Cannot have Chemo

edward_woodwood_would

Hi, I've just left the bedside of my 39 year old fiancee.

Two weeks ago she had her first Epi and has a serious infection which has seen her spend the last 5 days on IV antibiotics and saline, with her temperature all over the place.

She also had two shots two increase her white blood cell count.

She has suffered from Crohn's disease for 20 years, and the oncologist says it has flared and an abcess is present, so, no more chemo, and now an operation on the bowel. Her BP is extremely low, also.

I guess my question is, has anyone else not had chemo because of a similar problem?

Is there anything else we can do?

She will be having ovarian ablation, and tamixifen.

We don't do oncotype testing in the UK, so all we really know is ER+ HER-.

We need to do whats best for our young family.

Thanks.

kira1234

edward, i am going through something similar right now. I've been told by my BS and onc it would not be wise to continue chemo. Unless things change I will be starting the pill in about 2 weeks. Did she have radaition? That I did have. I did have the oncotype test, and my came back 24.

As far as other things to do, I would suggest you check out alternative treatments board. I will be checking into diet, exercize, weight loss, ect to try to bring down my chance of getting cancer again.

Anonymous

Edward:  I had a similar reaction to chemo, specifically Taxol.  After one treatment my white count zoomed to over 30,000 (normal range 8-10,000) and I was hospitalized for a mystery infection.  Even IV antibiotics failed to bring my temperature down for 7 days.  I was drained of all color and they checked for everything under the sun, including AIDS, meningitis, heart or lung infections.  I gradually got over this but it was clearly the result of the chemo and the shots that they gave to boost my count when it was low.  I rarely get any illness, so I know it can be the result of the drugs lowering the body's immunity.  Take care

edward_woodwood_would

Hi,

yes, she is having 5 (?) weeks of radiation.

Not sure when that will start, hopefully asap.

I guess the onc has decided that the percentage probability gain from the chemo isn't as high as the chance of serious complications.

It does concern me what we would do if it comes back, but that's always me, worrying before the event.

kira1234

shelly, Did you continue your chemo?

edward, I think they do look at the percentage of gain. In my case it was a 3% gain. Not woth it if it could kill me with massive infections. I am also worried about it coming back, and in your case she is very young, but as I said there are life style changes we can make that will add to our %. Her stage is a sage 1 no node involment which are both good. Do you know if there was any blood supply to the tumor? that is also something to look at.

karen

edward_woodwood_would

Don't know about blood supply. I know it was removed with clear margins, would that suggest no blood supply?

It seems that in the US the make-up of the tumour is described to a much greater extent.

I wonder if, because of our health system, they only tell you what they feel you need to know, as the treatment is standardised across the country, so unless you go "private" there is no need to be told.

Alyad

Did you get any sort of stats with the pathology report other than ER+? It is good that your fiancee is ER + at least, the tamoxifen can help. Look into iodine in the alternative section.  There are many women on these boards who are from the UK, who may be more familar with the process over there.

edward_woodwood_would

Hi Alyad,

I will try and get some more stats when I see the onc next.

I'm very interested in what I have read about iodine, thanks for putting me on to that.

Anonymous

Kira 1234:  Yes, they continued with my chemo, only delayed for one week.  The next 3 taxols went okay but I think they should have been checking my levels more closely.  Ya think??  Cancer sucks.