Is the Steroid a must?

Hi Pure,

My chemo was TAC X 6 and the first 2 times I took the full dose of steroids. The 3rd time I did not take any steroids because the decadron was causing an unacceptable se. My nausea and overall ill feeling on the third day after treatment was much worse without the steroids. I believe the steroids also lower the risk of having a reaction to the chemo, so they are important. I opted to try a much lower dose of steroids the next time. I would stress to you to ask your onc about it and see what they say. I did fine with a very low dose of steroids, but reducing the steroids carries risks also. Hope you and your onc can find a solution that works to get you through treatments.

Annie 

I had problems with migranes that we attibuted to the steroid crash so instead of taking them for 3 days - I weaned off for 5 (full dose the first two days and then less each day) - made a big difference.  I didnt take them with Taxol.

During AC I didn't have vomiting and the nausea was controlled by the anti-nausea meds so I was able to get off of the decadron.  However, the onc advised that decadron is a must with Taxol due to the SE's (which is actually from the drug used to dilute the Taxol).  If I don't take the decadron, no chemo.  Talk to your onc about the ups and downs and find out if the decadron can be adjusted or changes made with the chemo drugs you're on right now.

Everybody's risk is different, but the steroid/benadryl/chemo combo made me maudlin--and talkative--and I couldn't stand it.  I did not take the decadron pills, ever.  For the ACx4, I tolerated the infusion meds but asked for the minimum doses of everything on the principle that they could add them in if necessary. 

When I got to the Taxol I began negotiating after I made it through the first infusion without a reaction.  They started reducing my steroid until it was about 4 mg.  Again, never took the pills.  I did take Ativan in the a.m. and at night. 

Your feelings are very profound, but I think you need to be careful--maybe try to schedule a visit with the counselor when you know this side effect is going to be the worst so he or she can see what you  are dealing with.  IMHO something this painful and consistent is a serious health issue and needs to be given immediate attention. 

Cathy

Jen,

I didn't like how the steroids were affecting me...low moods and sleep. My onc added Zofran before the infusion and for 2 days afterwards and lowered the steroids...very helpful.   I don't remember what the new dosage was but you might ask about Zofran, if you aren't already taking it and it is acceptable during pregnancy.

Clarice - my dosage changed when I switched to Taxatore. I had to take it the day before my infusion to prevent an allergic reaction with the Taxatore. They always asked me if I had taken it before connecting my IV. I then think I took it the day of chemo, and the day after, whereas for the FEC I took it for 3 or 4 days (to prevent nausea, i think). So you will probably find that your dosage changes anyway when you switch drugs.

I used lower doses for all my chemo.  If they gave me 4 tabs I would take 3,  then 2. But, I always took the full amount the first day of new treatment to make sure I didn't have side effects. I hate the steroids.  My Doc was aware.

While a lot of women on these boards have similar SE's, we also have different SE's - some have a much easier time than others - you could be one of the people that have very few SE's.  Don't  focus on if chemo kills you -  it'll freak you out even more.  Yes, chemo has a ton of SE's to deal with, but your onc will monitor you closely.  I don't know if I really thought about all of the SE's before starting chemo and wasn't sure how they would affect me, but I can say as many have said before me.  Chemo isn't a walk in the park, but it is doable............. 

Good luck.

Just want to say a Side Effect of NOT having Chemo is, well, dying. Chemo may have risk factors, but Cancer has more!

Actually, DCMom - I was just thinking that very thing this morning! How short Chemo seems now in my memory, but how long it seemed when I was going through it. Sort of like labour...! .

Pure - You description of the fog lifting sounds exactly like my experience.  I was getting a 10 mg IV of decadron with my Taxol and starting around week 6 I would go into these fog for two days (usually days 3 &4).  Got me into a real funk.  If I was awake when it started or when it left I could actually feel it progress (or egress).  Affected my thinking and my emotional state.  But when it lifted it was the same wonderful feeling you get when a head cold goes away - that "I'm human again!" feeling.  I agree with DCMom -- I just had to understand that during these times my emotions were low, it wasn't really me doing the thinking it was the drugs, and know that I was going to get that I was going to feel good once it lifted.

One other comment.  The fog was much less the last two weeks of Taxol.  Still intense but only lasted a day or less.  The only change I can figure out is that we discovered my magnesium was low so he had me taking Slo-Mag to build it back up.

bf20009 - jenn3 & DCMom had some great comments.  I made it through Taxol and now I go to AC.  A lot of women say that the AC is worse but I don't look at it that way.  I look at my neighbor who didn't have any problems.  It is so, so true -- every women is different on the SEs.  I'm going to assume no problems for me on AC until it's proven otherwise.