take. I did ask about the PARP inhibitors last week but my oncologist didn't recommend it....he said Phase III wasn't successful. I may go for a second opinion too, just to make sure.
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Don't rule out PARP... they are still figuring this out, but hey, look at Avastin! Very controversial, but I know for a fact that it helped lots of women. Try the standard therapies first, and look for clinical trials when everything else fails. Do find the Triple Negative discussion board here... I was on it for awhile until it was discovered I actually have a 30% ER+ response, but I still check in with the gals on that thread... they are great!
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Cycle 5 of Gem/Carbo/Iniparib is done!! Platelets were low -- but not too low to prevent treatment! Neuropathy in my toes is still there. Hopefully I can make it thru one more cycle with all 3 drugs and then get my PET CT scan after that.
I gave myself the Neulasta shot on Saturday and I have been taking Claritin-D and Claritin everyday. I took Claritin the day before the shot and 10 minutes before the shot and then I took more Claritin Saturday night and then Claritin on Suanday and Claritin again on Monday and Claritin D again today!! I hope I dont overdose on it!!! I had some back/muscle spasms last time -- so I am trying to prevent that again this time by taking Claritin quite often... Its a GOD awful pain!!! and I hope no one else has to go thru it!!
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Dellmonica, I really do think the claritin helps....my onco's office didn't seem to know much about it, but I heard about it on this board and then when I was telling the one nurse I took claritin she said Oh, I think that was mentioned in Susan Love's book. All I know is that lst neulasta shot when I had not heard about taking the claritin before getting it, was a killer. I was in bed all weekend and it was like having a bad case of the flu. I hope it works for you.
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AMEN... Neulasta is the pits, but you have to remember what it's doing to help your body. My counts stayed good all through treatment (low, but never bad) I never knew about Claritan, just took lots of Aleve and laid around moaning and groaning for about 36 hours... LOL Dell, glad to see you're doing ok on the new treatment!
Results of my brain scan today...... don't think they'll find anything in there (brain-wise, anyway). I've got chemo brain so bad, I stop in the middle of sentences because I can't remember names, etc. Hummm.... wonder if I'm just 59 and losing it anyway !?!?!
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LOL TK. My kids keep telling me to stop trying to blame the chemo for my "old" age (and I'm only 48)
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GOOD NEWS! Brain MRI didn't show anything, except the skull mets, which we knew, but no brain lesions or vascular problems, so this droopy left eye and blurred vision is probably a weird SE of the chemo (I'm very good at weird SE's....why not!) And, when the doc said the scan showed nothing, I laughed and said "My husband could have told you that and saved our insurance $1800!"
He said it looks like my first two cycles of Avastin/Abraxane are working, but we'll do a 3rd and probably 4th before we scan again (2 more months). Got my first Xgeva shot today, so will let you gals know if it hurts as bad and Zometa.... hope not!
We are actually off to Virginia Beach for a little vacation... haven't had one in a long time!
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AWESOME! Enjoy the waves!
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MemaSue56:
I am on a Xeloda (oral) and Taxotere (infusion) regiment right now (for mets to liver mainly but have mets to bones also). I am doing three, three week cycles (am currently in my second round of these cycles) and get a PET scan on my off week when I finish the third cycle (it that makes any sense). I get my infusion on a Tuesday and finish my oral meds the next day on Wednesday and then, the following week, I get my scan to evaluate my response to the chemo. So, my scans are pretty quick after chemo.
Welcome (unfortunately) but everyone here is GREAT for whatever you need, information, venting, support, just everything, as I'm sure you're finding out.
Treso
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Second Hand Smoke:
I can't find "post a new thread" which I've done before so, I don't know what my problem is so, I'm just posting a reply.
I will be visiting some friends next month who are heavy smokers. I am very concerned about second hand smoke and mets to my lungs. I currently have mets to my bones and liver and am doing chemo right now (and responding well, yea!). Does anyone else have this particular worry and what are everyone's thoughts on being around second hand smoke in or out of treatment? Does wearing a mask help? Right now, I just avoid by leaving the room, etc. This may be difficult when visiting since 5 out of 6 people smoke. Ugh!
Treso
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wvdebbie: I am TN and have mets as well. Although your oncologist is probably right, you definitely need to get a second and probably third opinion from someone who's experienced with TN. For me, Cisplatin and Gemcitibine worked really well (even though the mets came back after I stopped). And lots of people are having great success with the PARPs (I hope to be one of them!) However, there are many different types of TNBC so what works for one person may not work for another. I try to find people who have had same responses to me. For example, I was initially treated with AC/D and it did nothing - my primary tumor doubled in size while on this protocol. Since then, I've tried to find people who have the same response, particularly to AC and see what has worked for them since. For me, if I find something that works again I will stay on that for as long as my body can take.
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Treso: I'm sorry that your friends are not a little more empathetic to you... BUT, yes, wearing a mask will help alot, even if it is a pain (and may make them a little more self-conscience!). And go outside frequently and do deep breathing to get the 'good air' into you and flush the bad air. Focus on your breathing and say to yourself, breath in the good air, breath out any bad air and toxins I have in me. It works!!
I have to laugh; I flew on vacation this week, and being on chemo, I should be a little more self-aware, but I didn't even think about it. There was a lady sitting in front of me wearing a mask, and I asked her if she was 'immunocompromised", and she laughed and said no, she flies a lot and has picked up a lot of viruses on planes from people, and she's just gotten in the habit of wearing a mask to keep from getting all the colds and flues! LOL!
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Hi all: Even though I had hoped to be at the end of my journey by now, I am only at the beginning. At first I was Stage II until surgery; then was told Stage III; then after a PET scan, Stage IV (bone mets to humerous and hip--guess those two can't be amputated!) I had the fast track ACT regiment over 16 weeks: adriamyacin and cytoxin together (YUCK!) and then Taxol. Also am on Zometa for the bones every 12 weeks. Just finished Taxol yesterday. Now the Oncologist says I may have more chemo depending on what the next CT/PET scan shows. To be determined.... I am delighted to have found this support site!!
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Dear Mary, holy cow, that sounds like a whirlwind. those PET scans will either make you feel safer or find some stuff.
In my case, the drama from last fall's PET hasn't caused me to become I'll in any huge way like I feared I might. Mostly fatigue and chemo side effects. In fact, it allowed me to retire and I am enjoying the good days more than I would in a daily job grind. (plenty of people find working is better for them)
please keep talking hear and share your wisdom with us.
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Mary: Sorry you have to join us, but we're a great group!!! We are all over the place, as far as treatments, so you can see from just this thread what each type of treatment is like for each of us, what some new stuff is out there, etc. And we're all still fighting and living each day to the fullest. Don't be hesitant to ask any questions of us... we like to talk!
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I started my 2nd round of Xeloda today.....I am doing the 14 days on, 7 days off. So far no SEs. Along with this I am getting herceptin since my change in tumor status from HER2- to +. I will be getting the herceptin again next week since they have me on the three week schedule, but they are going to have to change that since the time after this next one would fall right in the middle of vacation. And I still get the xgeva once a month.
The eyebrows I lost on halaven are growing back and the hair that is starting to grow back is dark.....for sure this will be a new look....white hair (that's what did not fall out) with dark roots.
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Sounds like you're doing great, Marybe! Such good news! And for sure on the hair too ! A 'reverse" frosting look will look really neat ! Mine still can't decide to stay or go... one day there's 40 hairs in the sink, the next day none. Time will tell, but so far, it's staying stable.
Glad no S/E's.... I didn't have many on Xeloda either except my taste buds and food not tasting right, but we have lived through that with others so we know we just shut up and eat it anyway.
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Hi All and welcome WVDebbie....sorry to hear your plight, but as the rest say, this is a great site. Neulasta is a bitch...glad Claritin works for you, but I'm not seeing where anyone adds tylenol or ibuprophen. I take Benedryl and 2 Ibu's and it really, really helps me with those nasty se's. Plus, it helps me sleep.
Saw my Onco, she agreed to 3 weeks b4 the Pet scan, but no longer. I'm OK with that. Also had a MUGA scan, as the Herceptin is VERY toxic to the heart. It was not a good report, so inside of 48 hrs back on the road to Vegas to see a Cardiologist. ALL good news tho, my heart palpatations normal and when they are bothersome, REST. Scared the bejeesus out of me and my husband tho.
ONE more Chemo for me on 9-6, then she says, Herceptin every 3 weeks and will maintain the xgeva, or was it the neulasta (damn chemo brain) once a month. Am still planning on getting 2nd opinion b4 the surgery those here are recommending. I kno these babies have to come off, but want to make sure radiation is not needed for the bone mets 1st or along with. With everything I've read on this and other threads....I REALLY think a 2nd opinion is a good idea for everyone.
Positive, BC-kicking thoughts to everyone!
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MemaSue it will be the xgeva that you continue (that's for the bones - the neulasta is for low wbc usually caused by chemo).
Welcome Mary. This is a great place to get answers if you have question or just to vent if you need.0
