Three Rounds of Chemo, Three Trips to Emergency Room

CalicoCat

I have a friend who had a lumpectomy and no cancer was found in her lymph nodes, but her HER2+ status and the size of her tumor, per the onc, pointed to needing to do chemo.

My friend is hormone negative, HER2+, and is now getting carboplatin, taxotere, and herceptin every 3 weeks.

After the first round, she landed in the hospital around day 5 for uncontrolled diarrhea and generally feeling horrible. For round 2, the onc reduced her chemo dosage by 20%, but she developed a high fever and no reason was ever found. For round 3, she had the same dosages as round 2, but at day 3 fainted and hit her head and broke a tooth. So . . . .every time she's had chemo she's landed in the emergency room, and/or been hospitalized.

My advice to her was, at a minimum, ask for a consult with a different oncologist. At this point, she's thinking about forgetting chemo, but continuing with herceptin treatment, which I fully understand.

Any other suggestions or similar experiences?

Thank you!

Calico

dlb823

Absolutely get a second opinion, preferably at an NCI-designated cancer center. Her experience is not typical, and she may have some pre-existing stuff going on that's making the chemo she's getting especially rough on her. Or she simply may not be able to tolerate Taxotere, for example, even at the reduced dosage. I would absolutely get another opinion before doing anymore of what she's doing, especially since bad reactions to chemo drugs tend to get worse with each infusion -- not better.

Here's a list of NCI-designated cancer centers. http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/extramural/cancercenters/find-a-cancer-center If there's one close to her, I'd suggest going there for a second opinion, mostly b'cuz they see the most bc, so the probabilities are high they've run into these kinds of reactions she's having before and will know what to do. (((Hugs))) Deanna

CalicoCat

Thanks sooo much, Deanna! Good suggestions, all! I really will need to press her on this. She feels so poorly, and starting with another onc I expect will be too much to think about, but it's time to.

xoxoxoxo

Calico