TO DO OR NOT TO DO TAXOTERE/GIVE OPINION

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flopsy Member Posts: 365
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer
TO DO OR NOT TO DO TAXOTERE/GIVE OPINION
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  • flopsy
    flopsy Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2010

    LADIES,   I am thinking of cancelling my chemo at this point.  I have finished #4 AC tx a week ago and I still feel so bad that I have not been able to go anywhere.  I know this stuff is cumulative over time but if the Taxotere is half as bad as my AC I don't want to do it on the slim chance that it may make a difference.  I already have some permanent neuropathy in my feet from a reaction to one pill about 5 yrs ago that never goes away.  I am sure the Taxotere will make that a lot worse.  I am concerned also about the chemo causing me to have Diabetes.  I am not even taking the steroids because I had a reaction to the Dexamethasone drip with 1st tx so onc took me off all Decadron.  That, unfortunately, had made my digestive problems with tx a lot worse and more nausea but I am dealing with all of that.   My  fasting sugar before starting tx was always around 65-90 which is very good.  Since 1st treatment it has gone up to 130-190 every day even 12 days after tx.  I am no Doctor but that does not sound good to me.  My onc said we would address it if it got over 200.  I have also had a lot of tachycardia and very rapid pulse with last two treatments, that causes me to be short of breath very quickly.  I do not like the total picture all of this presents but my DH is begging me to go on with Taxotere.   I just don't know that I can.  There are also financial and work issuess with this next tx because I have to go back to work at a very demanding fast paced BREAST CENTER before I would finish the tx's.  I have to be able to keep up and I am sure I could not at this point.  I really need my job although I am sure we will get by if I can't go back before my time is up.   They are starting to train other people in critical areas that I was responsible for already so I think they are thinking I may not come back.  I also have 6 wks of rads after all chemo ends so that may be a problem at work also.  Any opinions or help would be greatly appreciated.   My cancer is Stage3A WITH 5 POSITIVE NODES.  I tried to get my onc to just do TC in the beginning and now I wish I had insisted.  He is throwing everything at me that he can and I understand why but we still have to live in our bodies and make our own decisions.  I am willing to take a chance that I will be in the 40% that will survive.  Thank you all so much for any response you can give.  All opinions welcomed. LOL,gin2ca

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  • DCMom
    DCMom Member Posts: 624
    edited August 2010

    GIN2CA

    I did AC and then Taxol and the Taxol was the much easier part in the process.  I strongly encourage you to at least try the first round of Taxol.  The medicines are cumulative, but this will be a new accumulation so give it a run.  You never want to wonder what if and you may not get a second chance.

    I am sending you best wishes and prayers for an easier taxotere reaction.   

    Susan

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2010

    gin ~ Here's an interesting study I just pulled up for you:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20090515b.jsp

    I have absolutely no idea how or even if this relates to your diagnosis and personal situation, but it might be worth discussing with your oncologist, in view of your concerns.    Deanna

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited August 2010

    I was faced with a tough decision about whether or not to do chemo at all. I am also diabetic and did lots of homework before making a decision.  I am, however, stage 1 with clear nodes, which is a completely different scenario.  I decided that the risk of neuropathy and other side effects was more than I was willing to tolerate as there was no evidence that I had a single cancer cell floating around in my body.  I chose to focus on the 70% chance that I would NOT have a distant recurrence; and I will hedge my bet with Femara, a healthy diet and exercise. 

    Only you can make this decision after weighing the options.  You've already done 4 treatments, which has resulted in some negative side effects, but should increase your survival odds a bit. 

     By the way, my PCP said the same thing about glucose levels - we'd address it if it got over 200, which it has not.  I am still slightly elevated even though we've increased my Metformin.

    Best wishes to you - it's a difficult choice!

    Michelle

    Michelle

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  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited August 2010

    I am diabetic and just coincidentally am sitting in the treatment room getting my second TC treatment. I had ONE round of AC and thought I was going to die (literally) and was not willing to do that again, so the onc suggested doing the TC. Side effects were different than with the AC, mainly in that they weren't as severe.

    I have had really bad glucose levels after my first two treatments (as in 273 & 276... I just about FREAKED when I got those readings!) but like my endocrinologist says, it's a temporary thing and shouldn't cause me any long term harm. And she was right, both time within a day or two they went back to close to normal (for me) readings.

    My node status (and therefore staging) is unknown because my nodes were taken out five years ago in my first bout with bc. The onc wanted to throw everything at me but with no apparent spread beyond the breast they were suggesting that more because they didn't know than anything else. That made my decision to stop the AC pretty easy. And if round two of the TC results in increased neuropathy I probably won't do round 3 (he wanted 3 or 4) because I really don't want to have to deal with permanent neuropathy. When I spoke to him about this today he said that decreasing the dosage of TC may also be warranted in round three.

    Perhaps your onc can just give you a couple extra weeks before starting the TC? Sounds like your body needs the time to recuperate.

    JJ

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited August 2010

    Medical issues such as yours definitely have to considered carefully.  There is no advantage to chemo if it creates additional medical problems that had a negative impact on the quality of life.  Oncs have to remember the "do no harm" commitment in their treatment plans.

    Since steroids and neuropathy are a significant issue for you maybe a case could be made for you to go on Abraxane instead of Taxol or Taxotere.  It's the solvent used to administer Taxol & Taxotere that cause so many of the problems.  But I believe Abraxane, which is albumin bound taxol, is only FDA approved for metastatic BC so it's not standard of care for stage III.  But your onc may be able to make a case to your insurance company to cover it. 

    Another question is whether you are BRCA positive.  If you are, then it might be another option to go to carboplatin or cisplatin.  Still strong drugs but it keeps you away from solvent. 

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  • Karen09
    Karen09 Member Posts: 320
    edited August 2010

    I did four treatments of FEC and then four of taxotere last year.  I didn't find the taxotere that bad at all really.  I wasn't nauseated at all and my hair started to grow back again.  I did have some pain in my lower back after two of my treatments that was quite painful but only lasted a couple days.  Good luck with your decision!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited August 2010

    While I had lots of issues with taxotere, a friend of mine barely had any at all. My oncology nurses told me that with most women, those who had a rough time on one medication i.e. FEC combo, had an easier time with the next medication and vice versa. I was one of the unusual ones, but I'll take every "big gun" I can get!

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  • julia2
    julia2 Member Posts: 183
    edited August 2010

    I had a reaction to Taxotere and was told by my insurance company that Abraxane would be covered if I wanted to switch.  In the end I changed Oncs, the new one upped my pre-med steroids massively, added benadryl and claratin to my pre-meds and the nurses slowed started the drip at 15% speed and gradually increased over an hour to 50% speed.  I had no problems at all.  If you go with Taxotere and can't have the steroids make sure you get lots of benadryl and a very, very slow drip.  I have to say, I thought the dexamethasone was mandatory for Taxotere.

    Julia 

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited August 2010

    In addition to my premeds, I took dexamethasone for about 4 day after chemo-once in the am and once in the pm.  It helped a lot.  I had taxotere in addition to carboplatin and herceptin.

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  • PearlGirl
    PearlGirl Member Posts: 549
    edited August 2010

    I will be having my 4th and final round of Cytoxan and Taxotere on Wednesday. I don't think it's been nearly as bad as the AC treatments I read about, but it hasn't been easy either. The GI issues started after round 1; I got a terrible rash that was labeled 'serious' by the Taxotere manufacturer after round 2. It didn't respond to Benadryl so had to have steroids; and round 3 has just killed my gut once and for all. I am now taking a double dose of Prilosec, plus Pepcid AC, Gas-Ex and Tums to just make it through the day. Could not get a GI consult scheduled  in between tx so will do it after this last round. I cannot move onto radiation without getting my GI issues settled.

    When the tx is administered I get both Aloxi for nausea and Dexamethasone IV, plus the steroid is also by mouth the day before, day of and day after each infusion.

    Am not equating your situation with mine, nor meaning to imply that you'll get any of these SEs but just weighing in on the topic as someone who is getting Taxotere. Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best.

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  • flopsy
    flopsy Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2010

    Ladies, Thank you so much for all the valuable opinions and support.  I am going to onc this week to dsicuss everything but I know I need to have all my ducks in a row because my onc is a no nonsense kind of guy that does not buck easily.  I will be prepared with my concerns and questions and find out what I need to do.

    Bon, thanks for the GI info because the AC has killed my digestive tract already and I can't seem to get better even with all the antacids and stomach meds they can throw at me.  I  full ofam concerned that I have a digestive tract of nasty ulcers because I am always nauseated and have horrible indigestion and heartburn and extreme bowel gas.  Oh well, I guess I,too, will have to see Gastroenterologist to have this seen about.  Thanks again and hope you get some improvement from SE's.

    I will post and let you girls know what I decide and what the onc says.  Praying for us all, LOL,gin2ca

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  • flopsy
    flopsy Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2010

    Saw onc Friday and he has agreed to not do Taxotere under my circumstances and did not try to convince me to do the tx.  That indicated to me that he somewhat agreed with my concerns and is getting me scheduled for rads and did hormonal testing and scheduled bone density to determine what preventative to give for hormone blocker therapy. Thanks for all of your concerns and opinions and I am happy to have crossed this bridge and am moving on.  Hugs to you all and thanks again.  LOL,gin2ca

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  • flopsy
    flopsy Member Posts: 365
    edited September 2010

    Thanks so much for your post.  The info you are talking about did help me make the decision about not doing the last taxane tx's.  I did have 4 AC tx's and I think that is enough.  I want to get on the hormonal tx's as soon as possible.  I am also to get rad tx's starting next week.  Don't know if I can take hormone blockers while having rads or not?   Good question for someone in the know.   Thiings to think about______LOL,gin2ca

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  • pumela115
    pumela115 Member Posts: 231
    edited September 2010

    Wow! i am in the same boat with you. I just finished my last AC 7 days ago and i still don't feel good, this has been the first one that has made me feel really bad. I to don't want to continue. I hate the steroids so my onc is going to do Abraxane, he told me you don't have to take steroids with it. I am going to try it, i'm suppose to have 12 treatments once a week and then 6 weeks of radiation, i am so ready to be done with it all. I can't work while doing chemo as i am a bartender at the airport and i can't imagine standing for 10 hours. anyway ask your onc about the Abraxane.

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