EPIRUBICIN chemo anyone?

Linda- Thinking if you as you change treatments! Hoping this new one stops what's happening and gets you to stable!!

Linda, I hope the SEs are minimal but that Epirubicin packs a big punch againstthose cancer cells.

Prayers and hugs, Lynne

Sorry your TMs are on the rise. I'm not familiar with the new chemos you are on, but hopefully someone else will be able to share their experience with you! When will you add the other two? I hope it starts slowing down any new growth/ progression. Wishing you all the best! Take care!

Linda, I am on the same thing you are on but my Onc abbreviated it FEC (5-Flouracil, Epirubicin, and Cyclophosomide aka Cytoxan). So you may have better google searches with FEC.

I am 4 1/3 years into Stage IV Palliative Care treatment, and have done continuous chemo with short 10 day breaks for palliative radiation. The last chemo I was on was CMF and I did 3 cycles of that before being switched to FEC. I have had cycle 1 (infusion 1 & 2) then a 2 week break, now yesterday, infusion 1 of cycle 2.My tumor markers were in the 700's before cycle 1 but went up to 845 after. The ONC said he expected to have to do at least 2 cycles before they plateau or drop. So we'll see. I hope this works because he said I only have 2 treatment options left before we have to look at clinical trials or stopping treatment.

The side effects I have had so far are loss of hair after cycle 1, infusion 1. That seemed very fast! Major fatigue. Like I want to sleep two to three times per day, 1-2 hour naps. Plus early to bed, late to rise. And of course, the neutropenia was severe after both rounds, my WBC went to 400 (ANC .4) and I had to be careful of exposure to infections.

How are you doing now? Have you had any cystitis with the Cytoxan? The Epirubicin causes red urine for 2-3 voids, but the Cytoxan can cause cystitis. I had my first UTI (since my 20's!) after infusion 1. It was very painful, but they showed it infectious and not cycstitis. They gave me 7 days of Bactrum, but since I'm still struggling with lingering post-void pain, they gave me another 14 days of it. Every infusion, I have to have an extra 2 Liters of Normal Saline to help prevent the cystitis. Now they worry about fluid overload. I can't win!

I have no appetite and when I do eat, I can only eat small portions without feeling full. I feel bloated all the time, but have had that before even the CMF. I have occasional feet neuropathy, but not constant. Thank the Lord, I am a baby about my feet since I had hand-foot syndrome in 2014 with Xeloda. I also have other s/e but expect that to be from the cancer rather than the medication.

I hope you toloreate it better than I have. Keep me posted. I don't know anyone else on FEC. I will look up CEF and see if I have any better luck. I think they list it as FEC because that's the order of infusion where I am treated.

Hang in there!

Shelley