Intravenous chemo to oral chemo

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Kimberly1414
Kimberly1414 Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I was hoping to hear from anyone who has been through a similar situation.  My mum found out early last year that she has secondary breast cancer in her liver and a bit in her bones.  She tried a chemo treatment for awhile that didn't work.  She was put on another treatment that stop the cancer from spreading and shrunk it a bit.  After checking in on it after her next cycle, they found that it didn't shrink the spots but it also didn't get worse.  They want to switch her to oral chemo after.  What is the difference.  Has anyone been through a similar situation.  Is oral chemo the same?  Can you still do all the same things on oral chemo or is it just like having intravenous.  Any help at all would be much appreciated.  Is anyone out there with liver mets - I would really appreciate your experience to help me and my mum get through this.

Lots of love,

Kimberly 

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2014

    Kimberly, I don't know the answer to your question, although I'm guessing those who might be able to help would ask you for a bit more information -- such as the specific names of the chemo drugs about which you're asking.  But I wanted to at least stop and bump this thread for you, in the hopes that more people will see it.  You might also re-post the same question in the Stage IV forum, where it might be seen by more discussion board users with experience with liver and bone mets.   Another suggestion would be to call or email your Mum's oncologist with your questions, and also keep the option of a second opinion in mind, if you have any doubts about that onc's recommendations.

    Good luck to you and your Mom.  (((Hugs)))   Deanna

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  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited January 2014

    KImberly,

    I do not have liver mets, but mets to my adrenal gland.  I am using tykerb (oral chemo) at home daily and Herceptin infusion every 3 weeks.  The biggest difference for me is fewer visits with the onc and infusion center. Even oral chemos have side effects and you need to discuss with onc the chemo and the se's.  The onc should have a list of options, that may include infusions and/or oral chemos.  It all depends on your mother's status and what the onc thinks will work best.

    Hope this helps

    Nel

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited January 2014

    I have been on 6 different drugs, some infused, some oral over the past nearly 6 years.  (History in my signature below.)  The infused chemos I took did not do a thing to help me but when switched to oral chemo, it worked fast and I have been NED for 4-1/2 years now.  (Still had side effects, though, just as the infused ones did.)  Everybody is different so I don't think  you are going to be able to make a statement that infused is better or oral is better.  They simply work differently on different people.  Trust your doctor's advice and if you don't, then you need to find a different doctor.  Good luck!

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  • Kimberly1414
    Kimberly1414 Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2014

    Thank you wonderful ladies for all your advice.  This is such a hard time so its nice to know there are people out there that can help.  My mum is on her last two cycles of her chemo and is not doing so well.  They are talking about giving her a blood transfusion.  I didn't think that was something that even happened for cancer patients.  She is petty scared and so am I to be honest.  After that she will be switching to oral chemo but at this time I do not know exactly which ones. 

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