To all have responded or well respond to my frantic post -
thankyou so much for the words of encouragement and the
information and just listening to me vent. I will try and
answer some questions that you had but will reply to those
who have written as energy allows.
I went for chemo yesterday: Normal treatment:
4 Rounds where 1 round is three weeks on and one week off
and then a visit with the doc. Drugs used for this chemo
regime have been :
Taxotere 225 mg
Carboplatin 50 mg
Herceptin 200 mg (week 1 and 2) 400 mg week 3
Yesterday was NOT normal - if there is someting normal.
My WBC was too low for taxotere, given normal dose of
carboplatin and I had a severe allergic reaction. 50 mg of
benydrel (sp). I made it home about 6 PM - in bed and slept
16 hours - still have some throat constrictions - so I guess
my days with carboplatin may be over. The nurse told me
that after several tx with Carbo that this is common.?????
Has anyone had this response to carbo? All I recall is she
kept asking about my heart... and I fell asleep.
Taxotere has been the major problem these last four months
- I have had severe side effects from it - as my oncologist
told me that people have in there 4-5 round during my first
round. Uncontrolled nose bleeds- emergency room visits-
extreme fatigue, edema that started in from my knees
upward...neuropathy the list goes on but I will not bore you
with the details. If you have questions feel free to write.
Herceptin - by itself seemed to make me pretty nauseated -
but I am also a biologist (pre-med degree) and I have faith
in some of these new treatments vs the age old chemo agents.
I suppose as I told my oncologist 4 months of chemo just
seemed surreal to me, but another 4 months as he has
proposed is also just as surreal. 3 new reagents along with
herceptin. FEC + Herceptin. Several of you had responded
to length of chemo - I could handle the chemo if the side
effects were not so debilitating.
Imaging studies - the tumor I have is quite large 18X18 cm
(2.54 centimeters = 1 inch) - from first scan in Dec - my
next scan will be April 18 and see the doc on the 19th.
Meanwhile I will try to speak with MDA and Dr. C nurse - and
look at all the other individuals you all have sent my way.
I have ultimate respect for anyone that chooses as a
profession the field of oncology - I just think that Dr. C
may be willing to speak with my physican Dr. K - since I
have had such a severe reaction to meds, and he is following
an MDA protocol.
I will also spend some time looking for a research study I
may be able to be included in -
Again thank you for letting me vent - and for your warm
welcome.
Theresa
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