Questioning treatment plan...

agsuitt

So I've undergone surgery and 5 chemo treatments of Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin. After my last treatment on 5/3/15, my body SCREAMED with side effects. I landed in the ER dehydrated 5 days post treatment. I haven't been able to hold any solid food since the day after treatment and can only manage maybe a 1/4 cup of broth a day. Even on Reglan and Zofran, I am having vomiting. Mainly bile and whatever water I can get in my system. And diarrhea.

I am questioning whether or not I actually WANT to go through my last round of chemo in two weeks. I have no history of breast cancer in my family, my gene test came back negative, my entire breast was removed and 18 lymphnodes removed showed NO cancer. I laid on my couch Saturday before I went to the ER and wished for death. Even 8 days later, I can't eat, can barely drink, and can only walk maybe 10 feet before feeling like I've run a marathon. I don't know if I CAN handle another treatment.

Opinions? Suggestions?

ElaineTherese

agsuitt,

I'm so sorry to hear that you're feeling so awful! I hope you've called your MO and let him/her know about your situation. What does he/she say? There are many ladies who don't finish every single treatment, so there's no shame in missing the last one. Are you planning to continue your Herceptin? That may be more important than getting #6.

agsuitt

I have spoken to them extensively about the side effects. I have landed in the ER at least 6 times during my chemo treatments and they are well aware of the difficulties. I do plan to continue the Herceptin treatments as well as following up with Tamoxifen afterward. I'm scheduled to discuss radiation next week (my MO said no radiation, but my RO says yes) to try and figure out exactly WHAT they are going to radiate. My MO told me before I started chemo that they weren't giving me chemo to kill cancer in my system because there was none left. They were giving me chemo to prevent a recurrence. I'm really confused right now about what they are doing.

ElaineTherese

agsuitt,

While all of your localized cancer is gone (thanks to the mastectomy and the lymph node removal), there is no guarantee that your surgery took care of the cancer cells that may have broken off from your localized cancer and were carried off by your bloodstream and lymph system. Chemo is supposed to help clean out your bloodstream and lymph system so that those cancer cells don't land somewhere else in your body (lungs, liver, bones, etc.) and form new tumors. Radiation is also a localized treatment, while Tamoxifen and Herceptin will hopefully address substances (estrogen and HER2+) that have fed your cancer in the past.

Hope you can convince your MO to let you recover and rethink your treatment plan. Best wishes for a full recovery!

WinningSoFar

Sounds like your major problem is nausea. Have they used Emend as an anti-nausea drug. For me, that absolutely worked the best. The second best was a horrendously expensive skin patch, the name of which I can't remember offhand. Zofran worked kind of, but not enough.

I realize we're all different, but perhaps you have similar experience to mine.

debiann

Round five was harsh for me, too, although not as bad as you are experiencing. Hope you are feeling better soon. What my MO did to get me through round six was give me an extra week to recover and reduced the dose of the taxatore and Carboplatin.  Round six was much, much easier.

Good luck.

Italychick

my MO cancelled round 6 due to neuropathy side effects. She said current trials are showing 4 to be as effective as 6. Although I was worried, I took her advice. Even now, 2 and 1/2 months out, I still have some foot and lower leg issues, kind of a burning feeling. She said she currently has to still recommend 6 because that is the standard of care at the moment, but will probably change once the current trials are completed.

I would have still tried for the 6th one, but I do need to be able to walk! I am still doing Herceptin and so far, so good!

debiann

Italychick, are you taking anything for the neuropathy?  I took B6. I'm 10 months pfc (not counting the herceptin only) and the neuropathy is almost completely gone.Little bit remains, but I can live with it. I hope yours continues to improve.

Stephmoen

i also didn't want to finish 6 after number 5 I ended up in hospital with an infected port and sepsis..my oncologist thought it was important to finish though so I did last Thursday I already feel good I agree 5 was worse but everyone is different i would hope your oncologist would try to lower your dose and figure out some meds to help you through

Italychick

Debian, yes I am, alpha lipoic acid and B6 and also Benfotiamine which I think is B1. My husband does all my supplements for me. And magnesium baths, and a host of other supplements. It is getting better, but still not 100%. But I can exercise, etc., so I'm not complaining. I also found that rubbing lotion on my feet and lower legs helps a lot. I also had a lot of lower leg muscle pain, like cramping and contractions, but that has mostly resolved

agsuitt

winning - yes, they have used Emend since round 3. I lost 19 pounds in the first week after round one.

As for neuropathy, I have complete numbness in 3 toes on one foot and 2 on the other. I have severe tingling in both my hands and feet. For several days post chemo I will randomly lose the strength in my hands and I drop things.

I don't want to jeopardize my health, but the chemo is doing that anyway. I'm struggling even now with nausea and I ate hours ago. Even mouthwash (Biotene), makes me sick. My plan is to discuss this with my MO tomorrow and go from there. I just didn't know if skipping the last treatment would greatly increase my risk of recurrence. I've also heard about the report that shows 4 treatments to be effective. And although I hear several of you saying number 6 was easy, I honestly don't know if my body can take it.

debiann

Agsuitt, when my MO gave me the extra week between rounds he also left the decision up to me if I wanted to have round six. I felt re-energized so I did it. But everyone is different. If you are experiencing a great deal of neuropathy it would be understandable to stop before the damage is permanent. A good talk with your mo is definitely in order. Good luck. The decisions are always so difficult.

kcat2013

agsuitt, I'm sorry you've had such an awful time. You might want to ask your MO about reducing your dosage for your last treatment. I had bad neuropathy from Taxol and my MO gave me a week off chemo and then when I did my last two treatments reduced my dose by 15% and that helped considerably.

Kendra

AnewBeginning

Agsuitt

Sorry you have such a rough ride....maybe you can ask if you can skip one week and then have #6. Hoping for the best for you

windingshores

I do wonder if the fact that you are taking Herceptin (and can take hormonals) might mean it is safer than for others, to omit the last chemo.

The HER2+ must be determining your treatment, mainly.

agsuitt

As an update, my medical team decided that it was safe for me to finish my chemo regimen with five doses. so....... I AM DONE WITH CHEMO!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

I will start Herceptin only on the 31st of this month. After a 17 pound drop in 2 weeks, as well as various other issues with blood counts, my MO felt that the chemo would do me more harm than good.