First chemo question

magistra

Hi-

My mom has been diagnoses with stage 4 IBC (es+/pr+ her2-) and is going to be starting chemo with adriamycin, cytoxin and taxotere. Any experience out there with this combination? Any words of advice? Side effects? Ways to mitigate them? Anyone ever hear of using ice/nail polish to mitigate problems with taxotere? Any help is much appreciated.
Chris in NM

flea

I had that combination. The longer she gets it, the more sick she will feel and by the end she will be soooo glad its done, but it is manageable!! With the modern nausea drugs they have today she should be able to handle any sick feelings (and I have a weak stomach!). Tell her to take it easy, get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids in and around her chemo day and take her nausea drugs proavtively. Don't wait til she feels sick, take them as often as the Dr. prescribes. Before she knows it it will be all over with and she can put it behind her!

As far as ice goes, the only thing it did for me was keep me from getting mouth sores. I sucked on an ice cube during chemo and it kept the mouth sores away! I know it works because one time I didn't do it and got the sores!

I have also heard of a woman who wore an ice hat on her head to keep her hair. Apparently it worked and she only had thinning of hair. She also said the hat cost about $600! I felt really upset about losing my hair since I always counted it as one of my assets, but after it happened I felt like I overreacted. After all, it does grow back, and sometimes you get better hair!! Mine was super curly and when it grew back, it was straighter!

Tell her best of luck and I will send her my good vibes and thoughts Chris!!!

sweetmama

My close friend was diagnosed with stage 3B IBC in mid-March and her first round of chemo on April 1st--every 3 weeks. At yesterday's appt., her Dr. sent her home saying the chemo wasn't working and things were getting worse. She went back in today for 2 new types of chemo as well as getting a port put in since she will now be going weekly. She's in terrible pain and is using morphine constantly. All this news seems so sudden since she has still been working and not much complaining. The Dr. told her today that she will have to be on chemo for the rest of her life. Anyone with a situation like this or more info on different kinds of chemo--HELP!!!