dexamethasone?

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Lesley_Ann
Lesley_Ann Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Why do some of us get it and some dont? what exactly is its purpose?

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  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited April 2009

    Hi Lesley Ann - I am not sure why some pts get Decadron (brand name and easier to spell Smile), and some don't. What type of chemo regimen are you on?

    Decadron is used to help with nausea and allergic reactions one might have to chemo. I hope this is helpful.

    I was on Decadron - IV with AC and then numerous pills the night before and morning of my Taxol txs.

    Raye

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  • EyesOTex
    EyesOTex Member Posts: 194
    edited April 2009

    Couldn't answer that, either, but I agree with Raye about its uses.  I, however, did NOT get it with TAC x 6, but DID get it (IV and 3 days of pills) with Cisplatin/Gemzar.  Go figure.

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  • Analemma
    Analemma Member Posts: 1,622
    edited April 2009

    Decadron can help avoid the allergic reaction that some chemo's are famous for.  I got it for adriamycin, cytoxin, taxol, taxotere, and cisplatin.  It's also given in the case of brain mets to combat swelling of the brain.  It's horrible stuff, makes you wired, so you can't sleep, even if your body is exhausted.

    If you are given pills to take for three days around chemo time, I've found that the way to take them is the first dose the second you wake, and the second dose no later than 1 pm.  That way you can still sleep at night.

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  • josiemarie
    josiemarie Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2009

    I didnt bother taking the dexamethasone once I realised I could do without them.I stopped them on the advice of my friend who was going through the same chemo(4xfec,4xtaxol) Her sister  the chemo nurse had advised her and that was good enough for me! Apparantly we were having steroids in with the chemo anyway and I found taking them afterwards made me eat like a horse.Without them I felt perfectly ok.Granted we are all different and I'm not saying do it without asking your onc first.

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  • Debonthelake
    Debonthelake Member Posts: 244
    edited April 2009

    I got the Decadron along with benadryl IV with my Taxotere.  But, even with that I would get horrible hives and a fever and swelling in my arms and hands.  So, the oncologist put me on a solu medrol dose pack, basically more decadron.  It helped me tremendously.  Prior to the pack I would get so short of breath, my heart would race, I felt so nauseated and I got so puffy.  The extra decadron made my chemo so much more tolerable.  It's just different for everyone.

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