The Beast & Me: Round Two

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  • ps123
    ps123 Member Posts: 221
    edited April 2007
    Hi Gina -

    I was just wondering if Doxil might be an option for you. I think its usually used for women with mets but the way I understand it it's Adriamycin that's delivered in fat molecules which makes it be released more slowly and lessens the side effects.

    Here's a link if you're interested:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/research_chemotherapy_doxil.html

    How are you feeling now....I hope you're able to get your port straightened out.

    How's you mom?

    Take care,
    Pat
  • Boo46
    Boo46 Member Posts: 539
    edited April 2007
    Dear G,
    Thinking of you and hoping your feeling better and your mom is doing ok. Sending prayers for you both.
    Hugs
    Sue
  • AlaskaDeb
    AlaskaDeb Member Posts: 2,601
    edited April 2007
    G-
    Don't know if you have seen this....from cure magazine this month

    "In addition to strategies to reduce the dose of radiation to heart tissue, reducing the overall dose of medication or administering the drug differently can cut the risk of heart problems. With Adriamycin, giving the drug by a continuous infusion rather than in a large single dose can reduce its toxic effects.

    When Dr. Runowicz faced decisions about her own breast cancer treatment in 1992 when she was in her early 40s, she questioned whether she should take Adriamycin. “There were not a lot of data yet about the benefits of Adriamycin on survival, so we didn’t know the effect,” she says. “But I decided I’d rather have heart disease at 60 than be dead at 45 or 50. In my mind, it was worth it.”

    Fifteen years later, new drug formulations can lower the risk of complications. A form of Adriamycin called liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin, or Doxil®, appears to reduce cardiac toxicity by enveloping the drug within a bubble of fat, allowing it to be slowly released. This allows a higher dose to be given with less severe side effects."

    If you have not gotten the magazine, you can read th whole article here...

    http://www.curetoday.com/currentissue/departments/findinghope/index.html

    I hope that both you and your mom are doing well today...

    Hugs
    Deb C
  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited April 2007
    Thanks everyone.

    My mom is home from the hospital. She has some blockages both in her heart and in her leg/hip arteries. She also has signs of something that may be wrong renal-wise. I am not sure of any of the details because my sister doesn't believe in giving any details! LOL!

    The port is still not good. but I see three docs on Monday, including the surgeon who put it in, so hopefully I will have some help there.

    Newter, there was a study released last year that showed an increased risk of cardiac damage to women who have left breast radiation. I will try to dig it out of my mountain of links for you.

    Deb, thanks for that. I get CURE and love it.

    Pat, I already asked about the Doxil. They don't give it to you unless you are metastatic. THey haven't tested it on non-mets people yet. Same thing with Abraxane- better and less side effects than Taxotere but only for metsters.

    Love,
    g
  • newter
    newter Member Posts: 4,330
    edited April 2007
    Thanks Gina,

    Don't bother digging it out for me. I was just wondering because you were so specific and mine is the right side anyway. Also thanks for answering the "Quadrenectomy" (sp) question.

    I just told my kid that I just posted #100. She came up to the computer while reading yours and was amazed yours was so large compared to my little bitty post count. She also wants me to tell you your kitty is SO cute.

    Hope all goes well this week with your port and your mom. You are amazing with everything on your plate.

    Newter
  • mkl48
    mkl48 Member Posts: 350
    edited April 2007

    That is so damn frustrating because so many drugs once used only in mets are now routine. Abraxane can be given as first line. There have been women on these boards who have had it. Avastin is now used as first line for some. The real question is there a biological reason why one drug would be better as first line-- do mets differ enough that absorbtion method impacts response etc. I still have not seen a follow up to my question about the combination of celebrex and radiation and or some chemo drugs-Eubucin-sp.Beth

  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited April 2007
    hey Newter, tell your kid that your cat is the same as mine except he has a buzz cut!

    Beth, they have told me that Epirubicin has the same effect. This must be a new finding because I always heard it was better. Not one of the oncs I spoke to would give it.

    I am going to ask again about the Abraxane tomorrow.

    Can anyone tell me what a jumping port means? Mine is moving all over the place like in muscle spasms- it looks like it is trying to crawl out of my skin.

    This is way too freaky for me!
  • newter
    newter Member Posts: 4,330
    edited April 2007
    LOL about the buzz cut.

    Any improvement with the port? Saw your post earlier on Moving Beyond forum.
  • mkl48
    mkl48 Member Posts: 350
    edited April 2007

    That is interesting because that is what MDA -Christofanilli--sp is using. Who knows!!!!Beth Taxol first, then FEC

  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited April 2007
    Port is improving... and I start chemo tomorrow.
    CHEMO MY FRIEND.
    This time I think of it as my pal not the end of the world like I did last time.
    ANYTHING THAT KILLS THE BEAST IS MY FRIEND!!!!

    Love you!
    g
  • Hray47
    Hray47 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2007
    I am on gemzar now, I was on Taxol, but the beast spread into my spine while on the taxol, hopefully the gemzar will do the trick, not as many side effects with the gemzar as with the taxol, the only thing is that my red cell count drops every few weeks and I get really tired, but so far so good!
    This is my third time with this beast so keep your chin up we all have the fight in us , many hugs to you
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2007
    HRay47...You're awesome! Hang in there....gemzar has been shown to be very effective.

    Marin
  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited May 2007
    Hray, thanks for posting! Marin is right. You are awesome!
    I hope that the Gemzar kicks some major cancer butt for you!!
    Love,g

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