Anyone stopped chemo before last round?

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Bippy625
Bippy625 Member Posts: 890

I am set for final round of chemo on 11/21....has anyone stopped it not due to medical issues, but because you just hate the SE? I will do it probably, but my old self, who despises overtreatment in moderne medicine, is starting to surface. Does one more torture session really make a difference? And one more means more risks of related after chemo long lasting issues....but does it really mean any more protection against recurrence/and killing stray cells

BTW I will be doing Herceptin for a year alone after chemo, BMX, rads and recon.

Any insight, either way, is appreciated.

Comments

  • windgirl
    windgirl Member Posts: 340
    edited November 2014

    hi bippy, I'm in the august cheml group with you and set to have my last infusion on 11/25. There is a possibility I may not do it, my Onc brought it up as a possibility and wanted me to see the BS and get his opinion as well so a decison can be made. My side effects have been manageable so far, so I guess it will be a decision based on benefit. I also will have herceptin for a year. I will see the surgeon on the 18th so will let you know how it turns out.

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    Yes, but I had no choice. I did 4 A/C, with doable SE. Had first Taxotere of a scheduled 4. Had severe allergic reaction to it, MO stopped chemo. I'm still scared spitless 2 years later about having it stopped

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    If it is just because you are sick of it and don't want to go through it again (which I totally get!), do it anyway. After getting this far, you want to make sure that you get the full benefit. This is an extreme story, but a friend of mine had such a tough time with chemo that she declined the last round. She later had a recurrence and died. That surely may have happened anyway, but I know the 'what if I had finished it off' question really, really, really bothered her later.

  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited November 2014

    My story is a little different than what you are discussing here, but I was scheduled for 6 rounds of TC. After the 4th round and a PET/CT scan which showed me to be NED, my onc said "an argument could be made for no more chemo" on the day of my 5th chemo. I chose to take #5 as sort of icing on the cake. I did not do #6 and am very comfortable with this decision as I have remained NED since July 3, 2013. I guess my point is the number of treatments is based on experience but everyone is different and responds differently. I know I haven't answered your question, but if you are hesitating to finish to no good reason other than being sick of it all, I would encourage you to have the final round. You will then have the satisfaction of completing your treatment plan.

  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited November 2014

    I was scheduled to have six rounds of Abraxane, but after 3 cycles, I was NED. I really wanted to quit then and there. My onc talked me into two more rounds (seems this is a standard protocol for lymphoma which is get to NED, then plus two cycles), so I did that. So far, I'm still NED.

    The first time I did Abraxane, I had to quit in my third cycle due to other problems. Then it was about a year and half later I had some local recurrence. Would I have recurred if I'd had more rounds? I don't know.

  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited November 2014

    i felt the exact same b4 my last round. I begged my onc to give me a pass on the last one but he really pleaded with me to finish the course , especially because Herceptin is proven to work better w chemo. I did the last one and had a complete response (pCR) at surgery. Now i may have had a pCR anyway but i if i didnt I would have always thought "what if"

    If you are physically able to tolerate it i would finish the full protocol

  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited November 2014

    Thank you ladies everyone for your input. I really don't want to do it. But, if I do not, I think living in fear is what I would be doing later on and wishing that I had done it, and suffered a little bit more in the short term, just to ensure I did everything possible. Your thoughts have really helped me be motivated to do it.

    All of the sickness I am experiencing is making me weak. Mentally and physically. That it is getting to me is making me mad! This is about the 12th the day after my fifth infusion and I still have intermittent nausea. No matter what I take for it, I am always left with about 20% nausea. Is getting really old, and it's messing with my mind. I know Herceptin and Perjeta are miracle drugs, and cure some early-stage BC'a like mine. In the beginning, I just muscled through no matter what. It's very hard to do it right now, and I keep reminding myself how very lucky I am to even have access to these drugs.

    Rozem thanks for the reminder that Herceptin works very well with chemo. I forgot that part and should take advantage one last time of the combo.

    I am having one hell of a last chemo party



  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    Good! I am glad. I tell people I know how Russian counter-agents feel when they are being poisoned by the KGB Sick.......but, if chemo does it's job of KILLING the cancer cells....then it is worth feeling like crap for awhile. Hang in there. It will take awhile, but things will be  good again, they really will.

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    you are where I was with rads. My skin broke, I had a week off to heal. Then the boosts. I was done. So tired of the whole journey. But my RO said I had to finish. Tears didn't work on him, he'd seen it before. So I did do the last few rad treatments. It was sooooo hard to drag my tired self in there. But now I'm glad he made me. Because *I* know I did all I could. And that's a good feeling.

    And you can too!!! Hang on, it's almost over!

    PartyHearty!!!!!

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 2,112
    edited November 2014

    Bippy I did three rounds of FEC without too many problems. Then did my first round of Taxotere and it was brutal. Went in for my second round that the onc reduced by 25%, but still brutal. I really thought it was going to kill me.

    The onc decided I couldn't do the last round, and I was soooo happy. But I still worry that skipping that last round will come back to bite me. I don't think that will ever go away.

    If your tx isn't completely brutal and putting you in hospital it's very worthwhile finishing if you possibly can. Then you can live the rest of your life without worrying that that last tx would have been the one that made the cancer completely gone.


  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited November 2014

    Bippy - what kind of anti-nausea meds are you getting? Are you getting Emend? It worked wonders for me and for many others - good luck!

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited November 2014

    I only had one round and sometimes wish I hadn't even had that one. I developed diverticulitis and decided that I wasn't willing to gamble with my intestines and the onc agreed and stopped chemo. I have neuropathy and digestion is still off a year later. I am triple neg metaplastic grade 3 so it is aggressive but I feel like I am in better fighting form than I would have been had I continued with chemo. You do what you can live with. I feel like I am going to be on the right side of the odds.

  • MaddieH
    MaddieH Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2014

    Not sure what kind of chemo you had, but I had the full four rounds of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.  Then I had three rounds of paclitaxel.  My neuropathy was so bad that the oncologist canceled the last paclitaxel.  I am still having stomach problems and mouth problems.  I have 'chemo hunger' and my mouth burns when I eat some foods.  Cancer treatment is very primitive.  All the chemo drugs I got are more than 50 years old.

  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited November 2014

    ruthbru, thank you for giving me a good line for people when they ask how I feel!

    Spooksie, you are inspiring!

    Trisha Anne, I have been lucky, only had to go to get one dehydration related hospital visit for fluids. Mostly I am very uncomfortable for 10-15 days after every round. Taxotere is rough, sorry you had such problems with it.

    208samdy, I had zofran and prochlorynsomething. Thanks for the tip, I a getting Emend for the last one.

    Wrenn, our dx dates are so close...You also inspire me with your fiery attitude and experiences. I am sort of afraid of lingering SE too....sorry you still got some of those.

    Maddie, that sounds brutal. I hope the herceptin alone is not bad...I will find out soon.

    So.....gathering my will and mojo for last round!



  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    I don't think Herceptin alone is bad for most people; my German teacher friend took her students to Germany for two weeks between her last two rounds!!!!!!

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    Bippy, what part of Fl are you in? I'm next to Clearwater

  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited November 2014


    I wanted to quit after each round to be honest...i HATED every moment of chemo. I did 6 rounds of TAC and it was brutal. I cried to dh telling him no more, but I knew that if I did stop I'd always wonder if I did the right thing.

    Just hold on a little longer, you are stronger than you think. Even if you just take it a minute at a time that is okay. ((hugs))

  • Rmanmom
    Rmanmom Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2014

    Hang in there Bippy625!  I had the same regimen as you (without the Perjeta which was not approved for early stage in 2012) and I know it's a grind.  I can remember being so tired of gearing up for the SE's.  Also my WBC kept tanking, requiring extra shots of neupogen on top of the Neulasta. I do agree about the Emend.  I took it the morning of chemo and for two days afterward and I never had nausea issues.  The worst thing for me was my mouth tasting of burnt garbage.  Some days I felt like I was breathing fire.  No amount of chewing cinnamon gum would alleviate that horrible taste!  However, Her2+ is nothing to fool around with so I pushed through the full 6.  And honestly, treatment #6 ended up being a breeze.  Maybe because I knew that was it, but I felt pretty good afterward and went skiing about ten days after my final treatment.

    Herceptin alone was very easy.  I felt a little tired after the infusion and the next day but other than that I was fine. 

  • Wizard50
    Wizard50 Member Posts: 113
    edited November 2014

    Hi Bippy - As you know from the August chemo board # 5 kicked my butt. Just last night I told my boyfriend that I was dreading # 6 and didn't want to go. Of course I'm going and whats one more chemo, right? We are on the same regimen (except for Perjeta) and like Rmanmom said, Her2+ is nothing to fool around with. I'm doing everything I can now to kick cancers butt so I never have to go through this again. I just keep telling myself...one more...one more...one more... We can do this Bippy!

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2014

    I did 4 DD A/C neoadjuvant and had no problems with it.  Did 12 Taxol adjuvant, it left me completely and utterly EXHAUSTED the entire time.  Before #10, Dr told me it was up to me to finish or not as it had done already about 85% of what could do.  I thought about ti and decided that I had to do all as it was only 3 more and had already done 9 so why quit before it was 100% of what it could do.  When Hubby and Son were doing everything that had to be done so all I had to do was fight the IBC Monster, if I didn't finish and had a recurrence/mets, how could I have told them after giving up?

  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited November 2014

    Hi Spookiesmom, , I am near Sarasota. Weather is perfect today!

    RuBru, I have hears same about Herceptin alone....good news!

    Wizard amd Kicks, I am ready to do it now. Funny how when you are truly sick things look so different, and how hard it is to be strong. This is my first major illness. I had been very lucky.

    And, DH and I are taking out travel trailer out to the state park for the weekend! That will help so much. Our bicycle club is meeting and cannot wait to see everyone. Try to be normal when possible...

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2014

    SO WISH WE HAD SW FL TEMPS TODAY! My thermometer says its 4F right now - TV is saying -17F wind chill.. I'm originally from Punta Gorda, Hubby's from Maderia Beach. Lots of pretty white fluffy stuff outside - want some?😒😏

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    kicks, your DH will know where Dunedin is! I know Mad Beach.

    I'll take a snow check, that's why I moved! Hate that stuff

  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited November 2014

    okay, only because i started it...

    I completed my last chemo today. And I glad I did, hopeful it killed all the strays but at least there is a better abeter chance of it happening.

    Unless it is medically impossible, or really loaded with other complications, I now feel like it should be completed. Do not lessen your advantage by skimping just because it sucks! Thanks to all who posted here.


  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    Congratulations, Bippy!!

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    Woooohoooo Congrats!!!!!!

  • hivegirl
    hivegirl Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2014

    I am a new member to this discussion board. Had an allergic reaction to Taxotere 10min. into 1st chemo treatment despite having steroids prophylacticly. Serious bone pain and malaise started 3 days later but sounds like Neulasta can also be part of that problem. Have always had sensitive skin and hives started day 5 and have continued to worsen. Started steroid dose pack yesterday and spent a very sleepless night even after taking 3 Benadryl. Found this site while looking for info on other options for treatment. Not sure I can live through more Taxotere and very interested to hear about others experience with continuing treatment after an allergic reaction. Thanks so much.

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2014

    Meeeeeee! My reaction started before I got out of MOs office, but dummy me didn't know it, or say anything. By the time DH took me back in a wheelchair, I was swollen from head to toes. Doc said it was a severe allergic reaction, and stopped further treatment.

    I was in a lot of pain, peeled skin top to bottom, even lady parts. Lost finger and toe nails.

    Limited research showed me it's the preservative, not Taxotere that causes this. Polysorbate 80.

    I've been dancing with NED 2 years now, but still have the fear it could come back. And then what happens?

    I'd ask MO if there is another chemo you could do. I'd hate for you to be as miserable as I was.

    Best wishes

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