Abraxane
Comments
-
today was the beginning of round two for me. I did have a 100 deg fever and my red blood cells were kind of low. My choice was to stay on the 170 dose with weekly neulesta shots. Go down 20% and stay three weeks on and one off or maybe I can do two weeks on one off if I need to.
I of course have never heard one good thing about neulesta! I have only heard horror stories of the bone pain you can't hardly stand! I went down 20% so am now getting 140 dose.
My liver numbers in my blood work both came down some. Not huge drops but I don't care I'll take any drop! My dr said this is a good sign that it is working and he is happy to see it dropping.
I'm a bit more tired and still ache so bad. Shooting pains in knees and that seems to happen the day I get chemo. I also had a Lupron shot to keep me in menopause and xegeva shot aswell. So all and all lots of needles!
I do take ginger tablets everyday and have had no nausea on any of my treatments yet.
I'll keep you posted how the rest of the week is going.
My hair was getting so thin and felt so gross I shaved it off yesterday morning. It was funny! I shaved it and went in to wake up my daughter and scared her! At least we laughed a little before I cried!
Sarah
0 -
Hi Sarah! Just checking on you today. I hope the side effects haven't been too bad this time. Yay for the drop in your liver #'s. Any drop is a good drop.
I know the nulasta can be harsh. I had it for 9 months a couple of years ago during my last iv chemo regimin. It seemed to get a little easier to tolerate after a few months, although the leg pain was still there. Not sure if I'll need it this time or not. Will have to see what blood counts look like next week.
Is this the first time you've lost your hair? I buzzed mine off last weekend for the 3rd time. It was a little less traumatic, but I still avoid looking in the mirror.
Hoping you have a good weekend.....😊
Bridge
0 -
hi all! I’m doing pretty good so far! I have been go go go. I still work four days a week, miss one bc of chemo.
I did get naproxen for my aches and pains and omg it has helped me tons!
This is the first time I lost my hair. I was diagnosed March 2016 de novo stage v. I had ibrance/ Femara and Xeloda and now abraxane. It was so hard to shave my head but I’m always so worried about what I look like. I told my bf he would never see me bald but I can’t wait to take off my cap or wig when I’m home. I feel I look old without the hair And I’m only approaching 47. I bought quite a few wigs and then these ball caps with attached hair. The ball caps are the bomb. So easy to throw on and go. Wigs are chep on eBay. I figured if I dont like them I’ll just donate them to the cancer society.
Hope everyone else is doing well.
Have a great weekend!
Sara
0 -
Hi. I just started Abraxane a few weeks ago, so today was #2 of my second cycle, three weeks on, one off. It looks like I’m on schedule with a few of you.I’m coming off of 15 months of xeloda. Did you guys see good results in your markers after your first cycle? I just found out mine went up from last check, which was a few weeks before I started the Abraxane. I’m trying not to freak out because of course I want it to work! My MO said it could be cell die off so I’m trying to staying hopeful.
My hair is very thinned out but haven’t had the chutzpah t shave it yet.
Hope you are all feeling good today!
0 -
hi girlwithacurl! I sure am jealous you got that long on Xeloda. I do think it was working for me but numbers jumped some and the doctors freaked. It all led to time off Xeloda, second and third opinion and of course the Mets then grew in my liver.
I held on to my hair for five weeks. It thinned pretty bad and felt really gross so shaved it off. I left some stubble so it wasn’t as hard on my going to bald bald. I still have my stubble but hairs still fall out!
My markers don’t seem to be checked as often as they were in Xeloda. And they don’t run full blood panels either. Seems each week they check mostly to make sure my red and white numbers are high enough to take abraxane. I just started round two last Wednesday and had bloodwork and the ast alp and alt for liver are dropping some.
It sounds like after three full rounds then I’ll have a scan. I am so hoping to get all three weeks this round. I can tell my red or white count is low bc I don’t walk far or do much and I’m whooped.
Day two, three and four I really couldn’t taste food. It didn’t taste nasty like some say just no flavor at all.
Gracie did u get abraxane today?
My lashes and brows are still holding. How bout everyone else?
I still have to shave my legs too, blah!
Sarah
0 -
Hi! Yes I got third week of round two.
My tumor markers went up instead of down at first check. Onc said don’t be surprised if they are up a little this round two. He’s hoping at round three they will start to go down. I’ll havd scans after round three anyway soo will get some answers.
Girlwitgscurl, don’t freak out yet. Could be tumor die off.
Went out and worked in the yard when I got home from treatment. Way overdue it. Heart rate was way way up, and haven’t been able to get it down under 80 since!!! Yikes!!! Now that scares me
0 -
Hi Skitzblitz! We are almost exactly on the same schedule! I hope your numbers are good enough to get your three weeks in. My eyebrows are fine so far but my lashes seem a bit skimpy. But that might be lupron doing that too. So far Abraxane has felt pretty easy, just some upset tummy, so I want it to work! I hate the waiting and not knowing part! We will do tumor markers again a time the beginning of cycle three
My thigh hair never came back after original chemo and my lower legs barely grow hair from lupron but my knees! So hairy!
0 -
Thank you Gracie, that eases my mind. I hope you feel better and get some good rest tonight.
Hope it’s tumor die off for both of us
0 -
update!
Well I did get chemo yesterday so I made week two of round two at the reduced dose. I really thought my red or white blood cells would have been to low. Chemo was at 7:30 am and I then went to work all day.
I am the lucky one to get the side effects of shooting pains. Mostly in my knees but sometimes in my hips. That lasts about two days and I’m ok.
Food has no taste a good three days. Hard to eat when u don’t know what you want. Nothing sounds to great.
I’ll keep plugging along
0 -
Skitzblitz, glad you got the infustion! I hope the weekend was good to you and you are feeling well.
0 -
hi everybody. Hope all is dong okay. I need some help and advice. I’m stage 4 mets. My last pet scan was not good. My oncologist wants me to now do iv chemo. I’ve never done that before. Just was on letrozole. Then Ibrance and fasoldex shots. Now I have to get abraxane. 3 weeks on 1 week off. I am scared to death. Don’t know how I will feel. First next week I have to get a port put in. Which I’m also scared to do. Then the following week start treatment. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it very much. You can email me at. rjl58@hotmail.com. Thanks. Rhond
0 -
Rhonda, I know it’s scary but abraxane is really pretty tolerable, especially the first couple months. I had pre-meds with mine due to bad reactions to taxotere and taxol but after 5 months of weekly infusions with 1 dose reduction due to neuropathy in fingertips, it reduced my breast tumor to just a patch of cells and pretty much resolved by bone lesion too. You can do this.
0 -
Rhonda, you will be glad to have a port. I had mine put in while I was having another surgery done so I don't remember the procedure but it healed up fine and I had my first chemo about ten days later.
0 -
Rhonda,
Abraxane is a good treatment. Very effective, with minimal side effects. I think you'll look back, several years from now, and really appreciate it.
You are going to love the port too. It makes getting chemo much easier, and you get to use both your hands during treatment. It seems such a little detail, but makes the time in the chair more convenient.
Don't fear chemo. I found that chemo was easier on me than some of the anti-hormonal treatments.
0 -
Hi, Rhonda,
I’m in the same boat! I saw my oncologist today and because my tumor is growing so rapidly just within the last two weeks he wants to start me on Abraxane. I’ve been on Ibrance and letrozole since January as a first line treatment. I was originally scheduled for chemo and had a port put in but then they found the bone mets. It was an outpatient surgery and I love having it for blood draws and zometa infusions and now for chemo. I take my knitting or my kindle and just sit back and relax. Do what you need to do to feel better - research, asking questions, relaxing, exercising, etc - to help you move forward
0 -
thank you for the help. I hope that I’ll will be able to look back in a few years. Getting the port put in on Wednesday. Then quess I’ll start treatment the following week. Still scared though. But have no choice but to do it.
0 -
Hi. Than you for your advice. How are you doing on the abraxane? Are the side effects real bad. are you able to function and have some kind of normal life on the chemo. Any other stuff will be good to know. Thanks rhond
0 -
Hi Rhonda,
I started Abraxane three months ago and will be starting my fourth month this coming Tuesday. I had never had infusion chemo before either. I did have the xeloda (pills) for a while but the side effects to my hands and feet were not good so the doc took me off of it and put me on Kisqali. I did that for three or four months and then had a scan and the Mets to bones were worse. So hence the Abraxane. The worst side effect I've had has been fatigue. I also see a Naturopathic oncologist and she has me on some supplements helping me with colon health and neuropathy. So far I've had no neuropathy. A little diarrhea usually about the 3rd treatment but it has cleared up quickly. I'm still barrel racing and trying to keep my horses and myself in good condition. When I had the port put in I had my first treatment the next day. The treatment went fine. I just had some tenderness in that area for a week or two. So all in all the abraxane has been ok for me. I'll have a scan at the end of this cycle and hopefully I'll get some good news!
So I realized after I posted this that I had A few more side effects than I remembered. My memory is not so good these days. When I feel good I forget the bad stuff! Ha ha! So at times I have muscle soreness in my back and quads mainly. Sometimes in my hips but not sure if that is arthritis or what? Also my nailbeds hurt when I press on them. Oh and food has had no taste at times after treatment. It's weird putting food in your mouth and not being able to taste it. My NPO suggested to try spicier Foods and spices and thought that might be helpful. Also boy am I forgetful! I try to think of a word and it just won't come. Eventually I do get but it can bevery frustrating!
Chris
0 -
Thank you for your uplifting post! It’s good to hear good results!
0 -
hi all,
looking for some help here!! so I made full dose abraxane round one for two weeks. my blood cells counts tanked so they reduced dose by 20%. my liver blood work numbers went down some. I then did round two and made all three weeks at a reduced dose. went in for blood work and my alp is down a tad, ast is up from 80 to 101 and the alt is up from 34 to 37. my tumor markers went up from 96.8 to 165.5. so has anyone had this happen? again this is after round two. I started rough three now and my blood counts were low so doctor really feels I wont prob make all three week. I di have a scan after the three weeks.
thanks for the help. wondering if I should just go back to two weeks full dose again and two off. scan will tell im sure. just wondering if anyone had similar issues.
thanks
sarah
0 -
Sarah, my blood counts rose the first round at full strength. My onc wasn't worried, he said they see that alot. He even said don't be surprised if they go up further the second month. They wouldn't get worried until after the third round. Well last time my markers finally went down. They dropped mine by 10% because I was sick and neuropathy was already getting bad. So we'll see how! It goes this month. Hang in there, it's possible it's tumor flare! Let us know how you do!
0 -
thanks gracie, they didn't seem over worried just do a scan to make sure. the scan is a month earlier than they said but after missing progression to my liver on ibrance they are over cautious now.
thanks
sarah
0 -
I’m on my 29th weekly treatment with Abraxane combined with Lynparza. I had excellent results early on but my pet scan yesterday showed lots of new liver mats and ascites in my pelvis that wasn’t there before. We started Carboplatin yesterday inhopes that we will get a good response from that.
I had very little hair after a treatment of gym/carb that left me with renal failure in December. Luckily kidneys rebounded by using the keto diet and are now back at normal function. My hair has been growing back on abraxane and now I’ve got a 1 inch pixie cut. I’m hoping it keeps going through the carbo since I’ve already lost it twice (once with my initial diagnosis in 2016 and again with my stage IV diagnosis in 2018). The doctors didn’t think think id make it until Christmas but here I am praying to join the ladies who are 5 and 10 years out with this stuff. With a 5 and 6 year old at home, I’ve got to do everything i can!
0 -
Wow, Rachel, that’s a lot to go through with young ones at home. I hope to not be on this for too long but I’ll know more with my next MO appointment in two weeks. Do you have any neuropathy from this? I’m waiting for my freeze socks to come in so I can try them. I watch my grandchildren every day and my disabled son plus I crochet, knit and garden so I really would like to avoid it if possible. I’m sure you’ll be here for this Christmas and many more!
0 -
I had my first dose of Abraxane today. This is after I progressed with growing liver spots on Carboplatin. I did have a great response to Cisplatin in May when my liver was full of cancer and my bilirubin was through the roof (got to 19) I had good scans but then I switched to Carbo as my hearing was beginning to be affected. However, Carbo hasn't proved to be as good. My liver markers and bilirubin are almost normal its just the progression showing up in my recent Pet scan. Hoping for good things.
I am lookin forward to reading all your advice.
Sarah
0 -
I have just did week two of round three. My bloodwork is stinking. All numbers are low. I went to the nutritionist yet again and I’m like a walking pill box. My doctor said if I wanted I could get a blood transfusion to help. I passed!
The neuropathy hasn’t been an issue. Once in awhile a bit numb in my feet but, knock on wood, it passes.
Cat scan in three weeks. I hoping this is working. Hard to go through all this and it doesn’t work! I just get so achey I can’t stand it and nothing seems to help that.
Will keep you posted.
Ssrah
0 -
I had my second dose of my first round of Abraxane yesterday. And so far I feel really well. I had a year on Xeloda but hand and feet syndrome had become unbearable. I then had 9 weeks of oral Navelbine but I had quite a lot of progression to lungs and bones during that time. So I am hoping for good things with Abraxane
Sarah I hope you start to feel better soon and that you can build up your blood numbers.
Scwilly it is good to have some one else to share this new treatment with.
Tracey
0 -
hi. Had my first treatment of abraxane on Thursday. Thought it was okay. But I woke up this morning (Sunday) and I’m nauseous and my stomach has small pains in it. They gave me compazine and zofran but I didn’t take it yet. I don’t know why. I just hate taking so many pills. I take a lot of meds for other stuff. Does anyone take these for nausea or do you have something better. I’m ready to give up and not do the chemo if I’m going to be sick all the time and don’t feel good. I don’t know what to do. Thanks for listening Rhond
0 -
tychad,
So sorry to hear this is making you sick. I can’t eevwn tell u then name of the prescription they gave me for nausea bc I haven’t had to take one yet. Before each dose of abraxane they give me kytril in my iv for nausea. I haven bit yet been sick at all. Do they do that for you before abraxane?
Thanks
Sarah
0 -
I take zofran because I do have days where I’m sick. I would take just one and see if it helps. Day three through five are my worst days but even then, not nearly like doing a normal round of chemo
0
