Chemotherapy for Stage IV
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What about anastrozole? It seemed to help me but after 1 year I had to quit due to se. I pray that you will find the treatment that works
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Hi Julie, I was stage iv from the getgo and the first treatment I got was faslodex and aromasin. I was only on that for about three months and scans showed progression so onc decided on IV chemo - taxol - which I've been on ever since. In retrospect, knowing what I know now from others experiences on this board, I'd have questioned why he didn't give the fas/aroma combi a longer run and then have tried other hormonals before starting chemo. I'm very glad that I'm stable now but I'm extremely limited energywise which is a se of chemo. On the otherhand perhaps the cancer was galloping around my body and IV chemo was needed to halt it. I didn't know anything and my onc discourages questions. You're so right to gather as much info as you can before you make any decisions. Sorry for rambling but just wanted to share my experience for what it's worth. I hope you get a treatment plan that works for you. Hugs
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jnh,
I was initially diagnosed in 2007 with stage 2 bc. Went through surgery, chemo, and radiation. Was cancer free until 2013. I was diagnosed with mets to bones and liver. I have been on numerous different chemo drugs. It seems like a drug will work for 3-4 months then stop.
Most recently, I got changed to Doxil. I have had one treatment....wasn't bad☺️ I had slight nausea and fatigue, but it was very manageble.
I am scheduled to have treatment 2 on December 4. I like having it every 4 weeks... The last drug I was on was weekly.
Hugs and prayers to you.
Tammy
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Tammy and anyone else who has had it, how did you fare on Doxil? I told my onc on Monday I wanted to explore stopping treatment with him (I've had it, as in I am sick of this *&$%) and he suggested putting me on Doxil after the first of the year (I'm now on Abraxane with many SEs). Anyway, would appreciate any info.
xxoxoox
Calico
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CalicoCat- I sure hear you.I have been there and not had as many different meds as you. Hang in there until after the holidays and then maybe the Doxil ( which I know very little) I see new group of MO soon so praying for new ways to treat this monster disease . Hugs coming your way right now.
.
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I hear your frustration!
My first treatment was not bad. Only slight nausea, which was easily managed with zofran or phenergan. I was tired on and off. My white count did drop. With it being cold and flu season, I got the respiratory crud going around. Had treatment number 2 on Friday. So far, so good. Oh, I also had a little constipation that stool softener took care of. All in all, it was not bad.
Don't give up!
Much love and hugs to you! Please keep me posted.
Tammy
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Hi, Tammy and Grammy, thank you so much for your supportive posts in December. I had my chemo holiday and felt so much better after not having the bloody poison (attitude problem?
) after 3 weeks. Had my first Doxil 2 weeks ago and it's been smooth sailing except for one day where I was up, then down, then up, then down in terms of energy. My only concern at this early stage (so to speak) is that I think I'm AGAIN getting the dreaded hand and foot syndrome that I got in spades on Xeloda (not everybody gets this). I was so glad to get off of that stuff so they would heal.
What's great about the Doxil is it's only once a month, not once a WEEK like the Abraxane, which I found really oppressive, mostly because it takes me an hour on a bad mountain road just to get to the onc's.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and hope your New Year is going well.
xoxoxoxoxo
Calico
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Oh, by the way, looking for a little advice on the old constipation issue. I've tried various regimens with Sennokot (laxative and stool softener) and the effect wasn't very good. I'd be plugged up for 4 days, then be real uncomfortable for 2 days, then all heck would break loose for about 3 days. Sorry if this is TMI. Onc nurses haven't been a whole lot of help. Any suggestions?
xoxoxoxo
Calico
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Calico, glad to hear Doxil is going okay so far. I hear you on less frequent tx, I go twice every 3 weeks, plus 3 more times after 1st tx for the Neupogen shots (I'm on Carbo/Gemzer).
Anyway I also have constipation, but not as bad as you. I start taking Sennekot a day before my infusion. I take 2 pills each night and continue for several nights. I force myself to hydrate (which seems difficult first few days after tx). I also eat prunes or drink some diluted prune juice. And try to eat lots of fruit.
Always have to balance to not go too far the other way
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Calico,
I had constipation issues. The first 2 treatments I used a stool softener and all was ok. But the third treatment gave me horrible constipation. I used miralax. It worked great!
Unfortunately, after three treatments, my time with doxil is up
I developed ascites (fluid collecting in my abdomen). I had to have it drained yesterday. I will have a liver biopsy on Monday and pet on Tuesday. My onc fears either progression or current tumor growth.
I liked doxil....especially since it was once a month. Good luck to you and I hope you get to use it for many cycles!
Hugs and prayers
Tammy
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Oh Tammy...I'm so sorry to hear about the ascites & am hoping you're feeling ok after having the fluid drained. I will be hoping & praying for your biopsy & scan to be clean next week...and if your oncs thoughts are realized, then there's another treatment waiting & maybe it will be the magic one that sends bad cells packing! In the meantime...I'm thinking of you
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Tammy, will be thinking and praying for you on your biopsy and PET. Hugs and healing thoughts.
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I know this maybe a repeat question but, Has anyone had fevers the night and day after Navelbine? I am on my 5th or 6th dose and have had a fever of 99 to 101.8 , I felt ok except for felt like I had a fever. Advil brings it down. Of course I forgot to ask onc about it last week.
Thanks for any info!
Redroan
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I'm not the n that chemo, but my onc always tells me to call her if I get a fever.
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Redroan...wow! You just jogged my memory...yes! I remember getting low grade fevers a few times, after starting Navelbine. I really can't remember timing too well, but it was early on. I started nav/perj/hercep mid Jan 2013 & remember getting fevers before going to CA in March (was worried I was getting sick!). They were just under & right at 100.5, which was the # when I needed to call onc office. It was late at night & I called, but never had to go in. I may have taken ibuprophen. It was frightening, but only happened a few times. Sorry to sound wishy washy but that was 2 years ago....chemo brain???? It didn't last long, so may be our bodies acclimating to a new poison...albeit one that works
Hope the fevers go away along w/the pesky cells!!!0 -
Redroan, no experience yet with Navelbine, but know it's on the list for future. Other than fevers, how are you tolerating it? What other s/e?
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Anyone experience muscle pain/spasms while on Adria? I find it's gradually getting worse; my calcium/magn levels are fine.
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Hi SyrMom, are you getting Neulasta injections the day after? My MO suggests Claritin 1 hour before the injection for muscle aches and bone pain. I did not have that problem, but Neulasta and Taxol, Wow! That combo dropped me flat with pain everywhere. I switched up to Tylenol with codeine to control that. My last dose of Neulasta I only had 1/2 the dose because of the pain. Sorry I can't help you more.
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RonnieKay and Syrmom , Thank you for your input, I have been tolerating the navelbane great. No nausea , no increased bone pain. I still have my hair, Of course I am exhausted but thats ok. I still go to work every day during the week and crash on the weekends. I just hope it keeps working, Markers have gone down and I hope they keep on doing there thing.
Redroan
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Redroan, wow, that's fantastic, so glad to hear you are tolerating well.
Beachbum, no neulasta yet, but thanks for the input.
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Thanks so much, ReadingMama and Tammy, for your advice. I will keep your suggestions in mind.
I went out of town last weekend to visit family and decided not to take the Sennekot every day since the one thing it does give me is lots of gas. When I noticed I was constipated, I took one dose of 3 pills at night (my normal regimen has been 3 pills in AM and 3 pills in PM with little success), and all went well the next day. So I think I'll just forget about taking the Sennekot routinely every day, and only use it when I'm uncomfortable, and see how things evolve for a few weeks.
Take care and thank you!
Calico
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Thanks so much, ReadingMama and Tammy, for your advice. I will keep your suggestions in mind.
I went out of town last weekend to visit family and decided not to take the Sennekot every day since the one thing it does give me is lots of gas. When I noticed I was constipated, I took one dose of 3 pills at night (my normal regimen has been 3 pills in AM and 3 pills in PM with little success), and all went well the next day. So I think I'll just forget about taking the Sennekot routinely every day, and only use it when I'm uncomfortable, and see how things evolve for a few weeks.
Take care and thank you!
Calico
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So very sorry, Tammy, about the ascites. I'd never heard of this malady until just recently. Don't even know how to pronounce it. I guess it's pretty common for this part of the trail. At least now I know to watch out for it.
I'm only 2 weeks into my first Doxil treatment, but what I notice already is that my breathing is getting more labored. I had a full pulmonary work-up, and the pulmo said that my absorption of oxygen was poor, and that that was caused by the chemo I'm getting and also the radiation to the chest in 2007. I'd heard that lung problems (aside from mets) can arise years after getting chest radiation, but hoped I'd miss that bullet. Not so.
Thank you and seeing the next chemo helping you immensely!
xoxooxoxox
Calico
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Hey everyone!
The paracentesis (removal of fluid in my abdomen) wasn't too bad. Gave me some relief! I had the liver biopsy this past Monday. I am really excited about this. My onc is sending it off for genetic testing. So hopefully they will be able to match the tumor with the correct chemo. Please pray this turns out to be as promising as it sounds! It's been a rough two weeks. And I am ready to settle down a bit. My scan was Tuesday. Hopefully, I will get all results next week. Prayers!
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CalicoCat- Yes, Senokot can be harsh and cause bad cramps. Personally I took prune juice - yuk and stool softeners. You may even need a suppository if it gets bad(yes w/a rubber glove you can do it- ha) I had shortness of breath on n off for 6 months after chest RADS , I finally got them to give me an inhaler and an occasional Lorazepam. Hugs and prayers.
TCallegan- Prayers for a good scan result.Hope the belly tap holds things a while. I used to assist w/those things back in my nursy days.
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As I expected, the "Red Devil" Adriamycin, has failed me. Had the worse scan results I've ever had. Progression in spinal mets and liver mets; old liver mets bigger & mult new ones have moved in. I'm grateful that so far no other major organ is showing new mets. However, the onc basically said in so many words, he didn't know how I was functional based on the "wow" of my scan results!!
So, suppose to move on to Halaven, once approved. It better be approved!! Was shot down b4, but that was b4 Doxil & Adria. So, welcoming all tips on dealing with Halaven. I understand the neuropathy can get really bad enough to have to discontinue it. I already have neuropathy from taxol. What about nails? Hair? Big C or Big D? Nausea?
Thank you.
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SyrMom...I'm so sorry for this news...I know you were somewhat expecting "not good news," but...dang. It sounds like you're strong, surprising your dr with how well you're doing (and on red devil!)....so keep it up! Hope you get lots of input onnew meds. Did you do Navelbine? Maybe it's not good for spine mets...it blasted my liver mets. Thinking of you.
Tammy...Youve had a big week and it'll be awesome if the tissue gives insight into the right treatment! Absolutely...prayers for good news!!!
Calico...I forgot to add my 2cents on constipation. I have diastasis (thinned stomach lining) from my diep flap & the specialist I saw said to eat organic prunes to prevent constipation. It helps that I like prunes, and they work great! I like trying something natural (shock my body!). Hope it's better.
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Ronnie - navelbine has been mentioned in the past, so I know it's on the list of possibilities for the future. Has it caused any neuropathy for you? I already have it from taxol, so I'm worried I won't last long on the Halaven.
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Hi, SyrMom, I was on Navelbine and didn't have any neuropathy issues with it. The only SE I got was fatigue. I wanted to sleep all the time. Not a great SE, but not the worst, by far. My next stop after Doxil is Halaven. I've gotten bad neuropathy from the Abraxane (taxol with a fat molecule attached), and the Halaven does worry me because of that.
xoxoxoxoxox
Calico
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Yep..got neuropathy in my toes & fingertips from navel, but not for about 1.5 years. If you already have it..navel may add to it
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