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Chemotherapy for Stage IV

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Comments

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited July 2013

    Yay Pad I get that, mine is next week......how many more do you have?

  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Blondie: I asked my onc about the longterm treatment plan last month.  I will keep on Abraxane until it is not effective or my body cannot process it.  There are some chemo drugs I haven't been tried on too.  He said when it comes down to quality of life issues, I will stop treatment.  He told me he couldn't cure me.  He then said my blood work looked great as far as liver, CBC and so on.  My tumor marker rose last month, so we'll have to see what it does this month.  It rose only 5 points.  It's hasn't gone down to normal range yet on the Abraxane.  We'll see.  Been a long haul.  Jean

  • bestock
    bestock Member Posts: 186
    edited July 2013

    First time on this tread. I am so encouraged by the attitudes here and the progress made. I have liver mets.

    Paddidle how has abraxene been? I had to change because of facial neuropathy... now xeloda, which is okay most of the time now that I have regulated SE's

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    I have not posted much on this site but I have a site I found that the topic is:  Did anybody else see this?  It is very interesting and thought that anyone that is Stage IV or actually anyone might be interested in going to and reading about a new drug that sounds promising.  They have suggested writing letters to Pfizer so that they may do a clinical trial on it.  I believe they are already using it in Europe to treat breast cancer and having good luck with it.  It sounds so much better than chemo and if they could get this approved it would be great for lots of us.  They actually have a couple doctors posting on it, I think they are researchers, I am not sure but please visit it and read about it.  The more of us that write letters to the company, they just may listen.  Thanks everyone. 

  • Believe4Life
    Believe4Life Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2013

    jeanieb2, very interesting but where is the link?

  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 441
    edited July 2013

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/806200?page=3#idx_72

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    Believe4Lif - The topic is called:  Did anybody else see this?  that is what I found it under, I hope you can find it, if not let me know and I will look further, right now I am having trouble with stuff loading, it is taking sooooo long before it comes up, but I will look when I can and see if I can find anything else, I just know the topic is called:  Did anybody else see this? so hopefully you can pull it up that way.

  • Believe4Life
    Believe4Life Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2013

    Jeanieb2 - thanks! I saw it. I also posted a whole thread on it I think back then... Very promising!

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    Believe4Lif - You are welcome.  I hope lots of people see this and can write letters.

    blainejennifer - I did not realize that what you posted was the site to click on, thanks for putting that on here. 

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited July 2013

    Has anybody had shortness of breath with Taxotere?

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    blondiex46 - I can not say I have had shortness of breath but sometimes it feels that way for me but I think it is from the pounding heart I get with it sometimes.  If it persists I would certainly call the doctor, I thought I read that you could retain fluids from this and would not want to let it go if it should be something like that.  Hope you are feeling better and that it goes away soon.  Keep us posted oh how you are doing.

  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Blondie:   I did taxotere in 2000, and did not have the shortness of breath.  I see you have mets to lungs.  To be on the safe side, should you mention it to your onc?  Jean

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited July 2013

    thanks guys that is what I was told also.....got the oxygen finally, getting the test tomorrow angiogram to see if I have a bloood clot in my lung, they have no idea what the shortness of breath.....

  • marywh
    marywh Member Posts: 1,433
    edited July 2013

    Good luck Blondie. Will be thinking about you.

  • M360
    M360 Member Posts: 164
    edited July 2013

    Blondiex46,

    I'm not on Taxotere, but I had shortness of breath and then when doing chemo had a real sharp pain in lung area.  Had a PET Scan and it showed 2 pulmonary embolisms.  Last week had x-rays and CAT Scan and it showed they have stayed the same even on shots every 12 hours.  So now I have to take them for six months.  

    What I found is that any of us that have Stage IV Cancer can throw clots causing shortness of breath.  

    I'm glad you're getting things checked out, I hope for the best and that it's not a clot these da** injections are not something I look forward to every day and wouldn't wish them on my worse enemy!

    Let all of us know how things go.  

  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    I had a blood clot in the neck from my port weeks ago.  I had to have 18 shots (one a day), in my stomach.  My poor husband gave me the shots.  He felt bad doing it.  I did my best and tried to suck it up so it wouldn't make him feel so bad.  I was one happy gal to finish those shots.  It's not that the insertion of the needle was so bad, but the medicine has a slight sting going in that lasts a few minutes.  I'm not too good with needles anyway.  Oh, the things we go through.  Jean

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited July 2013

    Ok update, went for CT scan yesterday and no blood clot in the lung but plurual effusion in both lungs but they are saying not the reason I can't breathe....have oxygren in my room which is ware I spend all of my time. The Onc is is now sending me to the lung specialist, he will call him on monday and set up an appt....until then use the oxygen...even to sleep, it usually doesn't both me unless I am excerting myself.

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    I was wondering if anyone has had a problem with their eyes on Xeloda and Taxotere.  I have had a couple of times where I see double, I will cover one eye and see fine, cover the other eye and see fine, but with both eyes I see double and it lasts around 5 minutes or so.  I have also had a problem with my eyes twitching, and where they are blurry in just one spot and like there is a black piece over a small section of what I am looking at.  This is hard to describe so I did the best I could, I just wondered if anyone is having trouble with their eyes on these two drugs.  I have been on Xeloda since September 2011 and Taxotere was added on September 2012.

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited July 2013

    nope not me with either one!!!

  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    jeanieb2:  Have never been on Xeloda, but have done Taxotere.  Did not experience double/blurry vision. 

    blondie:  Hope they find out what is causing your SOB. 

    Keep us posted.

    Jean

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2013

    Thanks blondieX46 and Padiddle for your response.  I see the onco on Thursday and will ask then what he thinks is going on.

  • roderick_e_lorenzo
    roderick_e_lorenzo Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2013

    Hi Marybe,

             My mother is stage 4 breast and ovarian. After 5 years on letrozole it is back . Dr giving her xeloda now-  2 times ( 2  )  a day for 2 weeks  then rest.  You have given  us hope. If you may  share with  us how we can also be blessed with such  time .. I just found this website and  it is giving me hope that my mom may be all  like  all of you who is continously  fighting and winning .. 

  • prayerforhealing
    prayerforhealing Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    Hello....I am getting ready to try a new drug.....Ixempra....anyone had this before??? How were your side effects??? Did you have good results???

    thanks so much!

  • Padiddle
    Padiddle Member Posts: 139
    edited August 2013

    Prayerforhealing:  I haven't had that particular drug.  Hopefully, someone will chime in who has experience with it.  Jean

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited August 2013

    Prayerforhealing - my onco says it causes a lot a fatigue, in some people. I hope it's your magic bullet!

  • jeanieb2
    jeanieb2 Member Posts: 130
    edited August 2013

    prayerforhealing - I know there is a site on here for that.  I was on the Xeloda site with Chickadee, a year or so ago, and I think she started this or is on it now.  I do not know how to search for things on here but I am sure you do.  You might try it and see what you can find.  Good luck.

  • marywh
    marywh Member Posts: 1,433
    edited August 2013

    Im on Ixempra now. It is a pretty rough chemo, although it seems to be working well. Will know for sure after next infusion when I get my scans done.

  • OBXK
    OBXK Member Posts: 689
    edited August 2013

    Mary - is it TAC bad or worse? I am putting off taking it, due to the neuropathy and fatigue. I feel so good right now, not ready to feel poisoned :0



    The xtandi trial I am up for, causes fatigue too - and a whole list of other nice SEs.



    Wishing everyone a good week!

  • nfz15
    nfz15 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    Hi all..my mother has recetly been.diagnosed with stage iv BC..with mets to her bones almost each and every bone.of her body and so to the lungs bilaterally but wuth no respiratory symptoms..i wanted ti ask that the doctors have given radiatiob to her hip joint and shoulder joint and after radiation she feels alot of pain in her right arm.and feels as if the arm.and hand has weakened and not workig priperly..so is this normal?? It has been.3 weeks now..and i aldo wanted ti ask that her lung mets and the new nodule formation on.her chest wall.is too small for a biopsy to.be done and the doctors have decided ti give a hormonal trial of 8 week and then.decide if ti continue with hormonal.or.give chemo so.is this ok to.this??she previously has history of bilateral mastectomy 6 yrs back and she toom tamoxifen for 5yrs and then stoppd..plzz do reply..im.v worried for my mom

  • marywh
    marywh Member Posts: 1,433
    edited August 2013

    Karen, lots of bone pain,fatigue, a little nausea. But its working on those pesky chest wall mets, which is a good thing. Ive had 3 infusions and will go in for my scans after my next infusion on the 19th. mo says I will be on it forever or until it quits working. It keeps me dowm about a week.

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