Ixempra!

Hi Brenda, I'm glad that the WBR sounds like it's going well. I don't know how much mine helped since I was only able to get 7/10, but I do hope it gives me a lot of time and sense of wellbeing. I'm still pretty bald, though I hear the WBR makes you lose your hair too. Lucky you Diana! I would love to have hair again....

Gem State Girl, I haven't replied to your message earlier because I'm still working on the differences on hospice vs palliative care myself. I don't think here in Colorado you have to be hospitalized to make any of those decisions. From what I understand the greatest difference is that with hospice you no longer chose any treatment, including chemo,rads,and what you focus on is more management of symptoms and quality of life. With palliative care you can still get meds, including chemo or whatever treatment seems appropriate for you. You can always resume treatment anytime you choose to. The primary focus remains management of symptoms, pain and nausea control. Depending on how much help you need the palliative and hospice teams will try to help with any needs you may have. It seems the hospice group seems to require more care. They will come and see you as often as you need, and work on changing pain meds and a palliative PA can change your meds to control your needs. I personally am getting around pretty well, except for climbing stairs, and won't have them come to visit unless I start having issues. I'm already on oxygen 24/7, and am considering moving a bed to the main floor. I decided not to continue chemo, though my onc did offer it if I wanted. The percentage of it working was about 5-7%. Not great odds for me to feel so ill for the rest of my life. On palliative care you do continue to see your onc. I'll see her monthly and her PA monthly. We'll still continue checking labs, treating pneumonia, and treating what we can with minimal side effects. On hospice I don't think you see your onc as often, and the level of care is less. I think the hospice team sees you a lot more often, and takes more of a effort for comfort?? As you can see, I'm still a little confused as they are pretty similar. We'll see, I'm still reading about it even now, and it's been a month already!! One way or the other, I feel good about stopping chemo. I feel better already. Really tired, but I think that might be the WBR still. I feel like I've caused more questions than offered solutions!! Kell

Just started Ixempra yesterday, all the fourms I am reading are old has anyone had any luck with this drug. I am stage 4 trp neg mets to my bones,livers, lymph nodes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello ladies! Starting Ixempra after both Gemzar and Navelbine failed to control the cancer growth in my liver (Navelbine did get rid of active cancer in my bones and lung lining). Looking forward to only having chemo every 3 weeks (vs every week with the last two). This will be chemo #11 or 12 (starting to lose track) since 2008.

hi lxempra people

Lori sounds like first lxempra hasn't been too bad so far. My 4-5 days are my down days. After 10 days recovery.

Got #6 today. Will have one more then scans end of September. 5 months of tx. I feel better besides SE. Liver function in normal except for alkaline phosphate. That elevates b/c of neulasta shot especially week after shot. Kidneys are working at 90%. TM three weeks ago 985 shot up. Hoping dead tumor cells. I feel better then I did a year ago. Except for SE. Hair is coming in . Body aches.

Brenda hope you are finishing up rads. Feeling ok with minimum SE

Kelly think about you all the time. Prayers for feeling better.

The beat goes on. Hang in

good to hear from you all

Best remedy for constipation that has worked for me is prune juice. I drink two glasses night after infusion and one a few days after. Plus I still take Slow Mag. The biggest side effect I have is pain now. Legs, arms feet. The worst second week. I also rest every day lol

My tumor marker is now 1130. Has risen on this chemo. I had widespread cancer in belly and liver. All blood work very good. Thinking it is cancer kill off and eventually will come down. Onc doesn't say anything. I don't know how many lxempras I am doing. It will all depend on scan, end of sept. My hair is coming in from the taxol. I was supposed to lose it on this chemo but I'm not. Hmmmm. Hope not a reflection on if this stuff is working. Anyway. Good to hear from you all. Hang in and one day at a time.

Hugs

Diana

Brenda.

Thanks.

Pat glad liver marker is coming down.

My liver enzymes are in the 20's. AP S I said elevates b/c neulasta shot but then comes down within a couple of weeks.

My TM have always been accurate but the problem is I went one and half years with elevating TM but clear scans. Then the shit hit the fan and ended up with mets to belly and kidney dysfunction. Never showed on three Pet scans b/c mets so diffuse. Low SUV too

Because of my kidney injury (90%) working I can't have scans too frequently. So now I sit with elevating marker; but good blood work liver and acceptable kidney function. Have to wait till end of September for scan and protocol is to not change tx on tumor marker.

Grrrr. I hate cancer. I am a little stressed on 1100 TM and only upward slide since I started Lxempra Onc is in Romania for a month. Sigh she has someone covering but I don't want to change until scan and she gets back thinking a month won't make that big of a deal. If other blood work was bad I'd feel different Plus I've had liver biopsy and spinal tap in the last couple of months My body has been through a lot . False hope?

Thanks for listening. This cancer is the Pitts isn't it ?

Hugs

Diana

Today is day 8. Feeling better today...still some neuropathy going on in the feet. Legs don't ache as much though. Stomach/abdominal muscles feel like I was kicked but are more tolerable.

I agree. Chemo is what makes me feel good these days. In comparison, when I'm not on it and the cancer is running amok, I feel terrible. But chemo works for me, at least for awhile. Fingers crossed that we all do well on Ixempra for a long time.

Brenda, I'm glad you're almost done with radiation. It sounds like it wasn't too bad.

Diana, I just wanted to mention the L-Glutamine powder I take twice a day. On Day 6 I got lazy and didn't take it and the next day I was nauseous. I started right back up and everything settled down. For me, at least, it really seems to help me.

Enjoy your holiday weekend, everyone!

Pat

Brenda

Thanks for update. Cancer is gone in your head. You keeping the mask is something I would do. 😎

Rest up. Your whole body needs to recover from the rads. Glad you are finished. Hope you will be feeling better and better. 👍

Diana

Hooray for finishing rads, Brenda!

Kelly

So good to hear from you. It sounds like you are feeling good and healing from rads. Great idea to try estrogen inhibitor.

I think about you often. Being off chemo has its advantages. 👍. I have #7 on 21st. Then scan and we see how the response is.

Good to see 👀 you. Hugs