Braxane

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SoFlaMom
SoFlaMom Member Posts: 5
edited October 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Braxane
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  • SoFlaMom
    SoFlaMom Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2008

    Hello,

    Has anyone heard of Braxane before? I have been receiving dose dense chemo. I had 4 regimens of AC, and 2 weeks ago had my first regimen (of 4 total) of Taxotere. This past weekend, my lips, tongue, eyes, hands and feet swelled up and I had to go to the ER. I also have broken out in hives all over my torso. Although I spoke with the on-call physician over the weekend (who told me to go to the ER), my dr didn't know about my severe reaction from this weekend. I went to my dr today because I was supposed to get my second regimen of Taxotere today, and she said it was really uncommon to have an allergic reaction to Taxotere so many days after treatment, but that definitely is what it was. She has put me on steroids and told me that for my final 3 chemo regimens, I am going to get something called Braxane instead of Taxotere. I've never heard of this before, and an internet search hasn't turned up much, except that it's for metastatic breast cancer. I was diagnosed Stage 2 with a 1.2 cm tumor and 2 axillary lymph nodes involved. If anyone knows anything about Braxane, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks!

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  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited February 2008

    Hi SoFlaMom,

    I believe you are referring to ABRAXANE. It is a taxane like TAXOL and TAXOTERE. The difference is that the ABRAXANE molecules are albumen bound (from eggs) rather than dissolved in CREMAPHOR like TAXOL and TAXOTERE. It is the CREMAPHOR that is usually responsible for bad reactions.  I understand that pre-meds are unnecessary with ABRAXANE.

    You are right that ABRAXANE is used for metastatic cancer. I think that has more to do with the FDA approval process than anything else. It  delivers the same drug as TAXOL using a (safer) method of delivery. I know that lots of insurance companies will not cover the cost of ABRAXANE if TAXOL is not tried first; I imagine it is much more expensive.

    (((HUGS))) 

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  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited February 2008

    I think I did hear on the news this AM that the FDA just cleared abraxane for BC, in addition to colon and lung ca's.

    I think I got that right.....

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited February 2008

    I just googled "Abraxane" and found the website "www.abraxane.com".  It says Abraxane is the same drug as "Taxol" (i.e., paclitaxel), only with Abraxane the drug is bound to human albumin.  (That would be less likely to trigger allergic reactions than if they attached it to egg albumin.)

    Wendy, I wonder if you were thinking of "Avastin".  It was just approved by the FDA this past week to treat metastatic, Her2-negative BC when used in combination with paclitaxel.  It had already been approved for (metastatic?) lung and colon cancer.  It's a monoclonal antibody that inhibits formation of tiny blood vessels needed by tumors to sustain their rapid growth.

    otter 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited February 2008

    Sorry--just to be clear:  the regular form of Taxol (paclitaxel) is not bound to any protein.  It's dissolved/suspended in Chremaphor, like badboob67 said.

    otter 

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited February 2008

    Be thrilled to be getting it, its suppose work better than taxol and taxotere.

    Teresa

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited February 2008

    Be thrilled to be getting it, its suppose work better than taxol and taxotere.

    Teresa

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited February 2008

    Be thrilled to be getting it, its suppose work better than taxol and taxotere.

    Teresa

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited February 2008

    Be thrilled to be getting it, its suppose work better than taxol and taxotere.

    Teresa

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  • SoFlaMom
    SoFlaMom Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2008

    Thanks so much to all of you for your input!

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  • Georgie0326
    Georgie0326 Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2014

    I was also wondering about Abraxane as my dr. wants to start me on this.  I am reluctant to have anymore taxanes (already tried Taxotere which landed me in the hospital with a-fib, and Taxol which gave me peripheral neuropathy) as I am afraid that my peripheral neuropathy will get worse.  The tingling and numbness don't really bother me that much, but the unsteadiness on my feet when walking really bothers me, and I am really scared that it will get worse.  I don't know what to do!  I am afraid I will wind up crippled.  Has anyone else had experience with what my experience has been?  Oh, and we know that taxanes are effective for the type of cancer I have, Her2, progesterone and estrogen+, but the peripheral neuropathy scares me.

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