Chemo for peritoneal mets?

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starbrightlyshines
starbrightlyshines Member Posts: 344
edited July 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi ladies, I just put question in the peritoneal carcinotoma thread about the best chemo for peritoneal mets.  I have run through my anti hormonal options I'm afraid and now I am wondering about the next step.  My dr mention IV chemo but there are so many and I'm scared to start that route. I am having symtpoms again of stomach cramps and diarrhea which along with rising tumor markers, make me feel like the cancer is flaring up again. So I could really use some help from anyone, support etc. I'm really trying to enjoy the summer with my children, I'm so lucky to have them all home for the summer. Two are in college so it's so nice to have them home. But I am getting scared and panicky, it's hard to keep a semblance of normal when I feel like such a mess emotionally.

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  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited July 2017

    There are a number of what you might call "chemo lite" options.  There is Ibrance with faslodex, (anti-hormonal that works totally different than AIs) and Xeloda.  They both are pills so no infusions, but the faslodex is a shot.  I'm a little confused as to the gemzar, that is not usually a first line treatment.  As well as Ibrance and xeloda, there is halavan and the taxanes which are infusions. 

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  • Blume
    Blume Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2017

    hi Starbrightlyshines sorry I can't offer much advice on chemo, just wanted to send you hugs.

    I just finished up 12 rounds of taxol for peritoneal Mets, liver and bone mets too. It didn't help at all, so I have been put on Ibrance / letrozole. Have you asked your onc about if ibrance could be right for you?

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited July 2017

    Star, there's always Xeloda. It's chemo but it's a pill. So no port and few trips to the cancer center. I'm at the end of my second cycle and if I hadn't made the mistake of walking three miles in rough socks on the 14th day of the cycle I'd say it's pretty easy. And you can start with a lower dose. I take 2500/day. Starting dose for most is 3000/day and they go down if you have a lot of problems.

    It's hard to move to chemo. I had a difficult time moving from hormonals -- it feels like you're taking one of those steps. Sigh. I feel for you. But if you can find something that will stop the symptoms, does it really matter what the medication is?


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  • starbrightlyshines
    starbrightlyshines Member Posts: 344
    edited July 2017

    sorry all, I haven't updated treatment lines.  I have done Femara, Affiniotr/Aromasin, Faslodex/Ibrance and I',m now on Kisquali/Faslodex.  Tumor markers heading up and I have been really sick with (hopefully) side effects of Kisquali.  I went in yesterday and Dr wants to continue with Kisquli for another month....he thinks my stomach problems etc are side effects and not the cancer returning.  I had a negatibe PET in June so I am trying to keep hopeful.

    cive-I don't know about Gemzr being first line.  I know when I got a second opinion the Dr was a little surprised by that as well but at the time I was so sick that I wasn't able to question anything.

    I did ask about what would be next because I feel like I need to prepare myself, and Dr mentioned Abraxane for 12 weeks and then onto Xeloda for as long as that works.  He said I could go directly to Xeloda, there is some question as to whether it is better to rotate (ie Abraxane to Xeloda) vs Xeloda until it stops and then going to Abraxane.

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